@mastersthesis {842, title = {Fire History and Fire Climate Relationships in Upper Elevation Forests of the Southwestern United States}, volume = {Ph.D}, year = {2007}, note = {

Please contact the Laboratory of Tree Ring Research for a copy of this dissertation. The file is too large to be uploaded at this time.

}, pages = {182}, school = {University of Arizona}, type = {Dissertation}, address = {Tucson}, abstract = {

Fire history and fire-climate relationships of upper elevation forests of the southwestern United States are imperative for informing management decisions in the face of increased crown fire occurrence and climate change. I used dendroecological techniques to reconstruct fires and stand-replacing fire patch size in Madrean Sky Islands and Mogollon Plateau. Reconstructed patch size (1685-1904) was compared with contemporary patch size (1996-2004). Reconstructed fires at three sites had stand-replacing patches totaling \> 500 ha. No historical stand-replacing fire patches were evident in the mixed conifer/aspen forests of the Sky Islands. Maximum stand-replacing fire patch size of modern fires (1129 ha) was greater than that reconstructed from aspen (286 ha) and spruce-fir (521 ha). Updated spruce-fir patches may be evidence of larger (\>2000ha) stand-replacing fire patches.

To provide climatological context for fire history I used correlation and regionalization analyses to document spatial and temporal variability in climate regions, and El-Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO) teleconnections using 273 tree-ring chronologies (1732-1979). Four regions were determined by common variability in annual ring width. The component time score series replicate spatial variability in 20th century droughts (e.g., 1950\’s) and pluvials (e.g., 1910\’s). Two regions were significantly correlated with instrumental SOI and AMO, and three with PDO. Sub-regions within the southwestern U.S. varied geographically between the instrumental (1900-1979) and the pre-instrumental periods (1732-1899). Mapped correlations between ENSO, PDO and AMO, and tree-ring indices illustrate detailed sub-regional variability in teleconnections.

I analyzed climate teleconnections, and fire-climate relationships of historical upper elevation fires from 16 sites in 8 mountain ranges. I tested for links between Palmer Drought Severity Index and tree-ring reconstructed ENSO, PDO and AMO phases (1905-1978 and 1700-1904). Upper elevation fires (115 fires, 84 fire years, 1623-1904) were compared with climate indices. ENSO, PDO, and AMO affected regional PDSI, but AMO and PDO teleconnections changed between periods. Fire occurrence was significantly related to inter-annual variability in PDSI, precipitation, ENSO, and phase combinations of ENSO and PDO, but not AMO (1700-1904). Reduced upper elevation fire (1785-1840) was coincident with a cool AMO phase.

}, keywords = {AMO, climate, dendrochronology, dendroclimatology, ENSO, environment, fire, fire history, forest, madrean sky islands, mogollon plateau, mountain, PDO, southwest, teleconnection, tree ring, upper elevation, Watershed Management}, url = {http://ezproxy.library.arizona.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1375523671\&sid=1\&Fmt=2\&clientId=43922\&RQT=309\&VName=PQD.}, author = {Margolis, Ellis Quinn} } @mastersthesis {506, title = {Effects of Substrate on Dendrochronologic Streamflow Reconstruction: Paria River, Utah; With Fractal Applications to Dendrochronology}, volume = {PhD}, year = {2002}, school = {University of Arizona}, abstract = {Two pi{\~n}on ( Pinus edulus ) tree-ring chronologies developed on each of three substrates (sandstone, shale, and alluvial fan deposits) in southern Utah for the period 1702 to 1997 demonstrate that geologic substrate affects dendrochronologic streamflow reconstructions. Chronologies from alluvial fan deposits explain the most variance of cool-season (October 1 to May 31) flow with an adjusted coefficient of determination (R a 2 ) equal to 0.59. Chronologies from sandstone deposits account for 52 percent of the variance, while those on shale deposits account for 45 percent. The highest single-site annual discharge reconstruction (October 1 to September 30), R a 2 = 0.25, is provided by chronologies from shale deposits. The highest substrate-pair annual discharge reconstruction, R a 2 = 0.27, is provided by chronologies from alluvial fan deposits. The highest summer discharge reconstruction (July 4 to September 3), R a 2 = 0.14, is provided by chronologies from sandstone. The different substrate response is attributed to varying amounts of clay in each substrate affecting infiltration and available water for tree growth. The fractal parameters (fractal dimension and Hurst exponent), calculated using the roughness-length method, describe the long-term persistence of each tree-ring series and of the hydrologic record. The fractal dimensions range from 1.739 to 1.939 for the tree-ring series for the calibration period, and from 1.884 to 1.946 for the entire chronology periods. The fractal dimension for the annual hydrologic record is 1.802, and 1.819 from October 1 through May 31. Modification of each tree-ring series based on the ratios of the Hurst exponent of each series forced the fractal dimensions of the tree-ring series to be closer to that of the hydrologic series. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)}, keywords = {Watershed Management}, url = {http://ezproxy.library.arizona.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=765129271\&sid=4\&Fmt=2\&clientId=43922\&RQT=309\&VName=PQD}, author = {Grow, David Earl} } @mastersthesis {557, title = {Twentieth Century Fire Patterns in the Gila/Aldo Leopold Wilderness Areas, New Mexico and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area, Idaho/Montana}, volume = {PhD}, year = {2000}, school = {University of Arizona}, abstract = {I used archives of wildfire perimeters (fire atlases) within a geographic information system (GIS) to describe and evaluate fire frequency patterns for the 20 th century in the 486,673-ha Gila/Aldo Leopold Wilderness Complex (GALWC), New Mexico and the 785,090-ha Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Complex (SBWC) in Idaho and Montana. I addressed questions about changing 20 th century fire frequencies and landscape-scale controls of fire frequency by analyzing fire atlases along with data for topography, vegetation, and climate. Similarities and differences in comparisons between study areas highlight important aspects of fire regimes and strengthen my interpretation and inference. In the GALWC, fire rotations were shortest during the recent wildfire use period (1975-1993) and longest during the pre-modern suppression period (1909-1946). In the SBWC, fire rotations were shortest during the pre-modern suppression period (1880-1934) and longest during the modern suppression period (1935-1975). Elevations with the highest fire frequencies differed between study areas. However, forest types found at these elevations are characterized by similar overstory tree species. Steeper northeastern slopes in the GALWC and southwestern slopes in the SBWC burned most frequently. I assert that, in the GALWC, horizontal fuel continuity is a main factor determining fire frequency. In the SBWC, fuel moisture status limits fire frequency. Fires are most frequent in areas where ignitions occur and neither fuel continuity nor fuel moisture are likely to limit fire spread. Three statistical modeling approaches were used to produce maps of reburn probabilities. Log-likelihood modeling provided the most satisfactory results, while logistic regression and classification and regression trees yielded statistically insignificant models. Empirical models contributed to the assertion that fuel continuity limits fire frequency in the GALWC while fuel moisture limits fire frequency in the SBWC. Mapped fire perimeters provide a valuable source of spatial historical information for describing the role of large fires over broad areas. This dissertation enhances scientific knowledge about broad scale changes in fire regimes. Comparisons between areas facilitate identification of unique versus general patterns. Results provide a contemporary baseline for comparison with estimates of Pre-EuroAmerican fire frequencies, and a historical, spatial context for modeling and managing future fire regimes.}, keywords = {Watershed Management}, url = {http://ezproxy.library.arizona.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=728349901\&sid=9\&Fmt=2\&clientId=43922\&RQT=309\&VName=PQD}, author = {Rollins, Mathew Gregory} } @mastersthesis {516, title = {Fire History in Riparian Canyon Pine-Oak Forests and the Intervening Desert Grasslands of the Southwest Borderlands: A Dendroecological, Historical, and Cultural Inquiry}, volume = {MS}, year = {1998}, school = {University of Arizona}, address = {Tucson}, abstract = {

Dendroecological, documentary, and ethnoecological evidence were combined to provide an integrated understanding of past natural and cultural fires in the Southwest Borderlands. Fire frequency for the desert grasslands was inferred from synchronous intercanyon fire events. Mean fire intervals range between 4-8 years in canyon pine-oak forests, 4-9 years in the intervening desert grasslands, and 5-9 years in the mixed-conifer forests. Riparian canyon pine-oak forests were important corridors for fire spread between the desert grasslands and higher-elevation forests. The decline of post-settlement (\>1870s) fires typical of most forests in U.S., is not evident south of the border in Mexico.

Documentary evidence reveals the Apache had detailed knowledge of fire, that burning practices were controlled and limited, and ecosystem enhancement through intentional burning was not suggested. However, the common exception was burning practiced during wartime periods, principally by the Apache but also by the Spanish, Mexicans, and later Americans. Fire reconstructions indicate that wartime-period fires were significantly more frequent than peacetime periods at several canyon-rancher{\'I}a sites.

}, keywords = {apache, borderland, cultural, dendrochronology, dendroecological, desert grassland, ethnoecological, fire, fire history, historical, Mexico, oak, peacetime, pine, post settlement, riparian, southwest, spanish, wartime, Watershed Management}, author = {Kaib, J. Mark} } @mastersthesis {546, title = {Development of Anatomical Tree-Ring Chonologies from Southern Arizona Conifers using Image Analysis}, volume = {PhD}, year = {1990}, school = {University of Arizona}, abstract = {Climatic influences on the anatomical features of the last-formed latewood tracheids of southern Arizona conifers were examined using video image analysis. Video image analysis was shown to be a feasible method to obtain tracheid dimensions from tree rings. It also proved to be a precise method for measuring tree-ring density as a relative quantity (the lumen area percent, LUM\%). Two cores from each of five ponderosa pines (Pinus ponderosa Laws.) were analyzed to obtain chronologies of radial and tangential diameter, lumen, cell wall and total areas, and LUM\% in a range of 87-276 years. A fast and reliable sample preparation techniques using a sliding microtome was used to obtain microsections for the image analysis. Missing values for absent rings were estimated using stepwise regression with other non-missing series. Because no obvious biological trends were found for the mature periods, mean line fits were used for the standardization after removing the juvenile portions. Due to the large variabilities within and between trees, the anatomical chronologies possessed much weaker common signals than the ring-width or density chronologies. This indicated that a large number of cores per tree or trees per site should be taken to compensate for the biological heterogeneity in wood structure. The year-to-year variations in the anatomical chronologies were diverse, and autocorrelations were relatively high. Response function analyses revealed that most anatomical chronologies possessed a higher association with climatic variations than the ring-width or density chronologies. Reduced moisture stress during the early growing season, and high precipitation for the late growing season, induced high radial enlargement, consequently, greater tracheid area of the last-formed latewoods. The influence of climate on the tangential enlargement was inconsistent. Cell wall thickening was enhanced first by high precipitation for the prior growing season, then by low temperature for the growing season and by high October temperature. The effects of the cell enlargement were mixed with the effects of cell wall thickening in the lumen area \% or maximum latewood density variation.}, keywords = {Watershed Management}, url = {http://ezproxy.library.arizona.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=744327611\&sid=2\&Fmt=2\&clientId=43922\&RQT=309\&VName=PQD}, author = {Park, Wonkyu} } @mastersthesis {572, title = {The Effect of Prescribed Burning on Southwest Ponderosa Pine Growth}, volume = {PhD}, year = {1989}, school = {University of Arizona}, abstract = {Study objectives included determining whether prescribed burning affected ponderosa pine growth; mathematically modeling the growth response to burning; and determining whether forest management history affected growth response. I sampled 188 trees from two areas near Flagstaff, Arizona; one area (Brannigan Flat) had been logged and thinned, and the other (Chimney Spring) had not; both were burned in 1976. Within each study area, control and burned plots were of similar age, vigor, height, and competition index. Trees at Chimney Spring were older, less vigorous, and taller, and had a higher competition index than at Brannigan. For each tree, periodic basal area increment (PBAI) was calculated for the years 1974-1984. To determine which variable would best model growth, postfire PBAI (individual years, 1977-1984) was correlated with previous growth (average PBAI 1974-1976); crown ratio; competition index; thinning index; and diameter. Two models of growth response were developed; one oriented toward satisfying theoretical and research goals, and the other, toward management applications. Growth was modeled using stepwise multiple linear regression, and the dependent variable was postfire PBAI. Research Model independent variables were previous growth, years (climate), and treatment-year interaction, and 72\% of total variance was explained. Fire affected growth significantly and negatively for two years, and then burned trees grew similarly to control trees. Management Model independent variables were crown ratio, competition index, crown ratio, subject tree diameter, year, and treatment, and 52\% of total variance was explained. This model, too, indicated a slight negative effect of burning on growth. Management history was not a significant determinant of growth response. Both models validated well; the ratio of observed-to-predicted residual mean square was 1.04 and 0.91 (Research and Management Models, respectively). Thinning index was not significantly related to postfire growth, but a change in carbohydrate allocation from stem wood to crown and root expansion could have resulted in observed burning effects. Management implications include (1) short-term growth decline may result from burning, (2) management history did not affect growth response, and (3) burning impact is greatest in dense stands of small trees.}, keywords = {Watershed Management}, url = {http://ezproxy.library.arizona.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=746080281\&sid=4\&Fmt=2\&clientId=43922\&RQT=309\&VName=PQD}, author = {Sutherland, Elaine Kennedy} } @mastersthesis {574, title = {A Dendrochronological Assessment of Western Spruce Budworm, Choristoneura Occidentalis Freeman, in the Southern Rocky Mountains}, volume = {PhD}, year = {1987}, school = {University of Arizona}, abstract = {

Tree-ring chronologies from ten mixed conifer stands in the Colorado Front Ranges and New Mexico Sangre de Cristo Mountains were used to reconstruct timing, duration, and radial growth impacts of past outbreaks of western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman. Graphical and statistical comparisons of tree-ring chronologies from host and non-host tree species, in conjunction with Forest Service records of outbreaks during the twentieth century, revealed that outbreaks were identifiable only in the host chronologies as sharply reduced growth periods. These comparisons also showed that host and non-host tree-ring chronologies were generally similar between outbreaks and that both were responding in a similar manner to climatic variation. A study of defoliation and insect population data that was available for the New Mexico stands demonstrated that host radial growth from 1978 to 1983 was highly correlated with budworm activity. The non-host chronologies from each stand were used to correct the host chronologies for climatic and other non-budworm environmental variations by a differencing procedure. The corrected chronologies were then used to estimate the dates and radial growth effects of past budworm outbreaks. Tree-ring characteristics of twentieth century documented outbreaks were used as criteria for inferring the occurrence of outbreaks in previous centuries. At least nine periods of increased budworm activity were identified in the region from 1700 to 1983. The mean duration of reduced growth periods caused by known and inferred budworm outbreaks was 12.6 years, and the mean interval between initial years of successive outbreaks was 34.9 years. The mean maximum radial growth loss was 50 percent of expected growth, and the mean periodic growth loss was 21.6 percent. There was an unusually long period of reduced budworm activity in the first few decades of the twentieth century, and since that time outbreaks have been markedly more synchronous between stands. Increased synchroneity of outbreaks in the latter half of the twentieth century suggests that areal extent of outbreaks has increased. This phenomenon may be due to changes in the age structure and species composition of forests following harvesting and fire suppression in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

}, keywords = {Watershed Management}, url = {http://ezproxy.library.arizona.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=753027921\&sid=16\&Fmt=2\&clientId=43922\&RQT=309\&VName=PQD}, author = {Swetnam, T.} } @mastersthesis {582, title = {The Historical Potential of Snowfall as a Water Resources in Arizona}, volume = {MS}, year = {1975}, school = {University of Arizona}, abstract = {{\textellipsis}Tree-ring chronologies from the San Francisco Mountains and White Mountains region of central Arizona where used to reconstruct past annual snowfall water equivalents for up to the last 500 years{\textellipsis}}, keywords = {Watershed Management}, author = {Tunnicliff, Brock Matthew} }