Fire Ecology of the Everglades

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Fire Ecology of the Everglades

• By
• Nathan Maurer

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The History of Fire in the Everglades

• Presettlement Florida was home to large scale
  fires that were relatively common.
• These fires helped to shape the vegetative
  communities.
• Native Americans used small scale fires to drive
  out game during a hunt.

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History of Fire in the Everglades

• The coastal inhabitants of Florida like the Pine
  Flatwoods and the Sand Pine Scrub. Burned often.
• Coastal Mangroves rarely ever burned.
• Saw grass burned very intensely while wet
  prairies and sloughs did not carry the fire or
  burn as intensely.

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History of Fire in the Everglades

• During the dry season and in droughts the
  sometimes 4 meter deep peat would burn and create
  inland pools.
• This increased the diversity in the ever changing
  Everglades.

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Current Fire in the Everglades

• Since the settlement of Florida naturally
  occurring wildfires have been controlled allowing
  for a large build up of fuels over time.
• Large scale development, drainage, and
  manipulation of water levels have altered the
  environment.
• Introduction of exotic species like Melaleuca and
  Old World fern have been detrimental.

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Current Fire in the Everglades

• The Melaleuca leaves contain oils that are
  extremely volatile and cause the fires to burn
  much more intense.
• The Old World climbing fern will carry the fire
  into the crowns of the trees causing unnaturally
  high damage. Fragments of the fern can be burned
  and carried away by thermals increasing the
  frequency of spot fires.

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Prescribed Fires

• A prescribed fire is controlled by firefighters
  to reduce the fuel loading in a specific area.
• This was introduced to the Everglades to attempt
  to mimic the natural fires.

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Pine stand before
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During the fire
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After the Fire
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Questions?