[RWG] FIRE 07 Climate change Re: NEWS: Climate change likely to increase fires

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

It's great to see this issue getting more press.  But, I also see where 
Wayne is coming from.

The article below mentions two conditions that will contribute to the 
proliferation of invasives in response to global climate change:
fires deposit nutrients into the soil that encourage the growth of 
cheatgrass 
increased atmospheric carbon dioxide, typically associated with climate 
changes, encourages the growth of tough cheatgrass 

I just attended a conference two weeks ago on global climate change and 
the effect on local flora in the Appalachians of Maryland and West 
Virginia.  One of the speakers mentioned that recent research was 
suggesting that invasives would take off with global climate change - that 
the hotter, drier conditions will favor them.  He pointed out that this is 
not necessarily true.  Microstegium (Japanese stiltgrass), for instance, 
which is plaguing the Appalachians is not good at getting into the drier 
sites. 

So, although I am pleased at the increased attention to this issue, I 
think Wayne's point is well taken.  As plant scientists, it's important 
for us to resist the urge to put specific situations into a general 
"Inbox."  Different species will react differently in different 
environments.  It's our job to explore the possibilities and to help 
others understand them without making sweeping generalizations.

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
US Fish & Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural 
resources.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>




Wayne Tyson <landrest at cox.net> 
Sent by: rwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
10/12/2007 11:02 PM

To
Olivia Kwong <plant at plantconservation.org>, 
native-plants at lists.plantconservation.org, 
apwg at lists.plantconservation.org, rwg at lists.plantconservation.org
cc

Subject
[RWG] FIRE 07 Climate change Re: NEWS: Climate change likely to increase 
fires






Invasive plants like the Sahara mustard are quite likely to be a factor in 
wildfires, as they fill spaces between widely-scattered shrubs, and 
climate change will no doubt affect fire behavior, but I yearn for more 
evidence and less opinion and conjecture regarding such sweeping 
conclusions.  It makes for good press, but what is needed is good research 
and solid data.  Fires have, and will continue to be, a factor in Great 
Basin ecosystems, but the real question is what precisely is the 
connection between the data and the conclusions, and what is the marginal 
difference.  Sensationalism destroys credibility, and "we" need 
credibility more than ever in these truly pivotal times. 

WT

At 12:53 PM 10/12/2007, Olivia Kwong wrote:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071012/ap_on_sc/wildfires_climate_change 

Climate change likely to increase fires

By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY, Associated Press Writer Thu Oct 11, 8:26 PM ET

LAS VEGAS - Climate change is likely to increase the number of wildfires 
fueled by invasive weeds that are spreading throughout the Great Basin, 
researchers told a U.S. Senate subcommittee Thursday.

See the link above for the full article text.


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