how does forest fire effect flora and fauna
Answers
Grazing and fire are linked to plant invasions. Gaps created by high-intensity fires are particularly susceptible to invasion by exotic species e.g. Imperata cylindrica quickly recovers after fire and may respond with an increase in cover. Invasive species depletes the biodiversity of an area through allelopathic path ways.
Terminalia chebula, T. bellirica, T. tomentosa which is having highly commercial and medicinal value respectively is facing severe problem due to forest fire leaving behind poor stocking. Species like Lantana camara, L. indica,, Eupatorium glandulosum, Parthenium hysterophorus,, Cassia tora, C occidentalis, etc. have invaded several of the significant sites of forest biodiversity conservation.
Many believe that fires are bad but they are actually necessary to promote diversity (Douglas 1971, Kovacic 1998). Forest species change in composition after fire, this may be good or bad depending on the utility of the stands that preceded and succeeded the fires (Lutz 1956).
The state of the ecosystem, namely the set of fire regimes that prevail in a landscape, pre-conditions the responses of biodiversity and ecosystem processes to any particular fire. Awareness of this fundamental principle and the concept of fire regimes is a mandatory pre-requisite for decision-making and evaluation of ecological effects of any fire (Bradstock 2000), for e.g. a high intensity fire in a mature forest will not be a disaster provided that some part of the habitat provides corridor for free movement of animals. Before considering fire to be disaster we have to consider following implications on forest values (Show 1953):
1. Protective Value: increased erosion/sedimentation, introduction of weeds etc.2. Present and Potential Value: loss of recreational use, loss of visual amenity, changed water yield and quality, extinction of species.3. With What degree of difficulty can forest be re-established after fire e.g. allow the tree species to persist at a site but not the hollow dependent mammals, death of ´charismatic' animals