HomeMy WebLinkAboutPrescribed Burning Effects on Nutrition, Production, and Big Game Use 1973·'0 ~.
o IDAHO COOPERATIVE WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNIT
College of Forestry,Wildlife and Range Scienceso
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UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
Moscow,Idaho
PRESCRIBED BURNING EFFECTS ON
'NUTRITION,PRODUCTION
AND BIG GAME USE OF KEY
NORTHERN IDAHO ·BROWSE SPECIES
Duane Arthur Asherin
~~.December 197'3.----
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PRESCRIBED BURNING EFFECTS ON NUTRITION t PRODUCTION AND
BIG GAME USE OF KEY NORTHERN IDAHO BROWSE SPECIES
A Dissertation
Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the
DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Major in Wildlife Science
in the
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO GRADUATE SCHOOL
by
DUANE ARTHUR ASHERIN
December 1973
.ARLIS
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This dissertation of Duane A.Asherin for the Doctor of
AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH FINAL DRAFT:
of Key Northern I daho Bi~owse Sped es II was revi ewed in rough draft
copy incorporating suggestions of the Committee;permission was
library
u.s.Fish &Vv'ild!ife Service
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ii
Graduate School Dean Date -----
also given to schedule the final examination upon submission of
form by each Committee member as indicated by the signatures and
dates given below and permission was granted to prepare the final
two final copies to the Graduate School Office:
Major Professor ~Date .5""-/&-73
Conmittee Members ~a..J~Date .!)-1~73
~Date .s-j/om~-Date ,j7/6/7J
FINAL EXAMINATION:By majority vote of the candidate's Committee
at the final examination held on date of
May 17,1973 Committee approval and acceptance
was granted.
Major Professor ~~Date 5'-/7-73
GRADUATE COUNCIL FINAL APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE:
Philosophy degree with major in Wildlife Science and titled IIPre-
scribed Burning Effects on Nutrition,Production and Big Game Use
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR
Duane Arthur Asherin was born in Watertown,Wisconsin on October 13,
1940.He attended Lake Mills High School in Lake Mills,Wisconsin,and
received his diploma in June,1959.For the following four years he worked
in the construction field and in September,1963,he began undergraduate
studies at the University of Wisconsin -Stevens Point.As an undergraduate,
Duane assisted the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in a greater
prairie chicken censusing project and also worked for the United States
Geological Survey as a field assistant in the collection of ground water data.
He received the degree of Bachelor of Science in the School of Applied Arts
and Science,with majors in Conservation and Biology,in June,1967.
Graduate work commenced at the University of Idaho in September,
1967,and requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Wildlife
Science were completed in December,1973.
Mr.Asherin married the former Judith B.Maas on April 15,1961.
They presently enjoy four children:Lance A.,Craig R.,Steven P.,and
DeborahJ.
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ACKNOWLE DGEMENTS
This project was supported by the Idaho Cooperative Wildlife Research
Unit,Project WU-56;McIntire Stennis Funds -MS18;a National Defense Educa-
tion Act -Title IV Fellowship;and the National Wildlife Federation.
I am deeply indebted to Dr,Kenneth E.Hungerford~Professor of
Wildlife Management,for initiating the project and for his supervision and
counseling throughout the course of the investigation as my major professor.
The writer is also grateful to Dr.Charles R.Hungerford for his advice and
assistance while assuming Dr.Kenneth E.Hungerford's responsibilities
during the time the latter was on sabbatical leave.To the other members
of my committee:Drs.Richard R.Knight,Jack R.Ridley and Edwin W.
Tisdale,I express my sincere appreciation for their helpful suggestions and
advice in the course of the investigation and for their editorial comments
on this dissertation.
Appreciation is also expressed to Dr.Maurice G.Hornocker and
Mr.Elwood G.Bizeau,Leader and Assistant Leader,respectively,of the
Idaho Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit,for their cooperation and contin-
ued support of the project.I also thank Dr.Paul D.Dalke,past Leader of
the Idaho Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit for hii initial help at the
outset of this project.
The writer is also grateful for the field headquarters and equipment
placed at my disposal by the Idaho Fish and Game Department and by the
United States Forest Service--in particular,the Avery Ranger District of
the St.Joe National Forest.Special thanks go to Messrs.William o.Hickey
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and Thomas A.Leege,Idaho Fish and Game Department,for their constructive
criticisms,discussions,and assistance on various aspects of this project.
U.S.Forest Service personnel Jerry G.Allen,Robert L.Brown,Warren N.
Current,L.Thomas Jones,Jr.and Edward W.Kautz also receive special
thanks for their fine hospitality,encouragement and assistance.
Mr.Franklin P.Parks and his staff in the Department of Agricul-
tural Biochemistry and Soils at the University of Idaho were responsible for
all browse chemical analyses.Dr.Dale O.Everson,Agricultural Experiment
Station Statistician,gave freely of his time in assisting me with statisti-
cal treatment of data.Ms.Mildred J.Lincoln graciously accepted the task
of typing the manuscript.To them I am grateful.
I was extremely lucky to have such a responsive body of able field
assistants to draw on in the course of this investigation.My sincere
appreciation goes tQ all graduates and undergraduates who assisted me in the
collection of field data and samples and also to those who helped in the
laboratory preparation of samples.
To my wife,Judy,I express extra special thanks for her patience,
continuous support and encouragement.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION •
ObjeCti ves
Justification
Previ ous Work
STUDY AREA LOCATIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS .
Hatter Creek .
Avery .
Lochsa .
METHODS AND PROCEDURES .
Preliminary Investigations
Species Composition,Frequency,and Density
Browse Nutrient Analyses .
Key Browse Species Defined .
Clipping Procedure and Sample Preparation .
Data Analysis
Browse Production Determinations
Sample Stratification
Stand Mean Twig Weight .
Evaluation of Big Game Use
Stratified Twig Counts
Pellet Group Counts
Soil Classification and Chemical Analyses
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.
Vegetation Analysis
Browse Nutrient Relationships
Crude Protein
Fat
Crude Fiber .
Ash
Nitrogen-Free Extract (NFE)
Calcium and Phosphorus
Moisture.
Burn Intensity Effects
CAG Length-Weight Relationships
Browse Production and Availability
Mean Maximum Canopy Height Changes
Height-Stratified Twig Counts.
Production Effects
Relative Use of Burned Vs.Nonburned Sites.
Browse Utilization Effects
Pellet Group Counts
Burning Effects on the Soil .
Fire and the Natural Environment .
CONCLUSIONS
LITERATURE CITED .
APPENDICES .
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LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE
1.Area map of northern Idaho showing general location of the
Avery (1),Lochsa (2),and Hatter Creek (3)study areas .
2.Method of restricted random location of 25 subplots per
study site.
3.Relative nutritive composition of four key browse species on
Avery burned sites.All measurements in percent of total dry
weight
4.Relative nutritive composition of two key browse species on
Lochsa burned sites.All measurements in percent of total
dry wei ght .
5.Mean Maxi mum crown hei ght changes and apparent browse
availability in four key browse species
6.Percent availability of current annual growth of redstem
ceanothus (Ceanothus sanguineus)on the Avery and Lochsa
study areas.
7.Percent availability of current annual growth of willow
(Salix spp.)on the Avery and Lochsa study areas
8.Production comparisons by availability zones for redstem
ceanothus (Ceanothus sanguineus)on the Avery and Lochsa
study areas.
9.Production comparisons by availability zones for willow
(Salix spp.)on the Avery and Lochsa study areas
10.Comparison of relative winter and summer use on redstem ceanothus
(Ceanothus sanguineus)by big game on burned and nonburned sites
in the Avery study area,based on percent utilization.
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FIGURE
11.Comparison of relative winter and summer use on redstem
ceanothus (Ceanothus sanguineus)by big game on burned and
nonburned sites in the Lochsa study area,based on percent
utilization
12.Comparison of relative winter and summer use on willow
(Salix spp.)by big game on burned and nonburned sites in
the Avery and Lochsa study areas,based on percent utilization.
13.Comparison of relative winter and summer use by elk (Cervus
canadensis)on burned and nonburned sites in the Avery and
Lochsa study areas,based on pellet group counts
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE
1.Physiography and specific locations of five mountainous study
sites at Avery,Shoshone County,Idaho
2.Weather summary for the Avery study area.Readings listed are
means for the period January,1960,through March,1971,at
the Avery Ranger Station (2492 feet elevation).
3.Physiography and specific locations of seven mountainous
study sites near the Lochsa River,Idaho County,Idaho
4.Weather summary for the Lochsa study area.Readings listed are
means for the period January,1960,through March,1971,at the
Fenn Ranger Station (1580 feet elevation)and August,1962,
through March,1971,at Powell (3632 feet elevation)..
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TABLE
5.Nutritive composition of terminal four inches of CAG from
key browse species on burned and nonburned sites in the
Avery and Hatter Creek study areas
6.Nutritive composition of terminal four inches of CAG from
key browse species on burned and nonburned sites in the
Hatter Creek study area
7.Nutritive composition of terminal four inches of CAG from
key browse species on burned and nonburned sites in the
Avery study area
8.Nutritive composition of terminal four inches of CAG from
key browse species on burned and nonburned sites in the
Lochsa study area
9.Combined nutritive composition of terminal four inches of
CAG from key browse species on burned and nonburned sites
in the Avery and Lochsa study areas .
10.Regression equation coefficients and correlation coefficients
(R)for determining twig weight from twig length on CAG of
redstem ceanothus
11.Regression equation coefficients and correlation coefficients
(R)for determining twig weight from twig length on CAG of
wi 11 ow
12.Mean twig weight,mean number of twigs,and mean total
production per plant for redstem ceanothus and willow on
the Avery and Lochsa study sites
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TABLE
13.Browse utilization in summer and winter on the Avery and
Lochsa study areas.
14.Comparison of relative winter and summer use by big game on
specific burned and nonburned sites in the Avery and Lochsa
study areas,based on pellet group counts.
15.Percent frequency of occurrence,density (individuals per
acre),and percent species composition of woody plants on
the Avery study area in the summer of 1969
16.Percent frequency of occurrence,density (individuals per
acre),and percent species composition of woody plants on
the Lochsa study area in the summer of 1969
17.List of plant species encountered in northern Idaho seral
brushfields and their frequency of occurrence on specific
winter range study sites
.18.Soil chemistry of the Avery study sites.Samples collected
in October,1970
19.Soil chemistry of the Lochsa study sites.Samples collected
in September,1970
APPENDICES
APPENDIX
I.Frequency of occurrence,density,and species composition of
plant species encountered on northern Idaho seral brushfields .
II.Soil analysis.
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ABSTRACT
Prescribed burning effects on the production and nutritional quality
of four northern Idaho key browse species were investigated in three spring
burns (1967,1948,and 1969)in each of two main study areas--the Lochsa
and St.Joe River drainages--and in 1968 and 1969 prescribed burns on the
Uni versity'of Idaho's experimental forest.Bi g game use of burned and
nonburned sites was also compared.Only dormant plant tissue was sampled
for nutritional effects corresponding to the critical big game winter stress
period.
Nutrient analyses of current annual growth (CAG)not longer than four
inches from four key browse species--mountain maple (Acer gZabrum),service-
berry (Ametanchier aZnifoZia),redstem ceanothus (Ceanothus sanguineus),
and willow (SaZix spp.)--indicate species specific responses to spring
prescribed burning.Crude protein was significantly higher the first year
after burning in 83.3 percent of the burned vs.nonburned comparisons for
all species.This effect was absent by the end of the second year,suggest-
ing spring burns are of low intensity.With one exception,redstem protein
content was lower on burned compared to nonburned sites.Strictly mainte-
nance forages are indicated by the protein content noted.Fat content
generally was lower the first year but higher in the second and third years
after burni ng.Wi 11 ow wasconsi derably hi gher in fat than any other speci es
and redstem the'lowest.Crude fiber was significantly low~red in 72.7
percent of the comparisons for all three years of burns,indicating increased
overall 'digestibility.Crude fiber content increased,however,in mountain
maple on burned sites.Ash showed no apparent trends for any browse species
but was highest on controls and burns in willow.Calcium was lower in
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66.6 percent of the significant comparisons through the three years of
burns.Phosphorus increased in all first year comparisons but no dif-
ference was detectable after two years.The combined effect was a
significant reduction in the C:P ratio over all species for the first two
years.This may benefit effective reproduction of forest ungulates present.
All first year moisture comparisons were significantly higher.However
87.5 percent of the significant comparisons were lower in the second and
third years following burning.Preference by big game for burned sites
compared to nonburned sites and for the most recent burn may be associated
with the higher succulence of plant tissue on burned sites.
Available production of redstem ceanothus on Lochsa burned sites
.exceeded control plant production after two years,while redstem plants on
Avery burned sites produced less available browse than control plants after
three years due primarily to heavy summer use.Willow plants produced
significantly larger amounts of available browse on all three years of burns
in both study areas compared to control plants.Increased available produc-
tion of such tall-growing shrubs as willow more than offsets the loss of
available redstem production for the first few growing seasons following
spring prescribed burning.
Pellet group and utilization counts substantiate higher summer and
winter use of burned compared to nonburned sites by big game.Utilization
data also show a higher preference for redstem ceanothus over the other three
browse species examined.Increased use of burned sites as well as forage
species preferences are questioned as being solely attributable to associated
nutritive values.Nutrient data do not support the contention that big
game select or prefer certain browse species over others on the basis of
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higher prot~in content.Th~higher'carbohydrate fraction found in redstem
nutrient analyses'compared to the'other three browse species analyzed may
be responsible for the higher preference for redstem by big game.
'Winter CAG availability,seedling survival,and possibly the future
vigor of the shrub community were found greatly affected by the degree of
summer utilization of preferred browse species by big game,snowshoe hares
(Lepus americanus),and possibly other rodents during the first few growing
seasons following burning.Burning scattered areas on a given tract of
wi nter range appears more benefi ci a1 than one area of the same acreage.
This way,the CAG available in adjacent nonburned sites may be utilized
more fully.Nonburned sites may thus receive a regrowth stimulus,maintain
better growth form,and animal distribution and plant utilization may be
more uniform over the entire winter range.
Three potential problems associated with spring prescribed burning
as opposed to fall prescribed burning are discussed.Re-examination of the
effects of and the potential for more fall burning is posed.The past and
present practice of intensive fire suppression on our forest ecosystems is
also discussed and the probability of producing unnatural ecosystems is
predicted if this practice continues.
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INTRODUCTION
~!ildfires in the early 1900·s destroyed millions of acres of mature
coniferous timber and created extensive seral brushfields which allowed rem-
nant populations of elk (Cepvus eanadensis)and deer (primarily OdoeoiZeus
hemionus)to expand in northern Idaho.These brushfields have progressed
to an advanced,mature stage due to subsequent natural succession and the
past and present practice of total wildfire suppression.Shrub decadence,
unavailability of current annual growth on tall-growing shrub species,and
conifer encroachment on these ranges are indications of the need for winter
range rehabilitation.Prescribed burning is a relatively recent management
tool being applied to northern Idaho brushfields by the Idaho Fish and Game
Department and the U.S.Forest Service to rehabilitate big game winter
ranges created by early wildfires.It was first used for this purpose on
an experimental basis in 1960 on the Avery Ranger District of the St.Joe
National Forest (Brown 1966).Initial results indicated that both fall and
spring prescribed burning were cheaper than spraying and produced more
desirable results.In 1965,the Idaho Fish and Game Department and the
U.S.Forest Service entered a cooperative study on the use of prescribed
burning in the Clearwater National Forest.
Objectives
This project was initiated in the spring of 1968 to investigate
important aspects of prescribed burning as a tool for rehabilitating big
game winter ranges.Specifically,research objectives were:(1)to
ascertain the effects of prescribed burning on the nutritive value of key
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browse species;(2)to evaluate the effects of prescribed burning on browse
yield;and (3)to compare big game use of burned and nonburned areas in
relation to nutrient changes.Key browse species studied included:redstem
ceanothus (Ceanothus sanguineus),mountain maple (Acer gZabrum),service-
berry (AmeZanchier alnifolia)and willow (Salix spp.).
It was necessary to omit two additional objectives when attempts to
do my own prescribed burning failed due to poor burning conditions.These
objectives included:(1)to define the burning temperatures of prescribed
burns in relation to subsequent reproduction of plant species and survival
of existing browse species and (2)to evaluate the energy released on pre-
scribed burns.
Justification
That big game animals are an extremely important asset to the eco-
systems of the western United States,including Idaho,cannot be denied.
Their immediate economic importance lies not only in the financial returns
derived from the big game hunting seasons,but also in the aesthetics these
animals offer the vacationing pUblic.Each year,residents and nonresidents
spend thousands of doll ars on the opportuni ty to bag IItroph y ll bi g game.
animals either with firearm,bow and arrow,camera or some combination of
these.According to the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission
(1962),Americans in year 2000 will spend about 80 percent more time hunting
than they did in 1960.Big game is an essential element in the economy of
the state of Idaho and by all indications will become even more so.In
addition,I believe many people enjoy just knowing big game species still
exi st somewhere --even though they may never be able to hunt them wi th a
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firearm or camera.Peterle (1961,1967)found some support for the latter
when preliminary results of a hunter questionnaire showed 70 percent of the
people favor setting aside more wilderness areas;about half of the hunters
felt it was a successful hunt even if they did not kill game;and 79 per-
cent of the people II sa id that part of the pleasure of hunting results from
seeing sunsets,bird nests,trees,flowers,and other wonders of nature.II
He concludes that IIFor the urbanized hunter of Ohio,wilderness is attrac-
tive even though he has little experience with it,indicating that enthus-
iasm can be generated for preserving wilderness tracts even among people
who may never use them.II
To meet these demands of a rapidly expanding population of recreation-
minded Americans,fish and game departments and federal natural resource
agencies are contronted with the problem of maximizing the carrying capacity
of existing game ranges and creating new wildlife habitat.This problem is
intensified by man's destruction of literally thousands of acres of big game
range annually.He is accomplishing this in a variety of ways--urban expan-
sion,intensified ranching and farming practices,more extensive recrea-
tional demands,more efficient and extensive road and highway systems,as
well as water development projects to name only a few.
In addition to the immediate economic benefits accrued from big game
animals and undoubtedly of even greater importance,is the balance these
animals lend to ecosystems in which they occur.Many ecologists have sug-
gested that the complexity of food webs is correlated with the stability of
an ecosystem.More mature ecosystems are characterized by more efficient
utilization of food materials,high species diversity,smaller amounts of
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energy for maintaining their structure or for preventing their destruction,
and others (Odum 1962;Margalef 1963).Deer and elk add to the complexity
or the stability of an ecosystem and thus increase its maturity or better
its chance of self-preservation.
Investigations into the problems of managing North American deer
and elk show that local populations are often limited by inadequate supplies
of nutritious,available forage.Today,most game managers agree that big
game "starvation"is a direct result of inadequate nutrition.Big game food
habits studies on various ranges show that the animals consume small quanti-
ties of a great variety of forage species.But on each area they are
dependent on a few species,commonly termed "key species,"for their main-
tenance during the critical period of the year--usually late winter and
early spring.The results of severe overutilization on key species include
lowered calf and/or fawn production,poor vigor,disease,and malnutrition.
Most big game which die of malnutrition do so with a full rumen containing
browse which will not sustain them--and thus should not be attributed to
starvation unless a lack of forage is clearly demonstrated.
Thus,the problem of adequate nutrition for big game is one of
quality as well as quantity.It is essential that we acquire an under-
standing of the chemical composition and actual nutritive value of key
browse species before and after a habitat manipulation program including
prescribed burning.Essential also is an understanding of treatment-
production effects and determination of animal preference for the newly
created habitat.This is prerequisite to recognizing the limitations of
game ranges that exist and the particular manipulation that will alleviate
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them.Most certainly,analysis of the prescribed burning program and key
browse species will make an important contribution to understanding the
winter nutrition of big game.In addition,it will help to fill a gap in
our technical know-how of restoring depleted ranges,creating new range,
and integrating game and forest management.
Previ ous Work
Little is known about fire behavior and its effects in the moun-
tainous,western United States;whereas,in southeastern United States
a great deal is known about prescribed burning.The Tall Timbers Research
Station at Tallahassee,Florida,is primarily concerned with the ecology of
fire,both basic research on the influence of fire on the environment and
the application of fire in land management.In the Southwest,fire is
being used on an increasing scale for the suppression of undesirables,like
sagebrush in grassland management.Today we realize that fire is a useful
tool if properly applied.We must re-educate the public on the beneficial
uses of fire and thereby partially shed the sacred IIS mo key the Bear ll concept.
Throughout the West,big game densities are controlled by the nutri-
tive levels of the available food supply on their ranges (Biswell et al.
1952,Einarsen 1946,Longhurst et ale 1952,Robinette et ale 1952,Swank
1956).An observed phenomenon among wildlife people is that following exten-
sive forest fires elk and deer populations increase.Researchers gene~ally
agree that these increases can be attributed to an increase in the nutri-
tional quality and quantity of available forage (Dasmann and Hines 1959,
Einarsen 1946).In addition,many investigators attribute higher selection
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and palatability of forage species by big game on burned areas to increased
nutritive values (Dietz et al.1958~Hagan 1953~Kucera and Ehrenreich 1962,
Moore and Johnson 1967,Penfound and Kelting 1950,Reynolds and Sampson
1943,Swift 1948).Higher protein content has frequently been postulated
as the reason for higher selection of certain plants.However,most studies
on this subject have dealt with wildfire areas until recently.
On broadcast-burned areas in northern Idaho,Mueggler (1965)found
a higher percentage of potassium in the soil and a higher percentage of
shrub cover compared to unburned areas.A positive correlation existed
between soil potassium and shrub cover.Broadcast-burned sites also had
more tall-growing shrubs than undisturbed sites and sites which had been
logged but not burned.
Pengelly (1966)noted no harmful effects on soil,plant and animal
resources by burning logging slash on the Coeur dlAlene National Forest in
northern Idaho.He observed rapid revegetation of the slopes which prevented
erosion and leaching while producing valuable wildlife habitat.
Leege (1968,1969,1971)has reported on a number of the significant
findings of the Clearwater cooperative study being conducted by the Idaho
Fish and Game Department and the U.S.Forest Service.Included among his
findings are:(1)all shrub species usually sprout prolifically after both
spring and fall burns,but more sprouts generally resulted after spring
burning;(2)all species produced a larger number of basal sprouts than
Mueggler (1966)reported for the same species when they were treated with
herbicides;(3)browse palatability increased on both spring and fall burns
for all species as indicated by a heavier percentage of browsed twigs and an
increase in browsing diameter on burned areas;and (4)a higher protein
content was found in burned plants than in controls.
In summary,prescribed burning has a place in wildlife habitat
manipulation.It creates more browse in an available form which appears to
be more nutritious than browse on unburned areas.However,this latter
point has not been substantially defined.
7
STUDY AREA LOCATIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS
Three study areas were used during the course of this investigation--
the Hatter Creek,Avery and Lochsa study areas (Figure 1).
Hatter Creek
This study area is located approximately six miles south of
Princeton,Latah County,Idaho,within the Hatter Creek deer enclosure.A
nine foot high woven wire fence surrounds this 800 acre plus tract of land
located on the north slope foothills of Moscow Mountain within the University
of Idaho experimental forest.The area is underlain by intrusive weathered
granitic rock with some mantling by loess.No recent wildfire history
characterizes the area and current grazing use is by white-tailed deer (Odo-
coiZeus virginiana orchorourous)and black bear (Ursus americanus).
Specific study site locations are:(1)Hatter Creek 1968 spring
burn--S~~SW~of Sec.1,R4W,T40N,Latah County,Idaho;and (2)Hatter Creek
1968 fall burn and 1969 spring burn--SW~SE~of Sec.2,R4W,T40N,Latah
County,Idaho.The area was cover-mapped by Basile (1954)using Dauben-
mire's (1952)classification and Hungerford's (1951)cover type classifica-
tion.Thilenius (1960)updated Basile's original cover-map work.The 1968
spring prescribed burn is in the cedar-hemlock zone and more specifically
in the Thuja plicata/Fachistima myrsinites habitat type.True aspect is
25°NNE with 50 percent slope at an elevation of 2800 feet and relief is
hilly-to-mountainous.The 1968 fall burn and the 1969 spring burn are in
the Douglas fir zone,and more specifically in the Fseudotsuga menziesii/
Physocarpus maZvaceus habitat type.True aspect is 65°ENE with 40 percent
8
FIGURE I,ftREA MAP OF NORTHERN IDAHO SHOtHNG GENERAL LOCATION OF THE
.AVERy(l),LoOiSA(2),AND HATTER CREEK(3)STUDY AREAS,
9
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slope at an elevation of 2900 feet and relief is again hilly-to-mountainous.
All controls or nonburned study sites are located adjacent to the treated
sites.
Avery
Avery is located along the St.Joe River approximately 52 miles east
of St.Maries,Idaho.The St.Joe River flows northwesterly from the moun-
tains of the Bitterroot Range,along the Idaho-Montana State line,into the
southern end of Lake Coeur dlAlene.My study area here consisted of two
parts,both of which lie in the Avery Ranger District of the St.Joe National
Forest.One area is located in the Hammond Creek drainage--the mouth of
which is about six miles upstream from Avery on the North Fork of the St.Joe
River road.The Hammond Creek study site is on the north side of the drain-
age about one and one-half miles upstream from the mouth of Hammond Creek.
A second area is located on the north face of the St.Joe River only about
one airline mile northwest of Avery.Study sites here are referred to as
Relay Station sites due to a cable television relay station located near
them.All five study sites are within a two-mile radius of each other.
Geologically,the Avery area is characterized by mildly folded and
metamorphosed Beltian sedimentary strata.Steep,narrow-bottomed canyons
with relatively high,rounded ridges characterize this area.Large acreages
were burned north of Avery by wildfires in 1910 and again in 1934 (Current
1971).Thus,most of this country is virtually a seral brushfield with
scattered pockets of lodgepole pine (Pinus aontorta).Current grazing use
is by big game only--namely,Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus aanadensis nelsoni),
white-tailed deer,mule deer (Odoaoileus hemionus),and black bear.
11
Specific locations and the physiography of study sites in the Avery
study area are listed in Table 1,and an Avery weather summary is compiled
in Table 2.Where a study site is split by a finger ridge,as in the Relay
Station 1969 Burn,or by an intermittent stream,as in the Relay Station
Control,two sets of aspect and slope data are listed.Because of the close
proximity of the 1969 and 1968 Relay Station burns and because of a lack of
similar control sites,only one control is used for both treatments.
All study sites are in the Thuja pZiaata/Paahistima myrsinites habi-
tat type according to Daubenmire's (1968)classification.
Lochsa
Six study sites,all within a two-mile radius of each other,were
located in the Lochsa River drainage.The Lochsa River flows west-southwest
through the Lochsa Ranger District of the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho
County,Idaho.It joins the Selway Ri ver at Lowell,Idaho,to form the
Middle Fork of the Clearwater River.The burn sites used are part of the
cooperative studies being conducted by the Idaho Fish and Game Department and
the U.S.Forest Service to evaluate the use of prescribed burning as a
habitat manipulation tool for increasing available browse on big game winter
ranges.
Two study sites,a 1969 burn and its respective control,were located
approximately thirty miles upstream from Lowell in the Lone Knob Creek
drainage.A 1968 burn and control were located about two and one-half miles
upstream from the mouth of Fish Creek near Pagoda Creek.A 1967 prescribed
burn and its control were located on the U.S.Highway 12 face of the Lochsa
River just below its junction with Bee Creek.The Bee Creek junction is
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TABLE 1.PHYSIOGRAPHY AND SPECIFIC LOCATIONS OF FIVE MOUNTAINOUS STUDY
SITES AT AVERY,SHOSHONE COUNTY,IDAHO.
Study Site Location Elevation Aspect Slope
(Feet)(True)(Percent)
Relay Station 1969 Burn SW~NE~of Sec.9,R5E,T45N 3930 90 0 ESE 45
244°W 34
Relay Station 1968 Burn NE~SE~of Sec.9,R5E,T45N 3620 104°ESE 56
Relay Station Control SE~SE~of Sec.9,R5E,T45N 3550 96°ESE 56
186°SSW 55
Hammond Creek 1967 Burn SE~NW1~of Sec.26,R5E,T46N 3620 158°SSE 55
Hammond Creek Control SE~N~of Sec.26,R5E,T46N 3710 196°SSW 54
TABLE 2.WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE AVERY STUDY AREA.READINGS LISTED ARE
MEANS FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY,1960,THROUGH MARCH,1971,AT THE
AVERY RANGER STATION (2492 FEET ELEVATION).
Jan.Feb.Mar.Apr.May June July Aug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.Annual
Temperatures
27.2 32.4 36.4 44.4 53.9 61.7 68.0 67.1 58.8 47.4 37.7 29.4 47.1
Total Precipitation
5.943.42 3.26 2.782.342.500.80 1.57 1.91 2.87 3.60 3.56 34.48
Snow Totals
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Maximum Snow Depth on Ground
23.8 22.5 20.0 3.0
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4.1 12.5
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about one-half mile below the Fish Creek junction.A 1969 burn in the Bee
Creek drainage about one-half mile upstream from the mouth was also utilized.
Geologically,the Lochsa country is underlain by weathered,intru-
sive granitic rock of the Idaho Batholith.Steep,narrow-bottomed canyons
with high,craglike ridges characterize the Lochsa River and many of its
tributaries.
The Lochsa River drainage has an extensive wildfire history.Mil-
lions of acres of coniferous timber were destroyed by wildfires in 1910,
1919,and 1934.None of my study sites was burned in the 1910 wildfire
(Norberg and Trout 1958).The Lone Knob Creek sites were burned in 1919 and
1934;the Fish Creek sites were burned in 1917,1919 and again in 1934;
and the Bee Creek sites were burned in 1934 only.These wildfires were
responsible for the sudden boom in elk and deer numbers following the burns
by creating vast brushfields of available browse.Present grazing use is by
Rocky Mountain elk,white-tailed and mule deer,moose (AZaes ameriaana
shirasi),and black bear.
Specific locations and the physiography of study sites in the Lochsa
study area are listed in Table 3,and a Lochsa weather summary is compiled
in Table 4.For comparison,I have included weather data from the Fenn
Ranger Station on the lower,western end of the Lochsa River drainage.These
two stations represent the extremes of weather that can be expected.However,
I feel the Fenn weather data to be more characteristic for the study sites.
Two aspect and slope values are listed where finger ridges are found in the
study site.
All study sites are in the Thuja pZiaata/Paahistima myrsinites
habitat type according to Daubenmire1s (1968)classification.
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ARE MEANS FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY,1960,THROUGH MARCH,1971,
AT THE FENN RANGER STATION (1580 FEET ELEVATION)AND AUGUST,
1962,THROUGH MARCH,1971,AT POWELL (3632 FEET ELEVATION):
Jan.Feb.Mar.Apr ..May June July Aug.Sept.Oct.Nov.Dec.Annu.
Fenn Temperatures
29.4 35.6 39.6 46.8 55.0 62.8 70.7 69.4 60.0 48.1 40.0 31.3 48.8
Powell Temperatures
23.4 28.4 27.4 39.4 48.7 57.1 64.4 62.6 54.8 43.8 33.6 24.8 42.8
Fenn Total Precipitation
5.46 2.96 3.67 4.14 3.02 2.98 0.56 1.48 2.46 3.28 3.91 4.05 37.60
Powell Total Precipitation
8.08 3.76 3.03 2.81 2.33 3.82 0.95 1.72 2.69 3.82 4.46 5.46 41.66
Fenn Snow Totals
19.1 8.8 4.4 0.1 Tr 1.1 12.1
Powell Snow Totals
76.7 36.0 '29.6 8.9 1.8 Tr 2.0 15.4 50.6
Fenn Maximum Snow Depth on Ground
13.5 11.6 4.6 Tr 1.1 6.1
Powell Maximum Snow Depth on Ground
42.1 46.9 44.9 25.0 1.5 1.1 7.4 22.4
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METHODS AND PROCEDURES
Preliminary Investigations
A pilot study was initiated at the Hatter Creek deer enclosure in a
predominantly willow (SaZix spp.)brushfie1d in Apri1~1968.Three treat-
ments were planned for this study site:(1)spring burns~(2)fall burns~
and (3)controls.The intent was to follow treatment results for the
following three years.I selected twelve subplots and randomly assigned
treatments on an equal basis.All subplots were permanently marked with a
metal stake and properly identified with a metal tag.The four spring-burn
subplots were prescribed burned on April 19 and 20~1968.Because all three
treatments were located within a one acre brushfie1d~the subplots were quite
small and burning was attempted only around those shrubs selected for
chemical analysis sampling.Fuels had to be added to the burns and thus were
not characteristic of normal prescribed burning.I did not repeat this
experimental design.
In addition~white-tailed deer use of sprouting browse was so intense
that I needed to fence individual subplots to assure sufficient plant tissue
for chemical analysis.This was the only study site in which subplots were
fenced.That snowshoe hares (Lepus ameriaanus)and possibly other rodents
were utilizing the succulent sprouts~a1so~became evident when even after
fencing~many of the sprouts were being readily taken.Fresh hare pellets
were noted in all fenced plots.The 4-foot high woven wire fence did keep
the deer out.No redstem seedling establishment was noted on fenced plots
even where a good seed source was present.
15
The second mature,seral brushfield (about 4 acres in size)was
laid out in a randomized block design.I was able to place two replica-
tions of each treatment on this Hatter Creek study site.Fire breaks
10 feet wide were bulldozed down to mineral soil on three sides of the
treatment units with a road serving as a fire break at the top of the
slope.All subplot stakes were selected in a systematic-random manner by
first randomly locating the first subplot stake at the top of the slope
and then systematically locating the remaining subplots at 40 foot inter-
vals along a selected azimuth down the slope.All treatment units were
more or less rectangular in shape--at least 40 feet wide at the top and
bottom of the slope,but varying from 477 feet to 600 feet in length.An
attempt to burn one fall treatment in late September,1968,was very spotty
even though weather conditions appeared good at the time.Grasses and
bracken fern (pteridium equiZinum),the two primary flash fuels present,
were only half cured.This resulted in difficult initial ignition of these
flash fuels,an extremely slow rate of fire spread,and the necessity to
reignite areas where the fire front burned itself out.Poor burning condi-
tions were also responsible for a dismal failure in my attempt to document
the heat energy absorbed by one-gallon water cans (Beaufait 1966)distrib-
uted systematically throughout the burn area.This would have yielded an
index of energy released.Ignition devices used included back-packed
diesel fuel drip-torches and hand-held propane cylinders.Because of the
poor burning results and later rains,the second fall treatment was never
burned.Similar results occurred in the spring burning attempts in May,
1969.Again only one plot was burned rather spottily.
16
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Limited success in my own prescribed burning program forced me to
utilize burns already completed and/or scheduled for burning.Thus,I
expanded the study to the Avery and Lochsa areas where successful burns had
already been completed by the U.S.Forest Service and the Idaho Fish and
Game Department.
Species Composition,Frequency,and Density
Species composition,frequency of occurrence,and density data were
collected during July and August,1969,on all Avery and Lochsa study sites
except the Bee Creek 1969 burn.I sampled 25 permanent points located in a
restrtcted random manner in each stand or study site.All major aspects in
each stand were included.Figure 2 depicts method of plot location.
A l-meter square plot was used to record frequency of occurrence for
all species having a portion of their canopy within the frame.Representa-
tive plants of most species were collected for later identification and
verification~High floral diversity and an early growing season,especially
in the Lochsa-study area,precluded a collection of the total flora.
The point-quarter-center method (Cottam and Curtis 1956)was used
for density estimates of woody plants at the 25 frequency points.Density
refers to the number of root crowns per unit area.Using the same method,
Roper (1970)had determined that 15 plots would give reliable density esti-
mates (P>.2).I qualified my density sampling by placing a 0.5 meter height
minimum on woody plants before including them in the sample,and I excluded
white spiraea (spiraea betuZifoZia)when preliminary sampling indicated a
60 percent frequency of occurrence for this species.In addition,white
spiraea is not a known preferred big game forage species.Maximum crown
17
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Selected site for location
Main Ridge or Road ~of main subplot line.,
r---.~~~~
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first subplot.Remaining mainI(subplots along finger ridge or
open slope were ~YstematicallY
located at 50-or 1DO-foot
Randomly ~lected direction of -bintervals..
•••••• •••flrst sub ot llne,then alter-.
. " .inn ni'rom,ininn )\
(~\~)Randomly selected distance to\
~~!seCOnd subplot on line.,
~.)~f12~25-foot Intervals
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FIGURE 2.METHOD OF RESTRICTED RANOOvl LOCATION OF 25 SUBPLOTS PER
STUDY SITE,
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height of each woody plant in the sample was also recorded.
Vegetation nomenclature follows Hitchcock et al.(1955-69).
19
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browse species.This phenomenon of initial high nutritive values assoc-
iated with rapid growth in the spring and decreasing as the seasons advance
has been reported bya number of investigators (Biswell et al.1952,DeWitt
and Derby 1955,Dietz et al.1958,Einarsen 1946,Hellmers 1940,Short et al.
1966,Swank 1956).In 1i ght of thi s documentati on and because of a shortage
of funds for chemical analyses,I altered this objective and limited my
collection period to the critical winter stress period for big game,namely
February through mid-April.This is also the dormant phenological stage for
vegetation.
Browse samples were clipped with either a pocket knife or a small
pruning shears from the nearest shrubs,of a given species,to the subplot
stakes.
I clipped up to the terminal four inches of current annual growth
(CAG)and required the presence of a terminal bud.I arbitrarily imposed
these restrictions realizing that the nutritive value decreases the further
away from the terminal bud the sample is taken (Aldous 1945,Bailey 1967,
Bl ai rand Epps 1961 ).The presence or absence of a termi na 1 bud and 1atera1
buds is also influential.Approximately 40 grams of fresh weight material
constituted a sample,and 12-15 samples of each species were collected in
each study site.By clipping on a weight basis I attempted to divide each
shrub sampled into 4 horizontal sections and 2 or 3 vertical sections depending
on shrub height.The sample was clipped in approximately equal portions from
each of the 4 horizontal divisions in the available zone (2-8 feet high
measured from the base of the root crown).Two or three shrubs of a particular
species were usually used for each sample collected.
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Samples were placed in number 8 paper bags,weighed on a Chatil-
lon spring balance,allowed to air dry,oven dried for at least 24 hours
at 105°C.,reweighed on an electronic balance,and ground in a Braun Blender
(model MX32).Thus,moisture content is based on fresh field weight compared
to oven dried weight.I had very little loss of fine bud material using the
Braun Blender.Considerably more fine material would have been lost using a
Wiley Mill.Including this fine bud material is critical in this type of
analysis due to the known concentration of nutrients here (Aldous 1945,
Blair and Epps 1961,Bailey 1967).
Ground samples were taken to the Department of Agricultural Bio-
chemistry and Soils,University of Idaho,Moscow,for chemical analyses.
The proximate analysis system was employed,using the official methods of the
Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (Horwitz 1965).In addition,
calcium and phosphorus determinations were made on the ash content at an
ashing temperature of 525°C.
Browse nutrient data were analyzed statistically using a least squares
and maximum likelihood general purpose program.Duncan's new multiple range
test (P>.Ol)was used for significance tests on adjusted means.University of
Idaho Computer Services handled all statistical analyses.
All nutrient values,except moisture,were multiplied by the correc-
tion constant 1/.9673 before being analyzed statistically to place all values
on a total dry weight basis.The value,0.9673,was arrived at by calculat-
ing the mean percent moisture absorbed by randomly selected samples of all
browse species following oven drying and then subtracting that percentage
(3.27 percent)in its decimal form from 1.
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Required sample sizes (n)were calculated on an Olivetti Underwood
101 electronic desk computer using the formula:
t 2s 2
n =_l~_
d2
where t l is the tabulated t value for the desired probability level (95
percent)and the degrees of freedom of the initial sample,s2 is the initial
sample variance,and d is the half-width of the desired confidence interval
(±10 percent)(Stein 1945).
Browse Production Determinations
Prescribed burning effects on browse production were evaluated on the
Avery and Lochsa study areas only.Redstem ceanothus and willow were the
only two browse species considered.Current annual growth (CAG)collections
of these two species were made during April,1970.Selected branches were
cut with a pruning shears from a number of root crowns over the entire study
site,and all CAG over 3 inches long was removed.Only unbrowsed twigs were
included in the sample.Twigs were then air dried,individually weighed to
the nearest 0.01 gram and measured to the nearest 0.5 centimeter.
The total twig sample from each stand for each species was then strat-
ified into length classes and tested for needed sample sizes using the same
formula as in the nutrient analyses.The required number of twigs (n)for each
species was satisfied for all but a few of the longest length classes where
the 80 percent probability level ±20 percent of the mean was used.
I assumed that twigs as collected in the field were representative
numberwise of the shrub species population on the study site.Stand mean
twig weights were then calculated as follows:
No.Twigs in Length Class (il
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Weighting Factor (.)=~Total No.Twigs Collected in Stand
Weighted Ave.Class =Weighting Factor (i)x Class Mean Twig
Twig Weight (i)Weight (i)
Stand Mean Twig Weight =(i)Weighted Ave.Class Twig Weights
where:i refers to length class.
I used the following equation for calculating production on a per
plant basis:
Production (grams/plant)=Mean No.Twigs Per Shrub x Stand Mean
Twig Weight
Procedures for determining the mean number of twigs per shrub are discussed
later.
Evaluation of Big Game Use
Relative intensity of use of burned and nonburned sites by big game
was compared using pellet group counts,twig counts a~d personal observa-
ti on.Twi g counts were taken concurrent wi th pellet group counts.Spring
counts which were taken to document winter use include the May-June,1970
count and t~e April-May,1971 count.The only actual fall count was taken
in October and November,1970,to record summer use.However,in taking the
1970 spring count I classified both browsed twigs and pellet groups to the
1969 summer use period and to the 1969-70 winter use period.Therefore,two
summer use periods and two winter use periods were covered in the study.No
attempt was made to estimate the number of big game animals utilizing an
area on the basis of pellet group counts.They were used only as a relative
intensity of use index in addition to the twig count index.
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Stratified Twig Counts
Twig refers to current growth only.In reference to growth of the
first growing season following burning,twig refers,in general,to sprouts.
However,some lateral growth was noted even on sprouts.In addition to the
relative use index,twig counts were used in production computations of both
available and unavailable browse.
Spring,1970 twig counts considered both willow and redstem ceano-
thus.Fall,1970 and spring,1971 counts considered only redstem ceanothus.
Twig counts were conducted only on the Avery and Lochsa study areas.-
I counted all the twigs on 25 plants of a species in each stand.
The closest plant of a species to the subplot stakes was used.If a stand
contained less than 25 subplots,for example,the Bee Creek Control,the
closest two or three plants of a species were counted.Only twigs greater
than three inches long were counted.Twigs were arbitrarily classified
into three height stratifications:(1)below two feet,(2)two feet to
eight feet,and (3)above eight feet.Measurements were made from the center
of the root crown except where branches grew downslope for some distance
from the root crown in which case measurements were made to ground level
directly below the twig in question.I considered twigs below two feet and
above eight feet unavailable for winter use.
I tabulated utilization on the basis of the number of twigs and/or
sprouts which showed evidence of being leaf stripped and/or browsed.
Formula used is:
Mean %Utilization =Mean No.Twigs ~rowsed Per Plant
Mean No.TWlgS Per Plant
24
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Pellet Group Counts
Pellet group plots 0.01 acre in size as recommended by Robinette
et al.(1958)and Julander et al.(1963)were used on all study sites.
Belt transects were used on the Hatter Creek and Lochsa areas while circu-
lar plots were used at Avery.Transects were located both parallel and
perpendicular to the contour of the slope.Stand subplot stakes served as
end points or centers for the counts.Counts were made twice along each
transect or in each circular plot,but in opposite directions to avoid
missing pellet groups (Robinette et al.1958).All pellet groups present
were removed.In addition,all pellet groups present for about two feet on
the uphill side of the plots were removed~as Wallmo et al.(1962)found
that in steep terrain,heavy rainfall could cause a redistribution of pellet
groups or cause them to be indistinguishable.
Soil Classification and Chemical Analyses
Soil descriptions of all sites in the Lochsa and Avery study areas
were obtained by describing a soil pit dug in a representative location
in each stand.Soil descriptions are based on the 7th approximation for
classifying soils (Soil Survey Staff 1962).I also collected at least
1000 grams of soil from each horizon for further laboratory chemical analyses.
Laboratory analyses included pH,carbon,nitrogen,organic matter,calcium,
phosphorus,potassium and magnesium.Methods used follow Jackson (1958)with
a few minor modifications.
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Vegetation Analysis
Frequency of occurrence,density,and species composition for woody
species occurring in the Avery and Lochsa study sites are listed in Appendix I -
Tables 15 and 16,respectively.The 0.5 meter height minimum arbitrarily
required for woody species before inclusion in the density sample minimized
chances of some medium-and nearly all low-growing shrubs from being sampled.
Frequency data for these species are more accurately listed in Appendix I -
Table 17.Because all overstory vegetation was included in frequency deter-
minations,frequency of occurrence for large spreading species may be over-
estimated.For notes on the successional stages these species occupy,their
general distribution,and the typical vegetation zones in which they occur in
northern Idaho,see Roper (1970),Table 8.
The wide range of densities found for the key browse species indicates
that evaluation of burning effects on production or yield would be invalid
on a unit area basis.For this reason,production effects are compared later
on a per plant basis.
Frequency data for woody species and for the grass and forb constit-
uents of the stands (Appendix I -Table 17)along with observations of
charred Thuja pZicata stumps,downfalls,and standing snags substantiate
that all study sites are in a common habitat type of the Thuja pZicata -
Pachistima myrsinites association in the Thuja-Tsuga zone according to
Daubenmire's (1968)classification.
26
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27
Browse Nutrient Relationships
Chemical analysis results from the 1969-spring collection period are
presented in Table 5.Although an attempt was made to clip only dormant twigs,
the 1969 Avery samples may include some bud-active twigs.Because of this
possibility and because of a small sample size in the 1969 Hatter Creek col-
lections,no inferences as to treatment effects and/or trends are made from
these data.
All 1970-spring collections were obtained before dormancy broke.In
addition,required sample sizes are satisfied at the 95 percent probability
level within ±10 percent of the mean.The only exceptions were the Hatter
Creek East Fork 1968 burns and controls.Chemical analysis results appear
in Tables 6,7,and 8.Apparent treatment effects and nutrient trends which
follow are taken from the Avery and Lochsa 1970 analyses.Table 9 lists the
combined chemical analysis results for the latter two study areas to facili-
tate gross comparisons of burned vs.nonburned areas.
Certain precautions should be exercised in the interpretations
placed on chemica1ana1ys;s of forage plants for a number of reasons:
(1)laboratory results may be in error (Dietz 1966);(2)statistical signifi-
cance does not necessarily indicate physiological significance to the animals
concerned;(3)plant parts analyzed may not be in the same proportions or
kinds as taken by animals in their selective feeding habits;and (4)analyzing
species singly gives only a partial reflection of the total mixture of plant
species normally consumed by animals.Significance in the following discus-
sion refers to statistical significance only (P>.Ol).
Chemical ana1ys;s of forage nutritive composition is only one
rw c:71 r-:-J ern \C'"'1)[!["J cr=T.J a:r=J [1J[]ITrJ r::-J ceo ,--.-.,
,~,,)rJ r:J c---J c-J c-:-J [J"'-:J
TABLE 5.NUTRITIvt C(J'tR)SITION OF TERMINt\L FOUR INCHES OF CAG FRQ\1 KEY BROWSE SPECIES ON
BURNED AND t{)NBURNED SITES IN THE AVERY AND HL\TIER CREEK STUDY AREAS.l ,2 .
SPECIES,STUDY SITE AND CRUDE CRUDE C:P
TREATMENT DATE l"'brsTuRE PROTEIN FIBER .CALCIUM Pl-iOS PHORUS RATIO
IMBY
tbuNTAI N MApLE
RELAY STATION CONTROL 61.10 8.28 33.m 0.98 0.21 4.7:1
RELAY STATION BURN -1968 59.7&*8.63 35.95*1.02 0.22 4.8:1
rJILI.CM
RELAY STATION CONTROL 54.32 8.52 32.32 1.30 0.20 6.6:1
RELAY STATION BURN -1968 58.31 .10.12*27.90*1.0&*0.24*4.6:1*
J:ffiIEIUBEEK
tbUNTAIN MAPLE
H.C.EAST FORK CONTROL 53.57 6.61 36.56 0.88 0.17 5.2:1
H.C.EAST FORK BURN -1968 58.35 6.94 39.19 0.84 0.19 4.4:1
WILIJlY
H.C.EAsT FORK CoNTROL 52.47 7.18 32.89 0.93 0.23 4.0:1
H.C.EAST FORK BURN -1968 53.86 8.72 33.62 1.16 0.21 5.8:1
1 ALL MEASUREMENTS IN PERCENT OF TOTAL DRY WEIGHT.~S,AMPLES COLLECTED IN MARCH AND APRIL,1969.
DIFFERENT FRavl CONTROL AT .01 LEVEL.
~
rJ7':l c:-:l c-::l c:T:J C"J CJ c::][l:::"~rrD rrJ r:=J l"li"IJ l:l c--J C-:-J ~LJ r-J O~
TABLE 6.NlITRITlVE CfJv1POSITION OF TERMINL\L FOUR INCHES OF CAG FRa1 KEY BROWSE SPECIES ON BJRNED AND
NONBURNED SITES IN TI1E HATTER CREEK STUDY AREA.1,2
NITROGEN-
SPECIES,STUDY SITE AND CRUDE CRUDE FREE PHos-C:P
TREATMENT DATE MoISTURE PROTEIN FAT FIBER ASH ExTRACT CALCIUM PHORUS RATIO
~
H.C.1969 CoNTROL 53.28 9.84 4.~26.32 3,37 56.03 1.13 0,18 6.3:1
H,C.BURN -1969 54.28 9,96 4.28 26.96 3.12 55.68 0,98 0.19 5.2:1*
H.C.EAsT FORK CONTROL lfJ.77 9.98 --28.38 -- --1.14 0.19 6.1:1
H.C.EAsT FORK BURN -1968 53.58*11.12*--30.14 ----0.86*0,20 4,4:1*
~ILLQ:'I
H.C.EAST FORK CONTROL 53,06 8.69 --35.07 ----0.75 0.14 5.2:1
H.C,EAsT FORK BURN -1968 50.94 9.51 --37,26 ----0.66 0,16 4,1:1*
1 ALL MEASUREMENTS IN PERCENT OF TOTAL DRY WEIGHT.~SftMPLES COLLECTED IN MARCH,1970,
DIFFERENT FROv1 CONTROL AT .01 LEVEL.
t8
r::r:J C"7"J r:-:J cr:J CiJ ~["""]J m:::::n CIJ[][["'J L"J tJ:IJ r:J c-J I~c-:;r r-J r-:J'I':L""J
.TABLE 7.NUTRITIVE COf"POSITION OF TERMI~L FOUR INCHES OF CAG FROM I®'BrowsE SPECIES ON BU~~ED AND
NONBURNED SITES IN THE AVERY STUDY AREA.1,2 ,
NITROGEN-
SPEC I ES,STUDY SITE AND CRUDE CRUDE FREE PHOS-C:P
TREATMENT DATE MoISTURE PROTEIN FAT FIBER AsH ExTRACT CALCIl1'1 PHORUS RATIO
REnsTEM CEANO]-fUS
RELAY STATION CONTROL 54.90 9.36 1.53 27.78 2.60 58.73 0.91 0.13 7.0:1
RELAY STATION BURN -1969 63.18*8.72*1.35 28.47 2.49 58.97 0.85 0.15*5.8:1*
RELAY STATION BURN -1968 55.99*8.69*1.53 27.40 2.34 60.04 0.96 0.15*6.4:1
HAMVOND CR.BuRN -1967 ~.24*8.12*1.73 28.21 2.59 59.35 1.01 0.13*8.1:1
H.AJvYvtlND CR.CONTROL 57.10 9.l}1,81 28.62 2,60 57.68 1.05 '0.14 7.7:1
WILLOt!
RELAY STATI ON CONTROL 55.20 7.61 3.91 31.12 3.49 53.87 1.39 0.18 7.8:1
RELAY STATI ON BURN -1969 57.63*8.EO*2.86*28.68*3.13 56.73 1.00*0.19*5.2:1*
RELAY STATION BURN -1968 53.15*7.27 4.64*28.65*3.25 ~.19 1.38 0,18 7,8:1
HAMMoND CR.BURN -1967 53.49*7,74 5.54*27.l}*3.09 56.34 1.32*0.18 7.3:1*
HAMIOND CR.CoNTROL 54.73 7.47 4.00 28.77 3.l}55.67 1.55 0.18 8.4:1
SERVICEBERRY
RELAY STATION CONTROL 55.09 9.14 2.44 27.95 2.84 57;63 1.07 0.16 6.7:1
RELAY STATION BURN -1969 54.42 10.04*1.95 27,16 2.95 57.90 1.17*0.16 7.2:1
RELAY STATION BURN -1968 51.90*9.28 3.33*26.74*2,77,57.88 0.91*0.15 6.0:1*
HAMMoND CR.BURN -1967 53.9)*9.48 3.25 25.20*2.79 59.28 1.08 ,0.15*7.1:1*
HAMrtoND CR.CONTROL ~.30 .9.44 2.62 26.39 2.86 58.69 1.10 0.17 6.5:1
~
~~r:1 D"7J r:--n trm::l rr:"1:l ~'roo [["J r:-J le:t:Il r-J r---J c:J [""""""}r-l c-:J cr-J
TABLE 7.CDNTINlfD,
NITROGEN-
SPEC I ES I STLIDY SITE AND CRUDE .CRLIDE FREE PHOS-C:P
TREATMENT DATE MoISTURE PROTEIN FAT FIBER AsH ExTRACT CALC I UM PHORUS RATIO
r'bUNTAI N MAPLE
RELAY STATION CONTROL 55.22 8.19 3.26 34.14 3.02 51.39 0,86 0.16 5.3:1
RELAY STATION BURN -1969 57.97*8.82*2,36*36.12*2,81 LfL89 0.85 0.17 5.0:1
RELAY STATION BURN -1968 54.26*8.58 3.28 37.98*2.44 L17.72 0.74*0.16 4.8:1
HAMMOND CR.BURN -1967 56.34*8.87*3.39 35.74*2.45 LfJ.55 0,62*0.15*4.2:1*
HAMvnND CR.CoNTROL 58.LfJ 9.29 2,97 .33.86 3.29 50.59 0.93 0.18 5.0:1
~ALL MEASUREMENTS IN PERCENT OF TOTAL DRY WEIGHT.
*SAMPLES COLLECTED IN FEBRUARY AND ~R~H I 1970.
DI FFERENT FROfvl CONTROL AT ,01 LEVEL.
~
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~~......--,~~~~~I"'T""'7"i'.m--"1 ~~('"")r--'"'1 'l.....--..1--',.--.,~r---'1l,I "'I~~~~j ,I,i.1 ~k ,,'Il J J."d IJ 1.,1 14.'-1,'i~J "'.ll~llL_'j~\..1;1,I "Ill)\J,l,-,.c,;"V t,L Hi,.;.,'I.U L ,J l,,,i,..Ld \""i I""",lJ k.,'!~..J l.:".,J ~"-]~-,J }'"I.'J U'"J .iJ
TABLE 9.C(J'1BINED NlITRITIVE Cf1'1ffiSITION OF 1ffi'1I~LFOUR INCHES OF CAG FRav1 KEY BROWSE SPECIES ,ON
BURNBJ AND MJNBlJRNED SITES I NTHE AVERY AND LOCHSA STUDY AREAS.1,2
,CRUDE CRUDE ~I~EN-'C.pRIT•
SPECIES AND TREATMENT r1JISTURE PROTEIN FAT FIBER ASH ExTRACT CALCIUM PHOSPHORUS RATIO
REDSTEM CEANOTHUS
8Yi.RY
BURNED ~8.47 8.51 1.54 28.03 2.47 59.45 0.94 0.14 6.8:1
NONBURNED 56.00 9,32 1.67 28.20 2.60 58,20 0.98 0.13 7.3:1
,WILLCkI
BURNED 54,76 7.87 4.35 28.21 3.16 56.42 1.23 0.18 6,8:1
NONB URN ED 54.96 7,54 4,36 29.94 3.39 54.77 1.47 0.18 8.1:1
SERVICEBERRY
BURNED 53.27 9.fD 2.84 26.37 2.84 58.35 1.05 0.15 6.8:1
NONBURNED -55,70 9.29 2.53 27,17 2.85 58.16 1.08 0.16 6.6:1
r1oLt:JTAI N MAPLE
BURNED 56,19 8.76 3.01 36.61 2.57 49.05 0.74 0.16 4.7:1
NONBURNED 56.86 8.74 3.12 34.00 /3.16 5()'99 0.90 0.17 5.2:1
REDSTEM CEANOTI-lUS
LOCHS8.
BuRNED 54.56 8.57 1,73 28.83 2.59 58.28,0.97 0.13 7.6:1
NONBURNED 53.91 8.66 1.65 29.24 2.48 57,97 1.01 0.13 8.1:1
WILLOd
BURNED 53.23 7.76 4.19 29.90 3.33 54.81 1.34 0.18 7.5:1
NoNBURNED 52.58 7.38 4,20 32.00 3,39 52.22 1.44 0.18 .8.0:1
1 ALL MEASUREMENTS IN PERCENT OF TOTAL DRY WEIGHT,~2 SN-1PLES COLLECTED IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH I 1970..
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34
indicator of forage quality.Forage nutrient content yields limited infor-
mation concerning physiological values to the animals utilizing the forage.
Big ,game animals utilizing the browse species evaluated are all forest
ungu1ates--name1y deer,elk,and moose.As ruminants,they are the near
ultimate in walking fermentation vats (Picton 1970).The rumen and its
associated microbial population is an ecosystem in its own right.As such,
it is dynamically involved in the conversion of stored plant energy to
usable animal energy.Forage digestibility is another indicator of the
efficiency of this energy conversion and therefore of forage quality.Thus,
digestibility determinations of the browse species I studied as well as
other forage species is here recommended as a supplemental means of evaluating
the qualitative physiological effects of the prescribed burning program to
the big game species involved.Of several techniques available for deter-
mining forage digestibility,the in vitro methods developed by Tilly and
Terry (1963)and modified by Pearson (1970)may be the most logical to use
in further investigations because of the simplicity,speed,precision,and
economy involved.
Crude Protein
Crude protein content was higher in 5 of 6 significant comparisons
the first year after burning.This effect was not apparent in the second
and third years after burning.Serviceberry contained the highest protein
content,averaging 9.60 percent on burns,and willow was the lowest aver-
aging 7.82 percent'on burns (Figures 3 and 4).This relationship was also
true on nonburnedsites.
Protein is an essential dietary constituent of animals required not
5
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35
10
-----fJbUNTAI N Ma.PLE 1 - - - -SERVI CEBERRY
REDSTEM CEANOTHUS I I\WILLOtJ.\
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FIGURE 3.RELATIVE NUTRITIVE COMPOSITION OF FOUR KEY BROtJSE SPECIES
ON AVERY BURNED SITES,ALL MEASUREMENTS IN PERCENT OF TOTAL
DRY WEIGHT,
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REDSID1 CEANOTHUS
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FIGURE 4,RELATIVE NUTRITIVE CC1v1POSITION OF lWO KEY BRCMSE SPECIES ON
LocHSA BURNED SITES,ALL MEASUREMENTS IN PERCENT OF TOTAL
DRY WEIGHT,
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only for body maintenance,growth,reproduction,and lactation;but also for
effective digestion and metabolism of carbohydrates and fats (Dietz 1965).
Dietary protein levels of 13 to 16 percent are suggested for lI op timum ll growth
and 6 to 7 percent for maintenance in big game animals (French et al.1955,
Dietz 1965).The National Research Council (NRC)(1964)recommends protein
levels of approximately 7 to 11 percent for domestic sheep.If these values
are applicable,then the preferred browse species which I analyzed are
strictly maintenance forages during the later stages of dormancy.In
addition,calf and/or fawn survival may be directly affected by these
apparent low protein levels.Several investigators (Kitts et al.1956,
Murphy and Coates 1966,Verme 1962)have shown that pre-and post-natal
mortality in fawns may be traced to delayed milk production and/or failure
to produce milk in undernourished does.Young per female and post-natal
development are also directly related to the dietary protein level.
It is interesting to note that redstem ceanothus was lower in protein
content in 4 of 5 significant comparisons over the three years of burns on both
study areas ..It is the only species to show this trend.Leege (1971)noted
the same effect in redstem when entire sprouts were analyzed.Collection
methods may be responsible for this.On burned sites twigs may contain longer
internodes and fewer lateral buds within the established collection length
(Dills 1970).
MY data do not support the contention that big game select or prefer
certain browse species over others on the basis of higher protein content as
has been implied by a number of workers (Bissell and Strong 1955,Dietz 1958,
Knoche 1968,Swift 1948).Utilization data indicate a strong preference for
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redstem ceanothus,yet serviceberry protein content averaged 1.1 percent higher
on burned sites during the dormant winter stage I studied.
Fat
Crude fat (ether"extract)was lower in the only 2 significant compari-
sons and in 3 of 3 nonsignificant comparisons the first year after burning,
but higher in 4 of 4 significant comparisons and 5 of 7 nonsignificant compari-
sons in the secon-d and third years after burning.Willow was highest in fat,
averaging 4.27 percent on burns and 4.28 percent on controls,while redstem
was lowest~averaging 1.64 percent on burns and 1.66 percent on controls
(Figures 3 and 4).Fat content tended to increase from the first through the
third year after burning in all species examined.
Although ruminants are not dependent on fat because it can be syn-
thesized in the rumen from carbohydrates and proteins,it does provide an
efficient immediate energy source (Dietz 1965).True fats or esterified
fatty acids provide about 2.25 times more energy than carbohydrates and
proteins.However,less than one-half of ether extract in plants is reported
to be true fat (Sullivan 1962).
Crude Fiber
Crude fiber was lower in 8 of 11 significant comparisons and 5 of 7
nonsignificant comparisons for all three years of burns over the Avery and
Lochsa study areas.Mountain maple showed the highest crude fiber content
on burned areas,averaging 36.61 percent,while serviceberry was lowest,
averaging 26.37 vercent(Figure 3).In addition,mountain maple was the only
species to show a significant increase in crude fiber for all three years of
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burns compared to nonburned sites,whereas willow was consistently lower
(P>.Ol)in crude fiber on burns.
Cellulose,hemicellulose,lignins,and related compounds are respons-
ible for the relative indigestibility of crude fiber.However,ruminants are
generally able to digest at least 50 percent of the crude fiber of most feeds
with the constituents of mature plants less well digested than they are in
young growing plants (Maynard and Loosli 1962).Short (1966)has demonstrated
an inverse relationship between the dietary cellulose content and both
digestible energy and digestible dry matter.Thus,burning increased the
overall digestibility of the browse species studied for at least three years.
Ash
Total mineral content or ash showed no apparent trends for any browse
species studied.However,14 of 16 nonsignificant comparisons were lower over
the three years of burns on both study areas.Calcium and phosphorus
analyses are discussed later.
Nitrogen-Free Extract (NFE)
NFE represents that portion of a plant remaining after the dry weight
percentages of ash,crude fiber,crude fat,and crude protein are substracted
from 100.This fraction contains most of the more soluble carbohydrates like
sugars and starch and some of the less soluble forms discussed under crude
fiber.
NFE content was lower in 10 of 17 nonsignificant comparisons over the
three years of burns on the Avery and Lochsa study areas.Species comparisons
reveal a possible explanation for the high preference found for redstem by big
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40
game on the areas studied.The redstem carbohydrate fraction as reflected
in the NFE portion was higher in 95 percent of the comparisons with the other
three browse species examined.It is generally agreed that plants high in
slJgar content are selected by ruminants (Dietz 1970).
Ca 1ci um and Phosphorus
A significant decrease in calcium ·content occurred in 6 of 9 compari-
sons for the three years of burns.Eight of 9 nonsignificant comparisons
were also lower.Calcium was significantly lower in 5 of 6 comparisons over
the first two years of burns while phosphorus showed an inverse trend--3 of
3 significant comparisons were higher as were 4 of 6 nonsignificant compari-
sons.
The combined effect is a significant reduction in the calcium:
phosphorus (C:P)ratio for the first two years after burning.This effect
appears beneficial due to the high C:P ratio of shrub species on nonburned
sites.The C:P ratios in browse species I studied were considerably higher
than the desirable ratios suggested for domestic livestock--2:1 or 1:2--
and may be affecting reproduction of big game on these winter ranges.Phos-
phorus metabolism may be impaired or possibly result in a phosphorus defic-
iency when a wide C:P ratio exists (Maynard and Loosli 1962).However,wider
ratios are permissible when sufficient vitamin D is present in forage.A wide
C:P ratio or a phosphorus deficiency may result in weak young,decreased
lactation,failure to conceive,retarded growth,a high feed requirement,
unthrifty appearance and stiffness of joints among others (Dietz 1965).
The NRC (1964)-suggests ~minimum of 0.16 percent phosphorus be
present in forage fed pregnant ewes.If this can be applied to big game,then
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the redstem plants in the Avery and Lochsa study sites were deficient during
late dormancy.Combining burns and controls,Avery averaged 0.14 percent
phosphorus and the Lochsasites averaged 0.13 percent phosphorus.Mountain
maple and serviceberry averaged 0.16 percent phosphorus on both study areas.
Willow was by far the highest in phosphorus during the dormant season aver-
aging 0.18 percent-on both study areas (Figures 3 and 4).
Phosphorus is reportedly deficient in many forage species on western
.game ranges during the winter season and may be an important factor in the
low calf and/or fawn producti on on many of these ranges (Di etz 1965).Thus,
those species whi-ch maintain adequate phosphorus levels should be managed for
on winter ranges.Because willow shows the highest phosphorus content of the
iI
four key browse species on both burned and nonburned sites and because there
may be-an-overall deficiency'of phosphorus during the critical winter stress
period,every effort should be made to maintain and/or improve the status of
willow on these winter range sites.Willow also provides the highest immediate
energy source of the four key browse species examined,as noted earlier.
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42
Burn Intensity Effects
DeWitt and Derby's (1955)findings at the Patuxent Wildlife Research
Refuge suggest that the duration of nutritional effects is directly related to
the intensity of the burno Browse species on wildfire sites contained higher
protein content afte,r'two years compared to nonburned sites,whereas this
effect was present duri ng the fi rs t year on lyon low i ntens i ty pres cri bed
burns.This suggests that the spring burns I studied are of the low intensity
type and thus the reason for the rather short duration in nutritional effects.
No data were available regarding burn intensities on the study sites I
evaluated.
These low intensity spring burns are not characteristic of wildfire
intensities.The question should be asked:Is spring prescribed burning
accomplishing its main objective--that of replacing the natural fire regime
in the rejuvenation of big game winter ranges?There is no doubt that it is
beneficial from the standpoint of increasing browse-forage availability and
temporarily increasing nutrient quality.However,could these benefits and
perhaps more be gained by burning at a different time;for example,in the
fall which is more characteristic of wildfires?
The Bee Creek 1967 burn and the Relay Station 1968 burn point out one
possible problem of spring burning.When burning conditions are not ideal,
fi re cons umpti on of standi ng and downed dead growth and standi ng 1i ve growth
is minimal.In subsequent years (usually one to three)the charred standing
growth topples,creating nearly impenetrable brushfields.Big game movements
and travel under these circumstances are inhibited and such burns may be avoided
for this reason even though available CAG of palatable browse is abundant.
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CAG availability and utilization are adversely affected.Marginal,spring
burning conditions'foster this phenomenon.Admittedly,this is not a wi~e
spread problem,but fall burning should minimize this even further.Reburning
these sites as soon as ground fuels allow would also alleviate this problem.
A second problem with spring burning is the apparent low germination
rate,survival,and growth of redstem ceanothus--perhaps the most important
browse species for deer and elk on northern Idaho winter ranges (Leege 1969).
Of the four browse species I studied,redstem is certainly the most selected
species according to observations and CAG utilization counts on both burned
andnonburned sites.A fall burn on a Lochsa River winter range produced
242,000 redstem seedlings per acre the following spring;whereas,only about
60,000 redstem seedlings per acre germinated on an adjacent spring burn
(Leege 1969).Although the germination rate is thus higher with fall burns,
both spring and fall burns evidently produce adequate seedlings to restock an
area.High mortality of redstem seedlings is characteristic,however.Hickey
and Leege (1970)report a 91 percent loss of redstem seedlings on that fall
burn which produced 242,000 seedlings per acre--leaving 22,220 seedlings per
acre after the first growing season.Competition with'herbaceous vegetation
and desiccation are cited as critical seedling survival factors.
Orme's (1972)research on redstem seedling survival sheds further light
on this subject.His preliminary findings indicate that desiccation due to
lack of moisture is the major cause of mortality and occurs primarily in
August.Some mortality also occurs as .a result of animal activity (insects
and rodents)and from an unidentified chlorotic condition--perhaps a mineral
deficiency--during early summer.Redstem seedlings growing under no competition
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and 25 percent shade had much larger leaves,thicker stems,and more leaves
per plant than seedlings in the other three treatments.Approximately 41
percent survival existed after the first growing season.Orme also noted
these same vigor characteristics present in fall-burn seedlings.Seedling
survival on transects with no competition and 100 percent shade was about
20 percent,with nn competition and 0 percent shade about 10 percent,and
with natural shade and competition about 4 percent.
Thus,restocking of an area with redstem may be enhanced more by
fall burning'compared to spring burning from the viewpoints of higher germi-
nation and'survival and more vigorous plants.With fall burns most seeds
would germinate the following spring and growth would be initiated concurrently
with competing herbaceous vegetation (e.g.,bracken fern and thimbleberry)
instead of after competitors have put out extensive root sys~ems and estab-
lished themselves the previous summer.
Fi na lly,the 1ongevi ty of nutriti ona 1 benefi ts deri ved from pres-
cribed fires would be maximized through higher intensity fall burns.A
direct relationship exists between burn intensity and duration of nutritional
effects (DeWitt and Derby 1955,Einarson 1946).The feasibility of utilizing
fall prescribed burning for winter range rejuvenation needs further investi-
gation and evaluation.Perhaps both spring and fall burning have their
places as management tools.Fall burning might be prescribed for winter range
areas where a mi nimum erosi on hazard to the base resource exists and where
burn'-area boundaries are not critical.
CAG Length-Weight Relationships
Polynomial regression equations showing CAG length-weight relationships
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for redstem ceanothus and willow on the Avery and Lochsa study areas appear
in Tables 10 and 11.The equations were derived from 2671 paired measure-
ments of 7450 twigs.Mean twig weight was used where more than one twig
occurred per length class.
A curvilinear relationship was suspected from rough plotting of
selected data and-personal knowledge of growth characteristics.Negative
V-intercept values of first degree polynomials along with highly significant
F tests for improvement in terms of sums of squares due to fitting a second
degree polynomial verified a nonlinear relationship.Third degree poly-
nomials yielded some improvement in terms of sums of squares but did not
increase the multiple correlation coefficient appreciably.In addition,
completely erroneous weight estimates in the lower length classes are given
by third degree equations,particularly-with willow.The second degree poly-
nomial regression equation used is:
Twig Weight =A +Bl (Twig Length)+B2 (Twig Length)2
These equations should not be used for computing stand mean twig weights
unless,the stand mean twig length has been weighted on the basis of the number
of twigs occurring in various length classes from random samples of the popula-
tion.
Browse Production and Availability
Mean Maximum-Canopy'Height Changes
Mean maximum crown height measurements at Avery (Figure 5)show a
significant decrease in shrub height and apparent increase in CAG availability
following burning for three tall-growing browse species--namely mountain maple,
serviceberry,and willow.Only willow exceeded the arbitrary 8-foot
r7:J~c-::-Jc:::Jr:-:J~c-:J[C"]C[]G:'C]C""Jcr::nr:Jr-J~LJc-J~J
TABI£10.REGRESSION EQUATION COEFFICIENTS AND CORRElATION COEFFICIENTS (R)FOR Dm~~INING TWIG v[IG~
FRf11 TWI G LENG1H ON rAG OF REDSID1 CEANOTHUS.
STUDY AREA AND SJlMPLE CoNSTANTS
TREAlMENT SIZE R S Y,X A Bl B2
8VERY
CoMB I NED ANALYS IS
NONBURNED 165 0,9745 0,4866 0.1377 0.0040 0,0013
BuRNED (2-3 YEARS OLD)201 0.9614 0,6666 -0,0656 0,0081 0,0010
INDIVIDUAL ANALYSIS
RELAY STATION CoNTROL 91 0.9796 0,5324 -0,0136 0,0125 0.0012
HAMMOND CREEK CONTROL 74 0,9691 .0,269)0,1878 -0,0089 0.0012
HAMMoND CREEK 1967 BURN 83 0,9709 0.2612 0,2146 -0,0088 0,0013
RELAY STATION 1968 BuRN li8 0,9541 0,8417 -0,2292 o,om 0,0000
!..O.CHSA
CcM3 I NED ANALYS IS
NONBURNED Il3 0.9581 O,~3 -0.4728 0,0478 0,0006
BuRNED Cl-3 YEARS OLD)410 0,969:1 1.7858 0,1214 0.0132 0,0011
INDIVIDUAL ANALYSIS
LONE KNOB CoNTROL liO 0,9652 0.59:17 -0.3233 0.0331 0,0007
FISH CREEK CoNTROL 101 0.9571 0.5157 -0.29)9 0.0342 0.0008
BEE CREEK CoNTROL 92 0.9757 0.3587 -0,2701 0.0283 0,0011
BEE CREEK 1967 BURN 132 0,9748 0,8857 -0,4283 0,0367 0.0011
FISH CREEK 1968 BURN lJ7 0,9770 0,7631 -0,0142 0,0075 0,0013
loNE KNOB 1969 BuRN 161 0,9716 2,1006 1.1266 -0,0524 0,0015 ffi
~C':":'1 C"':"1 C7:1 C7J [['TI CJJJ IJ:':"!I rrIJ rrJ c-J ceo r:l c-J ~.D c-J'
TABLE 11,REGRESSION EQUATION COEFFICIENTS AND CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS (R)FOR IJETrnv1INIf\G lWIG
WEI GHT FRC1"1 TWI GLENGTH ON CAG OF WI LLOW ,
STUDY AREA AND S,AMPLE CoNSTANTS
TREATMENT SIZE R S Y,X A Bl B2
8YfRJ::
COMBINED ANALYSIS
NoNBURNED 206 0,9713 1,1753 0,7200 -0,0331 0,0011
BURNED (1-3 YEARS OLD))f3 0.9691 3,5691 1,4831 -0,0678 0.0013
INDIVIDUAL ANALYSIS
RELAY STATION CONTROL 122 0,9721 l,Lj()36 0,9219 -O,Ol.J49 0,0012
HMvVvlOND CREEK CoNTROL 84 O,96:D 0,6408 0,0138 0,0084 0.em7
HAMMOND CREEK 1967 BURN 158 0,9776 1,0588 0,6841 -0,0373 0,0012
RELAY STATION 1968 BURN 190 0,9688 2,3930 1.8271 -0.0932 0,0016
RELAY STATION 1969 BURN 225 0.9708 4.8169 2.9207 -0.1127 0.0015
LOCl:JS8.
CoMBINED ANALYSIS
NONBURNED 216 0.9675 1.1888 -0.0692 0.0041 0.0008
BURNED (1-3 YEARS OLD)597 0.9724 3.8284 1,7379 -0,0658 0.0012
INDIVIDUAL ANALYSIS
LONE KNOB CoNTROL 103 0,9715 1.1114 0.1722 -0.0070 0.lID9
FISH CREEK CONTROL 113 0,968]1.198J -0.2284 0.0108 0.0008
BEE CREEK 1967 BURN 132·,0.9823 0.4184 0.1958
-0.0033 0.CXXl9
FISH CREEK 1968 BURN 196 0,9740 1.3745 O,9:D5 -0.0481 0.0012
LONE KNOB 1969 BURN 269 0.9702 5.2428 2.7940 -0.1146 0.0013 ~
I[3
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48
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.~4-~2
0
Mm.MAPLE SERVICEBERRY WILLOW
AVERY
REDSTEM
REDSTEMWILl.0;tIMm.MAPLE
18 r •_NONBURNED
16 ~I ~1 YEAR AFTER B~NIt\G
!14
1:::::::3 2 YEARS AFTER BURN I NG
~3 YEARS AFTER BURNING-!i:12
(.!)-~10
z~8
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SERVICEBERRY
I.DCHSA
FIGURE 5.MEAN MAXIMLM CRO;tIN HEIGHT CHANGES AND APPARENT BROWSE AVAILABILIlY
IN FOUR KEY BROWSE SPECIES.
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49
unavailability height after'two years.However~willow sprouts 9.8 feet high
were measured on burns after only one growing season.Heavy summer use of
CAG on the three-year~old burn at Avery was responsible for the decrease in
maximum height three years after treatment.
Plants in the Lochsa area (Figure 5)show a similar response the first
two years~but by the end of the third year following prescribed burning all
three tall-growing browse species had exceeded the 8-foot height and willow
sprouts 9.6 feet high were recorded after only one growing season.Mountain
maple was absent in the one-year-old Lochsa burn.The potential for tall-
growing shrubs to grow quickly out of reach of big game animals is evident
in the burned vs.nonburned comparisons.
Because mean maximum crown heights are represented for the plants
measured~these figures are not indicative of the majority of CAG in the
canopy.The shortcomings of us i ng crown hei ght measurements as the sol e
index of CAG avail abil i ty ~parti cul arly under wi nter condi ti ons ~wi 11 be
apparent from the twig count data presented below.
Height-Stratified Twig Counts
Twig counts for production~availability and utilization did not take
into account unavailability due to twigs growing in the old decadent growth
and/or downfalls,This factor~undoubtedly would have lowered available pro-
duction in control or nonburned sites more so than on burned sites.In
addition~production estimates would have been more accurate if sprouts and
twigs or lateral growth had been classified separately--particularly after the
first growing season following burning--but both were combined in determina-
ti ons.
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Height-stratified twig counts on redstem ceanothus in the Avery study
area (Figure 6)show that the winter availability of CAG increased from 4.2
percent the fi rst year after'burni ng,to 32.9 percent the second year,to
50.0 percent the third year compared to 90.6 percent on controls for the same
period.Lochsa burns showed increasing winter availability also,but to a
greater degree (Figure 6).After one year 39.1 percent of the CAG was avail-
able 9 73.1 percent after two years,and 93.2 percent after three years.This
is comparable to the 90.7 available on control plants.
Availability of CAG on willow plants in burns was increased consider-
ably over control plants (Figure 7).Avery willow plants averaged only 28.3
percent of the CAG available on controls while first year burns averaged 68.3
percent,second year burns averaged 87.8 percent,and third year burns averaged
91.7 percent.Lochsa burned sites showed 86.2 percent of the CAG available
after one year,89.4 percent after two years and 56.5 percent after three years
compared to a control mean of 43.7 percent for the same period.
These CAG availability values are considerably lower than the values
indicated in Figure 5 from mean maximum crown height measurements.Although
the height-stratified twig count data itself can be criticized on the basis
of the arbitrary heights used for availability inclusion,it is more realistic
than mean maximum crown heights.
First year sprouts of redstem were particularly susceptible to snow
bending.I frequently found long sprouts on first year burns and whole
branches of redstem on two,three and four year old burns bent nearly parallel
to the ground during spring twig and pellet group counts.This phenomenon
was not noticed to any degree on older redstem plants in the control sites nor
rr:r::;r-:J em C--::J rnt"']C'1J a::::1l 0'7"J crJ c-J c::n r-J !:-l ~r-J ~r--J c--J
CONTROL3
YEARS AFTER TREATMENT
LOCHSA
II AVAI LABLE
~UNAVAI LABLE
CONTROL2 3
YEARS AFTER TREATMENT
AVER{
100
~90
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a-:::~70
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~.60
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FIGURE 6.PERCENT AVAILABILITY OF CURRENT ANNUAL GRCWTH OF REDSTEM CEANOTHUS (CEANOTHUS SANGUINEUS)ON
lHE AVERY AND LOCHSA STUDY AREAS..
~
n:T:r-7::r-:;ern C""'''D ~c-D C]on rn ."c-J c::1l r:J r-J ~'r-J r-J :--J u]
YEARS AFTER TREAlMENT
AVERY
II AVAILABLE
~.UNAVAILABLE
CONTROL
LOCHSA
1
YEARS AFTER TREAlMENT
CONTROL321
100
!z 90
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~70
m
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en 30
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FIGURE 7.PERCENT AVAILABILITY OF CURRENT ANNUAL GROtfTH OF WILLOW (SALIX SPP.)ONTHE AVERY AND LOCHSA
STUDY AREAS.
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53
was snow bending an appreciable factor affecting CAG availability of the tall-
growing species.Hungerford (1964)feels that snow density is the most impor-
tant factor affecting browse availability above snow pack.He also found
redstem subject to greater snow bending than willow,serviceberry and western
red cedar.Cedar availability was also affected measurably.The greatest
effect on browse availability occurred when snow pack built on early,wet,
frozen snow.
Production Effects
Due to unequal densities of key browse species on study sites,pres-
cribed burning effects on production or yield are here compared on a per
plant basis.Table 12 summarizes twig count data taken in the spring of
1970 and lists mean number of twigs per plant,mean twig weights and the
resultant total production estimate based on the latter two statistics.
Total production here refers to that present for winter utilization.Control
plant production is the average CAG production for all controls during the
1969 growing season.First and third year production available for winter use
on the Avery burn sites was decidedly lowered by heavy summer use.Intensive
summer use of redstem in the Relay Station 1969 burn at Avery precluded
obtaining adequate CAG growth for a mean twig weight determination.Therefore,
the Lochsa value for the first year after burning was used.
Available redstem production on a per plant basis in the Avery study
area did not attain control levels after three years (Figure 8).While
control plants averaged 50.8 grams of available CAG,the burns averaged 1.8
grams the first year,31.3 grams the second year,and 6.4 grams the third year.
~t':':"J r:J -CTT'J C""1'l Clin J c:J cr::::::J)ern rr-J r:J CT:I:I r-J r-J r-:-J ~r--J r-J crl
TABlE 12,f'l£L\N lWIG VEIGm-,fJEAN NIM3ER OF TWIGSf.\ND f'fAN TOTAL PRODOCTION PER PLANT FOR REDSTEM
CEAf'KlTHUS AND WILLOW ON l1-IE AVERY f.\ND LOCHSl\STUDY SITES,
YEARS AFfER TREATfVENT
1ST 2tID.3Ru CoNTROL
SPECIES AND STUDY SITE AVERY LOCHSA AVERY LoCHSA AVERY LOCHSA AVERY LoCHSA
REnsTEM CEANQlliUS
~AN No,Tw IGS PER PLANT 6,32 8,08 3O,l.J()21.76 15,96 l.J(),96 46,22 46,49
MEAN TWIG WEIGHT (GRAMS)6,61*6,61 2,58 3,24 1,06 1.85 1,14 1,17
MEAN TOTAL PRODUCTION 41,78 53,41 78,43 70.50 16.92 75.78 56,22 53.81
PER PLANT (GRAMS)
WILLOW
rbN No.TWI GS PER PLANT 43.60 25,28 125.88 94.56 113.24 156.48 163,80 136.04
MEAN TWIG WEIGHT (GRAMS)10,48 13,92 4.16 4.04 2.17 0.96 2,06 1,33
MEAN TOTAL PRODUCTION l66,93 351.90 523.66 382.02 245.73 fl)'22 3LiO.37 180.82
PER PLANT (GRAMS)
*USED LOCHSA VALUE (SEE TEXT PAGE 53)
)9
rr-r;~r:J ~f c--:J Gi.urL.'tr"1J CJ}rrn rrrJ c=J =n r-J rJ r-:-J r--1i r-J r---J \T"]
o 1 2 3 OONTROL 1 2 3 CONTROL
YEARS AFTER TREATMENT YEARS AFTER TREATMENT
~~.~~
FIGURE,8.PRODOCTION COMPARISONS BY AVAILABILITY ZONES FOR REDSTEM CEANOTHUS (CEANQTHUS SANGUINEUS)ON
THE AVERY AND LOCHS A STUDY AREAS.t:A
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56
Unavailable production corresponded to 40.0 grams per plant the first year,
47.1 grams the second year and 10.5 grams the third year while controls
averaged 5.4 grams per plant unavailable.Redstem plants on Lochsa burned
sites (Figure 8)exceeded control plants in available production by the end
of the second year.Burned one-year-old plants produced 20.9 grams of
available CAG,two-year-old plants produced 52.6 grams and three-year-old
plants produced 68.5 grams compared to 47.9 grams on control plants.Unavail-
able production of redstem plants in Lochsa burns correspondingly declined
from 32.5 grams tb 17.9 grams to 7.2 grams the first through the third years
after burning,respectively,while control plants averaged 5.9 grams per
plant unavailable for the same period.
Wi 11 ow producti on exceeded controls on a 11 three years of burns in
both study areas (Figure 9).First year burns at Avery produced 311.9 grams.
of available CAG,per plant,460.0 grams the second year and 224.6 grams the
third year compared to only 87.5 grams per plant on controls.Correspondingly,
unavailable production declined from 145.0 to 63.6 to 21.2 grams per plant
the first,second and third years after burning,respectively,while controls
averaged 252.9 grams of unavailable browse.Willow production in Lochsa burns
was considerably higher in available CAG the first two years,303.4 grams per
plant the first year and 341.5 grams per plant the second year,but only
slightly higher than controls the third year--84.8 grams compared to 79.5
grams.Unavailable production was 48.5,40.5 and 65.4 grams per plant the
first,second,and third years after burning,respectively,while control
plants averaged 101.3 grams of unavailable production.
~C:7'1 ~ern
..~,...-"
c--:;etn:jj C'"1J ~ern co L:'"'""J C':':]'r-J r-J r-=J r-J c-J c-:-:J crJ
CONTROL
48J
4l()
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3ffi0..
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0 1 2
•AVAILABLE
~UNAVAILABLE
3
~.~,.,••·.,I ••
••I,..·.',..
,••I,..·.',..••,..·.',..••,..·.',..·.',..·.',..·.'••·.'••·.'.:.:
::::·.'••••IIe.·..'Ie.·.'• •..',..••....
".."'
I ••••
1 2 3 CONTROL
YEARS AFTER TREATMENT
AVErN
YEARS AFTER TREATMENT
LOCHSA
FIGURE 9.PRODUCTION COMPARISONS BY AVAILABILITY ZONES FOR WILL()l (SALIX SPP.)ON ll-iE AVERY AND LOCHSA ~
STUDY AREAS.'
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Relative Use of Burned Vs.Nonburned Sites
Browse Utilization Effects
It was apparent from pilot studies at Hatter Creek that big game
preferred browsing the new growth on burned sites over the CAG of adjacent
nonburned sites.In addition,plant species such as thimbleberry (Rubus
parviflorus),ninebark (Physocarpus malvaceus),oceanspray (Holodiscus
discolor),syringa (Philadelphus lewisii)and bracken fern which are
normally not preferred forage species in northern Idaho were being readily
taken on burned sites--particularly the first growing season.Leege (1969)
also noted this.
This preference for burned areas compared to nonburned areas is
demonstrated in the CAG utilization counts on redstem and willow in the
Avery and Lochsa study sites (Table 13).Summer utilization during the
first growing sedson on redstem was 62.8 percent on the 1969 Avery burn and
54.6 percent on the 1969 Lochsa burn while controls averaged only 0.4 per-
cent and 7.9 percent,respectively.
In comparison,summer utilization on willow during the first growing
season was 43.1 percent on the 1969 Avery burn and 22.2 percent on the 1969
Lochsa burn while controls showed no appreciable use.A definite summer
preference for redstem is apparent.Redstem was the only browse species in my
study sites which received any measurable summer use after the first growing
season,with cascara (Rhamnus purshiana)being a possible exception.
Winter utilization measurements are based on twig counts in the
available zone only.Again higher browse palatability is apparent on the
burned sites compared to the nonburned sites except on the 1968 and 1969 Avery
c
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.59
TABLE B.BROWSE UTILIZATION IN SUfiVER AND WINTER ON THE AVERY AND
LOCHSA STUDY AREAS.1
_MEAN PERCEf'IT OF TWIGS BROdSED
SPECIES AND SUflMER WINTER
TREATMEf'IT 1969 1970 1969-70 1970-71
REDSTEM CEANQlliUS
8Y£BY.-RELAY STATION 1969 BURN 62.8 27.7 18.2 28.0
RELAY STATION 1968 BURN 0.5 13.4 29.0 25.5
HAMMOND CREEK 1967 BURN 46.3 24.2 87.2 73.9
HAMMOND CREEK CONTROL 14.6 14.8 fi.8 70.7
RELAY STATION CoNTROL O.Ll 11.6 33.3 36.4
LOCHSA -.LONE KNOB 1969 BURN 54.6 26.5 68.0 68.5
FISH CREEK 1968 BURN 10.2 0.4 59.6 83.9
BE·E CREEK 1967 BURN ·0.0 0.1 14.3 33.3
BEE CREEK 1969 BURN --1.4 62.6
BEE CREEK CoNTROL 0.5 0.0 3.3 13.1
FISH CREEK Cof'ITROL 0.8 0.7 34.0 31.3
LONE KNOB COf'ITROL 7.9 15.0 39.5 37.2
h/ILLCM
8Y£BY.-RELAY STATION 1969 BURN 43.1 --17.2
RELAY STATION 1968 BuRN 2.4 --8.8
HAMMOND CREEK 1967 BURN 7.2 --63.7
HAMMOND CREEK COf'ITROL 0.1 --:i).3
REl)\Y STATION COf'ITROL 0.8 --0.3
LOCHSA-LONE KNOB 1969 BURN 22.2 --69.8
FISH CREEK 1968 BuRN 4.3 --49.4
BEE CREEK 1967 BURN 0.0 --2.2
FISH CREEK COf'ITROL 0.0 --23.3
LONE KNOB CONTROL 0.0 --16.9
1 SAMPLE SIZE IS 25 PLANTS PER TREATMEf'IT.
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60
burns where their respective control received slightly higher use on redstem
during both the'1969-70 and 1970-71 winters.I feel this is largely a result
of winter availability of redstem coupled with number of years since burning.
For instance,the 1969 Avery burn which received only 18.2 percent utiliza-
tion on redstem during its first winter after burning had only 0.07 sprouts
and/or twigs available per plant while its "respective control had 54.4 twigs
available per plant.The 1968 Avery burn had only 12.12 sprouts and/or twigs
available per redstem plant at the same time.
Combined relative use comparisons of redstem ceanothus and willow based
on percent of twigs browsed (utilization)for burned vs.nonburned study sites
appear in Figures 10,11 and 12.These graphs illustrate that the higher
preference for burned areas is not a temporary effect,as was found in Texas
(Lay 1967),but rather that it is still present in most cases after three years.
Leege~s (1969)work on the Lochsa River drainage not only supports the
latter'point but demonstrates it in another way.He found significant increases
in the browsing diameter of woody species on burned areas.Willow and mountain
maple had significantly larger browsing diameters after the second winter
following burning.
The Avery twig utilization results (Table 13),especially on the 1969
Relay Station burn and on the 1967 Hammond Creek burn during the summer of
1969,point out the problem of (1)burning toO'small an area and (2)burning
too few areas on a given tract of range.My Hatter Creek pilot burns also
clearly indicate this.When the root reserves of plants like redstem are not
replenished during regrowth the first growing season following burning,their
vigor is seriously lowered and they may never attain their potential vigor.
rTJ ~r-::rTTI ~ll rrnrcJ rr:-1lI rc:::J rr:o mn C""J co r-J r-----I
L i r-:J C--J '::--1 CJ cr-.J
AV UNAV
WINTER 1970-71
AV
SUMvlER 1969
II BURNED
~NONBURNED
AV =AVAILABLE
UNAV=UNAVAILABLE
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AV UNAV AV
WI NTER 1969-70 SUMv1ER 1970
.PERIOD OF USE
FIGURE 10.CavtPARISON OF RELATIVE WINTER AND SUMv1ER USE ON REDSTEM CEANOTHUS (CEAf\QIHUS SANGUINEUS)BY
BIG GftME ON BURNED AND NONBURNED SITES IN lHE AVERY STUDY AREA,BASED ON PERCENT UTILIZATION.
gl
;\~,............,L 1·lleJ1 ~..:I_;I,~j r-::J C'TO cr:-1 ["Lli"J [C"1l tIC,.S>trm mTJ n cr::J r--"'1
'"[;It r-J r-::J ~c--J c:-J.,[T""J
AV UNAV
WI NTER 1970-71
AV
SLMvlER 1969
o
AV UNAV AV
WI NTER 1969-70 SUt'MER 1970
PERIOD OF USE
FIGURE 11.Cav1PARISON OF RELATIVE WINTER AND SUMvlER USE ON REDSTEM CEANOTHUS CCEANQTHUS SANGUINEUS)BY
I BIG GAME ON BURNED AND NONBURNED SITES IN THE LOCHSA STUDY AREA,BASED ON PERCENT UTILIZATION.
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StJlMER 1969 WINTER 1969-70
AVERY
AV AV UNAV
Sl.JvVv1ER 1969 WI NTER 1969-70
LOCHSA
PERIOD OF USE ,AND STUDY AREA
FIGURE 12,Cav1PARISON OF RELATIVE WINTER AND SlJIV'MER USE ON WILLOW (SALIX SPP,)BY BIG GM"'E ON BURNED
AND NONBURNED SITES IN THE AVERY AND LOCHSA STUDY AREAS,BASED ON PERCENT UTILIZATION,
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Winter CAGavaila~ility is also lowered decidedly.In addition,repeated
heavy utilization,as occurred on a number of redstem plants in the 1967
Hammond Creek burn,may result in death of the plant.
Another advantage of'burning scattered areas on a tract of range
is that with'heavier summer use in the burned areas,big game animals may
utilize more fully the CAG'available in the nonburned adjacent areas during
the winter period •.Thus the nonburned areas may receive a regrowth stimulus,
maintain'better'growth form and animal distribution and use may be more
unifor~over the'entfrewinter range.
Pellet Group Counts
To better evaluate and document the apparent preference for recently
burned areas by big game,pellet group counts were made in conjunction with
twig counts.This index was used realizing the inherent drawbacks to the
pellet group technique (Neff 1968).The study sites are nearly homo-
geneous seral brushfield types and should therefore be comparable using
pellet group counts as a relative use index.
At the Hatter Creek deer enclosure a 1968 fall burn and a 1969 spring
burn were sampled in October,1969,to compare relative summer use.On
the fall burn,438 white-tailed deer pellet groups per acre were counted
compared to 100 per acre on an adjacent nonburned site (a 438 percent
increase).The spring burn yielded 346 pellet groups per acre compared to
only 65 pellet groups per acre on a nearby nonburned site (a 532 percent
increase).Although these plots were not cleared and more pellet groups
may have been missed in nonburned sites,these counts show a strong prefer-
ence by white-tailed deer for the burned sites.
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Pellet group counts taken on specific study sites in the Avery and
Lochsa study areas are summarized in Table 14.Even though only 0.08 and
0.07 acres were sampled in the 1969 Bee Creek burn and in the Bee Creek
Control,respectively,they were sampled just as intensively as the 1967
Bee Creek burn on a unit area basis.Few deer were observed in or near any
of the Avery 'or Lochsa study areas and little evidence of their presence
was found (Table 14).
Combined pellet group counts indicate increases in elk use on burned
sites of up to 62 percent (winter 1969-70)and 77 percent (summer 1970)on
the Avery study area and up to 51 percent (summer 1970)and 382 percent
(winter 1970-71)on the Lochsa study area when compared to adjacent non-
burned sites (Figure 13).These counts also indicate relatively heavy
summer use on these winter ranges.
Using the number of pellet groups counted on an area as an index
of relative use by big game,the data indicate a higher summer and winter
use preference for the burned sites compared to the nonburned sites.In
addition,where burns of different years are adjacent to each other as in
the Relay Station sites of the Avery study area and the Bee Creek sites of
the Lochsa study area,a preference is shown for the most recent burn.Snow
conditions during the 1970-71 winter may have been the reason for fewer
pellet groups counted in the Relay Station burns than in the control.The
Relay Station control is slightly lower in elevation than the two burn sites.
In addition,the number of available redstem twigs was considerably lower in
the control-as noted earlier.
The pellet 'group data also point out that burned as well as nonburned
65
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TABLE 14,crJv1PARISON OF RELATIVE WHiTER AND Sl.MRUSE BY BIG GM ON SPECIFIC BURNED AND UNBURNED
SITES IN THE AVffiY AND LOCHSA STUDY AREAS,
Dr:ER PELlET GROUPS PER ACRE ELK PELLET GROUPS PER ACRE
ACRES \A/INTER SI..Mv1ER WINTER WINTER SlJMvlER WINTER
TREAlMENT SAfYlPLED 1969-70 1970 1970';'71 1969-70 1970 1970-71
AY£BY..
RELAY STATION 1969 BuRN 0,20 0 7 35 ffi 185 -45
RELAY STATION 1968 BURN 0,20 0 2 35 :D 75 35
RELAY STATION CONTROL 0,20 10 0 10 35 30 1:D
H~ND CREEK 1967 BuRN 0,20 0 2 0 3ltO 230 345
HAMMOND CREEK CONTROL 0,20 10 0 0 225 155 105
LOCI:IS8.O.~LONE KNOB 1969 BuRN 25 50 0 170 2:D 400
LONE KNOB CoNTROL 0,2 19 45 0 172 150 105
FISH CREEK 1968 BURN 0,20 0 0 0 90 105 530
FISH CREEK CONTROL 0,20 0 4 5 75 50 40
BEE CREEK 1969 BURN 0,08 25 8 0 62 88 212
BEE CREEK 1967 BURN 0.17 0 2 6 6 18 65
BEE CREEK CoNTROL 0,07 14 0 0 0 29 43
1 WINTER 1969-70 COUNTS INCLUDED 0,36 ACRES,ffi
[.I,.'j\~r-:;r:rn c-D "r::r!i':'1 ~\Ot:~.J I~\~l"•r--.,{JI-;",~J,';'UliL._.1-1':11...Ii ,'!""""j"",~),..---..~.---""-----.,,~:~'b,qli"i,~1i ..".nJ..;L./'le -.'..1.""-__"..0J '1..,.J'\_~\.I,li,_.,,J
300
250
AVERY,II~
LOCHSA ~~I::::t
BURNED
NONBURNED
BURNED
NONBURNED
g:]
.-.,..·.',..·.',..••,..·.',..·.',..·.'·..••••·.''..·.'••
WI NTER 1970-71
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SUMvlER 1970
PERIOD OF USE
FIGURE B.~PARISON OF RELATIVE WINTER AND SlJvYv1ER USE BY ELK (CEBYUS CANADENSIS)ON BURNED
AND NONBURNED SITES IN THE AVERY AND LOCHSA slDny AREAS,BASED ON PELLET GROUP COUNTS.,
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sites in the same 'general area (Lochsa and/orAvery'study areas)cannot
be compared directly because there are different big game populations
utilizing these sites.
Burning Effects on the Soil
While no measurements were made on soil movement or loss,I
observed no noticeable amounts of soil erosion on any of the study sites.
Some soil slips were observed near the Avery and Lochsa study areas--an
indication of soil instability.Hooker (1972)also found a minimum ero-
sion hazard associated with spring burns on his study sites in the Lochsa
River region'.His data indicate past and present periods of active soil
movement,primarily colluvial movement,which may be related to the removal
of climax vegetation by early wildfires.
Although slight increases in runoff,erosion,and plant nutrient
losses occurred in a study of clearcut and broadcast burned areas of wes-
tern Montana~Debyle and Packer (1972)felt this increase was not detri-
mental to water quality and represented a small fraction of the nutrients
available for plant growth on their sites.They state three reasons for
this:(1)the natural resistance of soils in northern Idaho and western
Montana to erosion,(2)the fact that extremely high-intensity summer storms
are the exception in this region,and (3)the rapid vegetation recovery
rate.Prescribed burned sites are generally imperceptible,except to the
trained eye,by the end of the first growing season due to this rapid
regrowth of vegetation.
68
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Fire and the Natural Environment
Most northern Idaho big game winter ranges are presently in an
advanced,mature,seralstage of succession.Medium-and tall-growing
shrub species have literally grown out of the reach of foraging big game
animals since the-early 1900 wildfires.Shrub decadence is another impor-
tant fattorpresently affecting CAG availability and production.Spring
prescribed burning can be and is being used by the Idaho Fish and Game
Department'and the'U~S~Forest Service to rejuvenate these winter ranges.
More fall'burning may enhance these rejuvenation efforts.If sufficient
acreages can be burned on critical winter range areas,this overall increase
in the nutrition,availability,and production of key browse species should
help alleviate malnutrition losses of big game animals and perhaps increase
effective reproduction and calf and/or fawn survival on these ranges.
To accomplish the burning of adequate acreages we will have to modify
the public's sacred image of IIS mo key the Bear ll and such slogans as IIKeep
Idaho Green ll through recognition of fire as part of the natural environment.
An integral part of natural resource management is the responsibility to
maintain the viability of ecosystems.That fire has played a natural and
key role in the evolution of biological balances in the Intermountain West
is evident from the conspicuous vegetational mosiacs present and the
dependence of the animal components on various successional stages of the
vegetation.An example is the adaptation of forest ungulates like deer,
elk,and moose to early,seral successional stages of forest vegetation.
The past and present practice of intensive fire exclusion on our forest eco-
systems is in a sense producing unnatural ecosystems (Heinselman 1970).Only
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recently is fire being recognized as part of the natural environment--not
as an unnatural disturbance--and that many ecosystems have evolved in response
to it.Total fire suppression is an unnatural form of vegetation manipulation.
Habeck (1972:114)states IIAt lower elevations,below 5,000 feet,the decades
of fire protection have led to a loss of community life-form diversity on
the whole,.,referring to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in central Idaho.
In effect,we are attempting to produce climax plant communities in areas
where they probably seldom existed naturally.
Recent studies by the National Park Service and the U.S.Forest Ser-
vice recognize fire-dependent ecosystems (Mutch 1970,Prasi1 1971).Questions
being examined include:(1)how often did fires occur?,(2)what were specific
effects of fires?,and (3)what plant and animal communities owe their exis-
tence to fire?It appears that wildfires will be permitted to burn in the
near future in such places as national parks,wilderness areas,and nature
reserves--providing human life,private property,and public developments are
not endangered (Prasil 1971).In other areas,for example national forests,
responsible and well-planned prescribed burning programs can and should play
a large role'in duplicating the natural fire regime.
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CONCLUSIONS
Nutrient analyses of dormant CAG from four key browse species
indicate species specific responses ta spring prescribed burning on
northern Idaho winter ranges.Redstem ceanothus showed significant
reduction in crude protein content on burned compared to nonburned sites
while mountain maple consistently showed significant increases in crude
I
fiber on burned sites.Willow maintained the highest fat and phosphorus
percentages.Serviceberry was highest in crude protein and mountain maple
contained the highest amount of crude fiber.
Overall,there was a temporary increase in browse quality on burned
compared to nonburned sites as determined by chemical analysis.Significant
increases in moisture and crude protein content were apparent at the end of
the first year following burning.However,this effect was absent in the
second and third years after burning.Correspondingly,an overall decrease
in crude fiber content lasted at least three years.This indicates that the
overall digestibility of the browse species studied,except mountain maple,
was increased.While calcium showed a significant decrease for at least
three growing seasons following burning,phosphorus showed a significant
increase for the first two growing seasons.The combined effect,a signifi-
cant reduction in the C:P ratio,lasted two years after burning.Although
redstem ceanothuswas the only browse species studied found deficient in
phosphorus,phosphorus is reportedly deficient in many forage species on
western ranges.This reduction in the rather wide C:P ratio found on non-
burned sites is believed beneficial to reproduction in big game in light of
the effects of a wide C:P ratio or a phosphorus deficiency on ruminants.
71
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If crude protein content can be used as a yardstick of forage quality,
then the key browse species I analyzed are strictly maintenance forages during
the later stages of plant dormancy.This corresponds to the critical winter
stress period in the annual life cycle of big game.
Mean maximum crown height measurements of such tall-growing shrubs
as mountainmaple,serviceberry,and willow point out the potential for some
CAG to exceed the reach of big game by the end of the second and third grow-
ing seasons following burning though a few willow sprouts reached nearly 1.0
feet in height the first growing season.Heavy summer and winter use by big
game on such tall-growing shrubs as occurred on the 1967 Hammond Creek burn,
can effectively delay this and yet maintain apparently healthy plants.
The use of mean maximum crown height measurements as an index of CAG
availability is misleading,especially winter availability.While maximum
crown height measurements of Avery willow plants indicated near 100 percent
CAG availability for the first three growing seasons following burning,the
height-stratified twig counts showed only 68.3 percent availability the first
year 'after burning,87.8 percent the second year,and 91.7 percent the third
year.Control plants averaged only 28.3 percent of the CAG available.Lochsa
counts showed a similar response except that on the three-year-old burn nearly
44.0 percent was already above the arbitrary 8-foot maximum height for inclu-
sion in the availability zone.The 2-foot minimum height assigned for average
snow depths is largely responsible for lowering the CAG availability estimates
of the twig counts compared to the maximum crown height measurements.However
questionable the zone of availability is,it is certainly more realistic than
crown height measurements.Low-growing shrubs such as redstem ceanothus
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showed an even greater discrepancy in the two estimates.Whereas mean
maximum crown height measurements of burned andnonburned sites indicated
100 percent CAG availability,the redstem twig counts at Avery showed that
only 4.2 percent was available the first year after burning,32.9 percent
.the second year,and 50.0 percent the third year compared to 90.6 percent
on controls.Lochsa redstem plants had from 39.1 percent to 73.1 percent
to 93.2 percent of the CAG available from the first through the third year
after burning,respectively,compared to 90.7 percent available on control
plants.CAG availability of redstem was particUlarly affected by snow
bending,especially on the burned areas.The greatest effect occurred when
the snow pack built on early,wet,frozen snow.
Total production of burned redstem plants exceeded control plants by
the end of the second growing season in both study areas.Burned plants at
Avery never attained the available production of control plants while Lochsa
redstem plants,on burned sites exceeded control plants in available pro-
duction by the end of the second growing season.Available willow production
on all three years of burns in both study areas far exceeded control plant
production.It appears that the loss of available redstem production for the
first few growing seasons following spring prescribed burning is more than
offset by the increased available production of such tall-growing shrubs as
willow,mountain maple,and serviceberry.
Relative use comparisons using pellet group and ·percent utilization
indices substantiate higher winter (1969-70,1970-71)and summer (1969,1970)
use on burned compared to nonburned sites by big game.Pellet group counts
at Hatter Creek indicated white-tailed deer use increased up to 532 percent.
Correspondingly,elk use of burned sites was up 62 percent (winter 1969-70)
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and 77 percent (summer 1970)at'Avery,and 382 percent (winter 1970-71)and
51 percent (summer 1970)on Lochsa burned'sites compared to adjacent nonburned
areas.An overall increase in utilization of redstem ceanothus and willow on
burned sites indicates a more'than temporary increase in browse palatability.
Except for the Avery Relay Station burn sites,the percentage of redstem and
willow twigs browsed was,higher on burned sites compared to nonburned sites
through the third year following burning.The lower utilization of redstem
noted on the one-andtwo,.;year-old Avery burns compared to a nearby nonburned
site is felt largely a result of winter availability.The 1969 Avery burn
had only 0.07 sprouts and/or twigs available per plant while the 1968 Avery burn
had 12.12 sprouts and/or twigs available per plant.At the same time the
control site had 54.4 twigs available per redstem plant.
I do not believe that increased use of burned sites compared to non-
burned sites,selection of forage species,and/or selection of plant parts by
foraging big game animals is solely attributable to associated nutritive
values although studies have shown that deer and elk prefer plants which are
especially nutritious.Protein is considered to be the most important dietary
nutrient component (Dietz 1972).In addition,it is often implied that big
game select or prefer certain forage species over others on the basis of
higher protein content.My data do not support this contention.Utilization
data show a strong preference by big game for redstem ceanothus,yet service-
berry protein content averaged 1.1 percent higher for the dormant winter
stage I studied.Redstem,with one exception--the ~ne-year-old Lochsa burn--
was also consistently lower in crude protein on burned sites compared to
nonburned sites and yet a high selection or preference for redstem,as well
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as other species,on burned sites was evident.In addition,I noted that
plant species of normally low selection value are readily utilized in burns,
especially during the first growing season.Leege (1969)also noted this in
similar burns.Longhurst and coworkers (1968)further show that analyses of
unpalatable species indicate they are frequently equally as high in the
same nutrients as more palatable species.Their observations of deer both
in the fie'ld and under penned conditions has shown that olfaction is the
primary sense used in the initial selection of forage.Apparently,if they
like the smell,they taste the plant;and if they like the taste,they proceed
to feed upon it.However,once familiar with a particular plant species,the
deer learned to recognize it by sight and fed upon it without first smelling
and tasting it.Other investigations (Longhurst et ale 1968,Nagy et ale 1964,
1968)have shown that certain volatile or essential oils of plants are inhibi-
tory on rumen microorganisms and may be correlated with forage palatability
and selection.I would agree with Longhurst and his coworkers (1968:188)when
they conclude,lilt is doubtful,however,that deer through olfaction are able to
detect the presence of nutrients or digestive inhibitors in plants directly and
may be depending on other associated indicators.1I The higher preference by
big game found for redstem compared to the other three browse species examined
may be related to the higher carbohydrate fraction found in redstem nutrient
analysesas~reflected in the NFE portion.Plants high in sugar content,one
of the more soluble carbohydrates in the NFE portion,are generally selected
by ruminants.
Heavy summer utilization of preferred browse species by big game,
snowshoe hares,and possibly other rodents during the first few growing
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seasons following burning lowers availability,seedling survival,and possibly
the future vigor of the shrub community.This is clearly indicated in the
1967 and 1969 Avery burns and in the Hatter Creek pilot study burns.Redstem
is the species most affected.Although I noticed no actual mortality in
this study,Hickey and Leege (1970)found some redstem mortality where
big gamehad'browsed heavily on first-year sprouts.The low numbers of
sprouts and/or twigs per redstem plant recorded in the 1967 and 1969 Avery
burns and the decidedly low vigor observed was a direct result of continuously
heavy summer and winter browsing.Burning scattered areas on a given tract
of winter range appears more beneficial than one area of the same acreage.
In this way,big game may utilize more fully the CAG available in adjacent
nonburned sites.Thus,the nonburned sites may receive a regrowth
stimulus,maintain better growth form,and animal distribution and plant
utilization may be more uniform over the entire winter range.
Reburning areas in a rotation system to reestablish young,seral,
successional stages of winter range vegetation is going to depend largely
on (1)the accumulation of ground fuels (primarily bracken fern in northern
Idaho),(2)shrub utilization intensity (summer use being more important
than prevtouslyacknowledged),and (3)species composition of the stand.
Where the ratio of tall-growing shrub species far outnumbers the medium-
and low-growing species,the burning sequence would be shorter.Therefore,
this phase of any prescribed burning program must remain flexible.
Re-educating the public on the ecological soundness of the role which
fire has played in the maintenance of natural ecosystems in much of the
United States is a real problem facing today's land managers.Public
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understanding and support for ecologically sound use of fire in natural
resource management will only be gained by presenting unbiased facts.The
findings of this research should help serve this need.
77
LITERATURE CITED
Current,W.N.1971.Personal communication.In files of St.Joe Natl.
For.,St.Maries,Idaho.
-Bailey,J.A.1967.Sampling deer browse for crude protein.J.Wildl.
Manage.31(3):437-442.
Aldous,C.M.1945.A winter study of mule deer in Nevada.J.Wildl.
Manage.9(2):145-151.
Crude protein variations in the
California Fish and Game 41(2):
Basile,J.V.1954.Availability of white-tailed deer browse within the
Hatter Creek enclosure.M.S.Thesis.Univ.of Idaho.45pp.
Beaufait,W.R.1966.An integrating device for evaluating prescribed
fires.For.Sci.12(1):27-29.
Bissell,H.D.,and H.Strong.1955.
browse diet of California deer.
145-155.
Brown,R.L.1966.Avery face browse rehabilitation study,final report.
U.S.For.Serv.,st.Joe Natl.For.,St.Maries,Idaho.9pp.Mimeogr.
Biswell,H.H.,R.D.Taber,D.W.Hedrick,and A.M.Schultz.1952.
Management of chamise brushlands for game in the North Coast Region
of California.California Fish and Game 38(4):453-484.
Blair,R.M.,andE.A.Epps.1961.Distribution of protein and phosphorus
in spring growth of rusty blackhaw.J.Wildl.Manage.31(1):188-190.
Dasmann,R.F.,and W.Hines.1959.Logging,plant succession,and black-
tailed deer in the redwood region.Humboldt State Coll.Div.Nat.
Resour.l3pp.Mimeogr.
Daubenmire,R.F.1952.Forest vegetation of northern Idaho and adjacent
Washington,and its bearings on concepts of vegetation classification.
Ecol.Monogr.22:301-330 .
Cottam,G.,and J.T.Curtis.1956.The use of distance measures in
phytosociological sampling.Ecology 37(3):451-460.
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L
. ,and J.B.Daubenmire.1968.Forest vegetation of
--~-...,.--.,...,.eastern Washington and northern Idaho.Washington Agric.Exp.Stn.,
Coll.of Agric.,Washington State Univ.,Pullman,Tech.Bull.60.
104pp.
t--'
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rLi
Debyle,N.N.,and P.E.Packer.1972.Plant nutrient and soil losses in
overland flow from burned forest clearcuts.Watersheds in transition--
a national symposium.Am.Water Resour.Assoc.,Ft.Collins,
Proc.:296-307.
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n
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[DeWitt,J.B.,and J.B.Derby,Jr.1955.Changes in nutritive value of
browse plants fbllowingfires.J.Wi1dl.Manage.19(1):65-70.
.1965.Deer nutri ti on research in range management.Trans.-----:-,--.....N.Am.Wi1d1.Nat.Resour.Conf.30:274-285.
Hagen,H.L.1953.Nutritive value for deer of some forage plants in
the Sierra Nevada.California Fish and Game 39(2):163-175.
Dills,G.G.1970.Effects of prescribed burning on deer browse.J.
Wi1d1.Manage.34(3):540-545.
.,and R.D.Curnow.1966.How reliable is a forage chemical
---a-n-a"'-lysis?J.Range Manage.19(6):374-376 .
289-302 in C.M.
Wi1d1ana-shrubs--
symposi urn.USDA
Heinselman,M.L.1970.The natural role of fire in northern conifer
forests.The role of fire in the Intermountain West--a symposium.
Intermountain Fire Res.Counc.,Missoula,Proc.:30-41.
Dietz,D.,R.1958.Seasonal variation in the nutritive content of five
southwestern Colorado deer browse species.M.S.Thesis.Colorado
State Univ.·111 pp.
.,R.H.Udall,H.R.Shepherd,and L.E.Yeager.1958.----,:;-""'"-Seasonal progression in chemical content of five key browse species
in Colorado.Proc.Soc.Am.For.:117-122.
------;cr-";7.....1972.'Nutritive value of shrubs.Pages
McKeT1~J.P;Blaisdell,and Ji R.Goodin,eds.
their biology and uti1ization--an international
For.Serv.Gen.Tech.Rep.INT-1,494pp.
Habeck,J.R.1972.Fire ecology investigations in Selway-Bitterroot
Wilderness'-'-historicalconsiderations and current observations.Univ.
of Montana.U;S.For.Servo Publ.No.Rl-72-001.119pp.
French,C.E.,L.C.McEwen,N.D.Magruder,R.H.Ingram,and R.W.Swift.
1955.Nutritional requirements of white-tailed deer for growth and
antler development.Pennsylvania State Coll.,Agric.Exp.Stn.Bull.
600.50pp.
Einarsen,A.S.1946.Crude protein determination of deer food as an
applied management technique.Trans.N.Am.Wi1d1.Nat.Resour.Conf.
11:309-312.
He11mers,H.1940.A study of monthly variations in the nutritive value
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.1970.Animal production and forage quality:Definition and
---c-o-m-ponents of forage quality.Range and wildlife habitat evaluation--
a research symposium.USDA For.Servo Misc.Pub1.No.1147:1-9.
L-P
~
[
[
[
B
LJ
c
c
c
o
E
~
r
L
G
[
[
C
Knoche,K.G.1968.The ecology of the Rattlesnake Creek,Montana mule
deer winter range.M.S.Thesis.Univ.of Montana.l52pp.
Jackson,M.L.1958.Soil chemical analysis.Prentice-Hall Inc.,
Englewood Cliffs,N.J.498pp.
Hickey,W.0.,and T.A.Leege.1970.Ecology and management of redstem
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l8pp.
Hitchcock,C.L.,A.Cronquist,M.Ownbey,and J.W.Thompson.1955-1969.
Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest.Parts 1-5.Univ.Washing-
ton Press,Seattle.
80
1962.Some effects of annual burning
Ecology 43(2):334-336.
condii ti ons .
17 (41):1.
Kucera,C.L.,and J.H.Ehrenreich.
on central 'Missouri prairie.
Hooker,L.L.1972.Effects of prescribed burning on soils and vegetation
of seral brush communities in the Lochsa River region of northern
Idaho.M.S.Thesis.Univ.of Idaho.75 pp.
Horwitz,W.(ed.)1965.Official methods of analysis.lOth Ed.Assoc.
of Official Agric.Chemists,Washington,D.C.957pp.
Hungerford,K.E.1951.The ecology and management of the Idaho ruffed
grouse.Ph.D.Dissertation.Univ.of Michigan.2l8pp.
1964.Availability of deer browse under varying snow
Idaho Coop.Wildl.Res.Unit Q.Rep.,Univ.of Idaho.
Julander,0.,R.B.Ferguson,and J.E.Dealy.1963.Measure of animal
range use by signs.Range research methods--a symposium.USDA For.
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Kitts,W.D.,I.MeT.Cowan,J.Bandy,and A.J.Wood.1956,.The
immediate post natal growth in Columbian black-tailed deer in relation
to the composition of the milk of the doe.J.Wildl.Manage.
20(2):212-214.
c
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c
[
[
[
[1
c
c
o
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E
~
f1
b
G
[
L
U
Lay,D.W.1967.Browse palatability and the effects of prescribed
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c
[
[
[
[
[
[
u
c
C
G
C
E
f3...-~.~
p
L
8
[
[
t
81
___-,,-,-_.,and W.O.Hickey.1971.Sprouting of northern Idaho shrubs
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82
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. ,R.B.Ferguson,and J.S.Gashwiler.1958.Problems
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8
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83
Sullivan,J~T.1962.Evaluation of forage crops by chemical analysis:a
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for a linear hypothesis whose power is
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1960.Principles and proceduresof statis-
Inc.,New York.481pp.
C.1945.A two~samp1e test
independent of the vari ance.
R.G.D.,and J.H.Torrie.
ti cs.McGraw-Hill Book Co.,
Stei n,
.,D.R.Dietz,and'E.E.Remmenga.1966.Selected nutrients in~--m-u"""l-edeer browse'plants.Ecology 47(2):222-229.
Soil Survey Staff.1962.Soil survey manual.u.s.Dept.Agric.Handbook
No.18.503pp.
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87pp.
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in vitro digestion of forage crops.J.Brit.Grassland Soc.18:104-111.
Verme,L.J.1962.Mortality of white-tailed deer fawns in relation to
nutri ti on.Proc.Natl.Deer Di sease Symp.1:15-38.
Wa11mo,O.C.,A.W.Jackson,T.L.Hailey,and R.L.Carlisle.1962.
Influence of rain on the count of deer pellet groups.J.Wildl.Manage.
26(1):50-55.
Swank,W.G.1956.Protein and phosphorus content of browse plants as an
influence on southwestern deer herd levels.Trans.N.Am.Wi1d1.Nat.
Resour.Conf.21:141-158.
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APPENDIX I
FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE,DENSITY,AND SPECIES COMPOSITION OF PLANT SPECIES
ENCOUNTERED ON NORTHERN IDAHO SERAL BRUSHFIELDS
84
[1--::Cl r-:-1)~["""7']I!ITi'1D CD c-:l ~rr-:1 c:-J CnJ rJ rj ('"I ,~C-:JJ r--J r:-J ir:J
TABLE 15.PERCENT FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE,DENSITY (INDIVIDUALS PER ACRE),AND PERCENT SPECIES COMPOSITION
OF WOODY PLANTS ON THE AVERY STUDY AREA IN THE SUMMER OF 1969.DATA WERE COLLECTED USING THE
POINT-QUARTER-CENTER-METHOD (COTTAM AND CURTIS 1956).
1969 1968 1967
Study Si te Rel ay Stati on Relay Station Rel ay Stati on*Hanmond Creek Hammond Creek
Burn Burn Control Burn Control
c c c c c
0 0 0 0 0
'r-~'r-~'r-~'r-~'r-~+>+>+>+>+>
VI'r-~C VI'r-~C VI'r-~C VI'r-~C VI'r-~C
<1JVI <1J <1JVI <1J <1JVI <1J <1JVI <1J <1JVI <1J
'r-0 'r-~'r-0 'r-~'r-0 'r-~'r-0 'r-~'r-0 'r-~uo.VI c:r uo.VI c:r uo.VI c:r uo.VI c:r U 0..-VI c:r
<1JE c <1J <1JE c <1J <1JE c <1J <1JE c <1J <1JE c <1J
Species 0.0 <1J s..0.0 <1J s..0.0 <1J s..0.0 <1J s..0.0 <1J s..
(/)U C LJ...(/)U C LJ...(/)U C LJ...(/)U C LJ...(/)U C LJ...
-
Trees
Pinus contorta 1 40 4 1 40
Populus tremuloides 3 121 4
Tall Shrubs
~er glabrum 7 109 4 9 227 12 2 77 16 2 28 -2 81
Amelanchier alnifolia 14 219 16 5 125 24 4 158 44 8 117 12 10 405 36
Holodiscus discolor 1 24 8 3 117 16
Philadelphus lewisii 1 16 4
Prunus emarginata 3 65 12 10 251 8 9 352 28 1 16 -4 162 8
Salix spp.48 749 44 38 951 68 15 583 48 17 251 36 19 773 80
Medium Shrubs
Ceanothus sanguineus 15 235 44 31 777 44 41 1599 84 34 502 ·32 16 652 48
Ceanothus velutinus 10 159 4 36 503 44 14 570 48
Lonicera utahensis 2 81
Physocarpus malvaceus 3 65 12 6 150 8 6 235 16
Rosa gymnoGarpa 2 77 48 1 40 24
Rosa nutkana 1 40 4
Symphoricarpos albus 11 429 68 1 16 24 5 202 '24
Vaccinium membranaceum 5 194 40 '8 324 36
Low Shrubs
~achistima myrsinites 15 611 64
*Control for both the 1968 and 1969 Relay Station Burns.co
U"I
[III ~:J c-:J ~1 C'-:J mTI:J}C(]u:,,",~J][[JJJ ~}c::=J l r-J J I J -,J ~C~U....,,,Jk",i il (_,J \
TABLE 16 ..PERCENT FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE,DENSITY (INDIVIDUALS PER ACRE),AND PERCENT SPECIES COMPOSITION OF
WOODY PLANTS ON THE LOCHSA STUDY AREA IN THE SUMMER OF 1969.DATA WERE COLLECTED USING THE POINT-
QUARTER-CENTER-METHOD (COTTAM AND CURTIS 1956).
1969 1968 1967
Study Site Lone Knob Lone Knob Fish Creek Fi sh Creek Bee Creek Bee Creek
Burn Control Burn Control Burn Control
s::s::s::s::s::s::
0 0 0 0 0 0
'r-ti 'r-ti 'r-ti 'r-ti 'r-ti 'r-ti+J +J +J +J +J +J
Vl'r-~s::Vl'r-~s::Vl'r-~s::Vl'r-~s::Vl'r-~s::Vl'r-~s::
Q)Vl Q)Q)Vl Q)Q)Vl Q)Q)Vl Q)Q)1Il Q)Q)Vl Q)
'r-0 'r-:::J 'r-'0 'r-:::J 'r-0 'r-:::J 'r-0 'r-:::J 'r-0 .r-:::J 'r-0 'r-:::Juo..Vl 0"uo..Vl 0"uo..Vl 0"uo..Vl 0"uo..Vl 0"uo..Vl 0"
Q)E s::Q)Q)E s::Q)Q)E s::Q)Q)E s::Q)Q)E s::Q)Q)E s::Q)
Species 0..0 Q)s-0..0 Q)s-0..0 Q)s-0..0 Q)s-0..0 Q)s-0..0 Q)s-
V>u 0 I.J..V>U 0 I.J..V>U 0 I.J..V>U 0 I.J..V>U £::I I.J..V>U 0 I.J..
-
Trees
Abies gremdis 1 53 -2 45 -
Betula papyrifera 3 65 12 11 591 36 1 20 4 6 170 12
Pseudotsuga menziesii 3 162 16
Tall Shrubs
Acer glabrum 1 24 4 1 20 4 4
1)3 8 2 65 8
Amelemchier alnifolia 3 65 -2 109 40 5 125 24 1 20 24 2 57 4 8 267 32
Comus stolonifera 1 20 4
Holodiscus discolor 10 219 56 1 53 12 4 101 32 7 158 20 1 28 4 3 101 44
Philadelphus lewisii 1 20 -8 227 12 8 267 20
Prunus emarginata 21 4573 36 6 324 24 32 793 40 38 846 48 18 506 32 27 894 56
Prunus virginiana 3 85 8 7 231 16
Rhamnus pUY'shiana 1 53 -4 113 12 2 65 16
Salix spp.19 413 40 6 324 20 26 643 56 29 647 60 5 142 20
Medium Shrubs
Ceemothus semguineus 42 9105 48 69 3699 22 32 793 48 21 469 40 31 874 64 32 1060 68
Physocarpus malvaceus 18 506 36 11 364 24
ex>
(J)
rr:J r:r--:
\.<.'""i rTJ C--::J 0!l1["]E"'D t,)IT:""]~i"1'""'"""1 ·,....··:i1
\1:J,_.J '-"iL ,.J l.j1~l~r-J ...----.
J,.J r-1 ~r-J r-J rr--:J
TABLE 17 ..LIST OF PLANT SPECIES ENCOUNTERED IN NORTHERN IDAHO SERAL BRUSHFIELDS AND THEIR FREQUENCY OF
OCCURRENCE ON SPECIFIC WINTER RANGE STUDY SITES.DATA COLLECTED DURING JULY AND AUGUST,1969,
USING 1 METER-SQUARE PLOTS.
Frequency of Occurrence
.Avery Lochsa
1969 1968 68-69 1967 1967 1969 1969 1968 1968 1967 1967
Species List Burn Burn Control Burn Control Burn Control Burn Control Burn Control
Percent
Trees
Abies grandis 4
Betula papyrifera 12 36 4 12 8
Pinus contorta 4 4
Populus tremuloides 4
Pseudotsuga menziesii 16 12
Ta 11 Shrubs
~r glabrum 4 12 16 4 4 8 8
AmeZanchier aZnifoZia 16 24 44 12 36 40 24 24 4 32
Comus stoZonifera 4
Holodiscus discoZor 8 16 56 12 32 20 4 44
Philadelphus Zewisii 4 4 16 12 20
Prunus emarginata 12 8 28 8 36 24 40 48 32 56
Prunus virginiana 8 16
Rhamnus purshiana 12 12 16
Salix spp.44 68 48 36 80 40 20 56 60 20
Sorbus scopuZina 4
Medium Shrubs
Ceanothus sanguineus 44 44 84 32 48 48 22 48 40 64 68
Ceanothus veZutinus 4 44 48
Clematis columbiana 4
Lonicera ciZiosa 4
Lonicera utahensis 4
Physocarpus maZvaceus 12 8 16 36 24
Rosa gymnocarpa 40 32 48 20 24 24 4 20 16 28 40
Rosa nutkana 4 (X)......
CT'J c-:::J r:J c-:rJ c:'1 ~jdlj:L]CJJ CJ [TJ'"]ITrl c:-J r-1 r---'"',],'~L.-]:--J ["7"J ~J",j c ~I
TABLE 17.CONTINUED.
Frequency of Occurrence
Avery Lochsa
1969 1968 68-69 1967 1967 1969 1969 1968 1968 1967 1967
Species List Burn Burn Control Burn Control Burn Control Burn Control Burn Control
Medium Shrubs
Rubus parvifZorus 36 88 60 56 84 56 96 84 84 68 24
Spiraea betuZifoZia 96 84 60 68 64 40 20 48 72 44 32
Symphoricarpos aZbus 8 40 68 24 24 32 36 48 32 84 40
Vaccinium membranaceum 56 32 40 8 36 4 48 4
Low Shrubs
~erberis repens 16 12 16 60 36 16 4
Pachistima myrsinites 16 32 56 24 64 4 4
Forbs
AchiZZea miZZifoZium 24 32 12 12 16 44
AdenocauZon bicoZor 4
AnaphaZis margaritacea 4 12 12 40 4 12 12
Anemone piperi 80 92 48 48 48 40 64 64 72 72 20
Apocynum androsaemifoUum 4 24 4 4 20
Arenaria macrophyZZa 48 48 84 72 76 52 68 72 68 80 64
Arnica spp.4 12 4
Asarum caudatum 4
Aster conspicuus 36 56 84 28 60 4 8
8 64 44 16
CastiUeja spp.8
Cerastium spp.36 4 12
Cirsium vuZgare 4 28 28 20 20
CZintonia unifZora 4 4 8 4 16 8 4 8
CoUomia spp.8
Coptis occidentaZis 16 16 16 4 24 \ 4
8 24
Comus canadensis 12 4 20
Disporum hookeri 12 36 32 40 12
00
00
r:~r:-;CT:"'J C ,J CHili ..JJ E:n CJl cr:-J or-:J c:-J r;--,..J ,l -J l i .J
TABLE 17.CONTINUED.
Frequency of Occurrence
Avery Lochsa
1969 1968 68-69 1967 1967 1969 1969 1968 1968 1967 1967SpeciesListBurnBurnControlBurnControlBurnControlBurnControlBurnControl
Forbs
Epilobium angustifolium 48 44 36 8 40 16 4 20 4 4 4Erigeronspp.4Fragariavesca20122016686020 4 36 64GaZiumaparine204Galiumtriflorum161656204024Geraniumspp.4 20 4Heucheracylindrica 8Hieraciumalbertinum16HieraciumalbifZorum12416832521620Hypericumperforatum685248164492Lactucaludoviciana163624LathyY'US nevadensis 48 12 8 48 60 20 24Madiaglomerata8Mitellastauropetala444.4Penstemonspp.12 8 8 40 12 12 24 48Phaceliahastata8164088824PotentiUaspp.8 4Prunellavulgaris1284pteridiumaquilinum8072601006488922424 100 56Rumexacetosella32444040Smilacinastellata44040328443668832Solidagocanadensis24432244SteUariamedia8Streptopusamplexifolius84
Taraxacum officinale 4 16 16 4Thalictrumoccidentale81216
Thermopsis montana 88 80Tragopogondubius12 00
\D
~~r:J CJ":"1 c"tJ tmr"J o::-:-Jj O,;,",~J trT1 rrr:J r:-1 o:D r:J 'r-J l JI ,;,----,J .:--J ~-._,.---
TABLE 17.CONTINUED.
Freguency of Occurrence
Avery Lochsa
1969 1968 68-69 1967 1967 1969 1969 1968 1968 1967 1967
Speci es Lis t Burn Burn Control Burn Control Burn Control Burn Control Burn Control-
Forbs
TriUium ova tum 12
Verbascum thapsus 4 20 24 8
Viola spp.4 44 40 52 8 40 4 20 24 4 4
Xerophyllum tenax 12 4 8 4
Grasses &Grass1ikes
Agropyron spicatum 12
Agros tis SCM ra 16 4 4
Arrenatherum elatius 4
Bromus S pp.36 4 4 24
Calamagrostis rubescens 76 80 84 48 12 12 8 44 28
CaPex geye'l'i 8 12 20 12 44 40 48 28
Elymus glaucus 4 60 28 20 12 8
Festuca occidentaUs 24 8 20 16 8 24
Koele'l'ia cristata 4
Luzula campest'l'is 4 4
Panicum occidentale 12
Phleum pratense 32 32 4
Poa compressa 68 28 8 8 4
Foa pratensis 8
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92
APPENDIX II
SOIL ANALYSIS
All of the soil pits which were examined classify closest to spodo-
sols of the Jughandle series which is a Typic Cryorthods coarse-loamy,
mixed soil transitional to a Typic Cryochrepts.Because only one soil pit
was examined per study site and because I found only minor differences
between sites,I will present a composite soil profile description for
both the Avery and Lochsa study areas.
Avery Profile Description:
01 2-0 inches.Undecomposed and slightly decomposed twigs,
leaves and bracken fern fronds.0 to 3 inches thick.
02 1-0 inches.Partially and well-decomposed twigs,leaves and
wood;clear,wavy boundary.0-1 1/2 inches thick.
Al 0-2 inches.Very dark brown (lOYR 2.5/2)when moist;gravelly
coarse sandy loam;weak,very fine,granular;weakly coherent,
very friable,nonsticky,slightly plastic when wet,nonplastic
when moist;abundant fine-to-coarse roots;clear,wavy boundary.
Exposed sha~y sedimentary strata.0-3 inches thick.
B2ir 2-16 inches.Brown (10 YR 4/3.5)when moist;gravelly coarse
sandy loam;weak,very fine,granular;weakly coherent,very
friable,slightly sticky,slightly plastic when wet and moist;
very abundant fine-to-coarse roots;gradual,irregular boundary.
4-22 inches thick.
Cl 16-34+inches.Brown (7.5 YR 5/4)when moist;stony loamy
4
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course sand;weak,fine,granular;weakly coherent,very
friable,sticky,plastic when wet,slightly plastic when
moist,few micro-to-fine roots.Shaly sedimentary strata.
Lochsa Profile Description:
01 2-0 inches.Undecomposed and slightly decomposed twigs,
leaves and bracken fern fronds.0-2 inches thick.
02 1-0 inches.Partially and well-decomposed twigs,leaves and
wood;abrupt,wavy boundary.0-1 inch thick.
Al 0-3 inches.Very dark brown (lOYR 2.5/1.6)when moist;
gravelly coarse sandy loam;weak,very fine,granular;weakly
coherent,very friable,nonsticky,nonplastic wet and moist;
abundant micro-to-fine roots;clear,wavy boundary.0-4
inches thick.
B21ir 3-12 inches.Dark yellowish brown (lOYR 4/3.1)when moist;
gravelly coarse sandy loam;weak,very fine,granular;
weakly coherent,very friable,slightly sticky,slightly
plastic wet and moist;abundant very fine-to-medium and few
large roots;clear,wavy boundary.1-11 inches thick.
B22ip 12-19 inches.Brown (lOYR 4.8/3.2)when moist;texture,
structure,consistence and roots similar to B21ir;gradual,
irregular boundary.1-8 inches thick.
Cl 19-44+inches.Brown to yellowish brown (lOYR 5.5/3.5)when
moist;gravelly loamy coarse sand;texture and structure sim-
ilar to B22ir;few very fine-to-large roots.Residuum from
hornblende-biotite quartz dioritic orthogneiss parent material
(Roper 1970).
93
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Soi 1 Chemi s try
Soil chemistry of the horizons from a single soil pit dug in a
representative location in each study site on the Avery and Lochsa study
areas are listed in Tables 18 and 19,respectively.No statistical compari-
sons of burned vs.nonburned sites were applied due to the small sample
size and because no pre-treatment samples were collected.Data are presented
only for future reference and because little or no information of this type
is available on either the Avery or Lochsa study areas.Hooker (1972)
documented additional effects of burning on soils in a similar Lochsa study
site.
~,r:--'""",.,........."rr-'I~~r---n ~~JII"T--,~~
"J...!I,,)t~I'·,.I;I)I'.k.,'1I11 1i \I.__J Of '\....1,1.'1..\4~j,~tL.I.:1 YuL'J,']II)'t.I,."""..,}.'iJ.,.i,:,:__.J '\Ll.!..,j.,../r\
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TABLE 18.SOIL CHEMISTRY OF THE AVERY STUDY SITES.SNf'LES COllECTED IN OCTOBER,1970.
%%%%%%
STUDY SITE HORIZON pH oM N P CA M3 K
RELAY STATION 1969 BuRN A1 6.0 11,l.J()0.38 0.021 0,19 0.042 0.059
B21ir 5.9 --0.24 0,007 0,12 0.022 0.046
B22ir 5.7 --O.ll TR 0.04 0.004 0.025
C1 5.6
RELAY STATION 1968 BURN AI 6,1 14.29 O.SO 0.022 0.24 0.047 0.051
B2ir 5.6 --0.14 0.019 0.06 0.006 0.036
Cl 5.9
RELAY STATION CoNTROL AI 5.8 15.36 0.53 O.om 0.24 0.048 0.070
B2ir 5.6 --0.09 0.0]2 0.06 0.003 0.020
C1 6.2
HAMMOND CREEK 1967 BURN AI 6.3 9.68 0.34 0.020 0,18 0,028 0.069
B2ir 5.9 --0.17 0.010 0,06 O.Oll 0.043
C1 5.9
HAMMoND CREEK CoNTROL A1 5.4 9.86 0.36 0.019 0.]2 0.012 0.049
B2ir 5.5 --0.16 TR 0.03 0.002 0.009
C1 5.4
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