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Author(s):
Martin E. Alexander, Frank G. Hawksworth
Year Published:

Cataloging Information

Topic(s):
Fire Ecology
Insects & Disease
Fuels
Fuel Treatments & Effects
Naturally-ignited Fire-use treatments
Prescribed Fire-use treatments
Ecosystem(s):
Subalpine wet spruce-fir forest, Subalpine dry spruce-fir forest, Montane wet mixed-conifer forest, Montane dry mixed-conifer forest, Ponderosa pine woodland/savanna

NRFSN number: 12412
FRAMES RCS number: 16318
Record updated:

Wildfires play a multiple role in the distribution of dwarf mistletoes - they may either inhibit or encourage these parasites depending primarily on the size and intensity of the burn. Many reports suggest that fire exclusion policies of the past half century have resulted in increased dwarf mistletoe levels as, well as increased fire behavior potential. Prescribed burning as a supplemental method of dwarf mistletoe control has been little used, but seems to be applicable in some forest types and stand conditions both to eliminate infected residuals in cutover areas and to eliminate heavily infested unmerchantable stands. Suggested areas of research relating to fire ecology and prescribed burning are given.

Citation

Alexander, Martin E.; Hawksworth, Frank G. 1975. Wildland fires and dwarf mistletoes: a literature review of ecology and prescribed burning. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-GTR-14. Fort Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 12 p.