Authors
Natalie A Rossiter, Samantha A Setterfield, Michael M Douglas, Lindsay B Hutley
Publication date
2003/5
Journal
Diversity and distributions
Volume
9
Issue
3
Pages
169-176
Publisher
Blackwell Science Ltd
Description
Invasive alien grasses can increase fuel loads, leading to changes in fire regimes of invaded ecosystems by increasing the frequency, intensity and spatial extent of fires. Andropogon gayanus Kunth. (Gamba grass), a tall perennial grass from Africa, is invading ecosystems in the Top End of northern Australia. To determine whether A. gayanus alters savanna fire regimes, we compared fuel loads and fire intensities at invaded sites with those from native grass savannas. Savanna invaded by A. gayanus had fuel loads up to seven times higher than those dominated by native grasses. This higher fuel load supported a fire that was on average eight times more intense than those recorded in native grass savannas at the same time of year (means 15700 ± 6200 and 2100 ± 290 kW m−1, respectively), and was the highest early dry season fire intensities ever recorded in the Northern Territory. These results suggest that A …
Total citations
20042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202414141922242733242534252624233431172220123
Scholar articles