Spatial pattern and persistence of historical fire boundaries in southern interior British Columbia |
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Authors: | Geraldine J Jordan Marie-Josée Fortin Kenneth P Lertzman |
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Institution: | (1) School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6;(2) Geography Program, Trinity Western University, 7600 Glover Road, Langley, BC, Canada, V2Y 1Y1;(3) Department of Zoology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 3G5 |
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Abstract: | Recent ecosystem and fire management research aims to quantify, model and understand historical fire disturbances focusing
on their frequency, size and distribution. Less attention, however, has been paid to fire boundaries and their location on
the landscape. Our study presents a spatial method to quantify the location, pattern and persistence of historical fire boundaries
using tree ring fire scar data in the lower Stein watershed (British Columbia). Data from Pinus ponderosa and Pseudotsuga menziesii collected in 35 one-hectare plots over a 412-hectare study area were analyzed for the period between 1879 and 1947 using
local spatial statistics and boundary detection techniques. Results of the analysis using local spatial statistic Moran’s
I showed significant clustering of boundaries near topographic breaks. To determine and test whether fire boundaries between
plots were persistent, we used boundary detection methods and developed a spatially restricted randomization test. The results
revealed that out of 86 possible boundary links, 8 were significantly persistent (P < 0.025) while another 8 were significantly rare (P < 0.025). These spatial methods can help determine the historical spatial configuration of persistent boundaries and can
be used to maintain natural forest dynamics.
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Keywords: | Natural disturbance Boundary Moran’ s I Forest fire Stein River watershed British Columbia Low-severity fire |
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