Community Ecology

Research Paper # 101019

Biology > Ecology
Environmental Studies > Environmental Problems
Environmental Studies > Wildlife Protection

Community Ecology

This paper explores the effects of logging and fires on temperate deciduous forests.

2,114 words () | 14 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper relates that a large part of temperate deciduous forests have been removed by logging, land clearing and fire suppression. The paper examines various theories that look at the effects of logging versus fire in the disturbances of temperate forests. The paper details the effects of fire and logging on tree, understory and wildlife diversity.

From the Paper:

"Reviews on the fire effects on tree, understory and wildlife diversity are as follows. Thonicke and Cramer (2006) suggest that a fire model be used as a simulator to determine the patterns of how the fires would dominate long-term vegetation composition. Accordingly, the immediate effects are historical in terms of the range of impact on canopy conductance and litter moisture in Brandenburg (Germany) forests. Yet, burnt areas would not excel and "fire changes had no implication for vegetation composition in Brandenburg but reduced vegetation carbon would be gained" (Thonicke and Cramer, 283). With the fire model (LPJ Dynamic Fire Model), the spread is more likely to change climate conditions along with carbon for long-term best effect in natural vegetation from precipitation patterns."

Sample of Sources Used:

Bergeron, Y. and Brisson, J. "Fire regime in Red pine stands at the Northern Limit of the species range." Ecology, 71(4) (1990): 1352-1364.
Black, S.H. "Logging to Control insects: The science and myths behind managing forest insect "pests": A synthesis of independently reviewed research." The Xerces Society for invertebrate conservation. 12 (2005): 913-928.
Buren W.F., Allen G.E., Whitcomb, W.H. et al. "Zoogeography of the imported fire ants. Journal of New York Entomology Society, 82 (1974): 113-24.
Decocq, G., et al. "Plant diversity in a managed temperate deciduous forest: understory response to two silvicultural systems." Journal of Applied Ecology, 41(8) (2004): 1065+
Duty, D.C. and Meier, A.J. "Do Appalachian Herbaceous Understories Ever Recover from Clearcutting?" Conservation Biology, 6(2) (1992): 196-201.