@mastersthesis {439, title = {Fire Histories of Upper Elevation Forests in the Gila Wilderness, New Mexico via Fire Scar and Stand Age Structure Analyses}, volume = {Master of Science}, year = {1997}, pages = {120}, school = {University of Arizona}, address = {Tucson}, abstract = {

Fire-scar analysis to identify fire events and stand age structure analysis to identify fire effects on survivorship of trees were used to reconstruct surface and crown fire regimes in upper elevation forests of the Gila Wilderness, NM. Fire regimes varied across forest type, but not necessarily across elevation. Prior to the twentieth century, (from 1706 to 1904), the mean interval for large fires was 8 years. During the twentieth century, (from 1904 to 1995), the mean fire return interval for large fires was 46 years. The virtual end of historically frequent fire regimes due to livestock grazing and fire suppression since the turn of the century has affected successional pathways of forest types across elevations, favoring later successional forest species and structures.

}, keywords = {dendrochronology, fire, fire regime, fire scar, gila wilderness, new mexico, stand age, suppression, tree ring, upper elevation}, author = {Abolt,Rena Ann Peck} } @mastersthesis {573, title = {Fire History of the Gila Wilderness, New Mexico}, volume = {Master of Science}, year = {1983}, pages = {156}, school = {University of Arizona}, address = {Tucson}, abstract = {

A data base of fire occurrence was established for the Gila Wilderness by analyzing fire scars and compiling fire records. Cross sections of 44 fire scarred ponderosa pine trees (Pinus ponderosa Laws.) were collected from three study areas. Crossdating of more than 800 individual fire scars revealed that extensive surface fires were a common occurrence prior to 1900. Mean fire intervals for a 250-year period prior to 1900 were approximately four to eight years and fire intervals ranged from one to 26 years. Intensive grazing and fire suppression efforts after 1900 resulted in a sudden decrease in number of fires recorded by the sample trees.

A 72-year record (1909-1980) of fire occurrence in the Gila National Forest was compiled from Forest Service records. The fire records and fire scar evidence suggest a need for continued emphasis on fuels reduction and greater flexibility in the Prescribed Natural Fire program.

}, keywords = {crossdate, dendrochronology, fire, fire history, fire scar, gila national forest, gila wilderness, new mexico, pinus ponderosa, ponderosa pine, tree ring}, author = {Swetnam, T.} }