Delineating a managed fire regime and exploring its relationship to the natural fire regime in East Central Florida, USA: A remote sensing and GIS approach

    Authors

    B. W. Duncan; G. F. Shao;F. W. Adrian

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    For. Ecol. Manage.

    Keywords

    Fire regime; Florida; Southeastern United States; Remote sensing; GIS; EVERGLADES-NATIONAL-PARK; LONGLEAF PINE SAVANNAS; BURN SEVERITY; LANDSAT-TM; POPULATION; PATTERNS; SEASON; SCRUB; RESTORATION; ECOSYSTEMS; Forestry

    Abstract

    A managed fire regime on John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida and surrounding federal properties was mapped using time series satellite imagery and GIS techniques. Our goals were to: (1) determine if an image processing technique designed for individual fire scar mapping could be applied to an image time series for mapping a managed fire regime in a rapid re-growth pyrogenic system; (2) develop a method for labeling mapped fire scar confidence knowing a formal accuracy analysis was not possible; and (3) compare results of the managed fire regime with regional information on natural fire regimes to look for similarities/differences that might help optimize management for persistence of native fire-dependent species. We found that the area burned by managed fire peaked when the drought index was low and was reduced when the drought index was high. This contrasts with the expectations regarding the natural fire regime of this region. With altered natural fire regimes and fire-dependent species declining in many pyrogenic ecosystems, it is important to manage fire for the survival of fire-adapted native species. The remote sensing and GIS techniques presented are effective for delineating and monitoring managed fire regimes in shrub systems that grow rapidly and may be appropriate for other fire-dependent systems world wide. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Forest Ecology and Management

    Volume

    258

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2009

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    132

    Last Page

    145

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000267015100010

    ISSN

    0378-1127

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