GEOG 3110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Dutch Elm Disease, Pinus Ponderosa, Montane Ecosystems
14 Sep 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Scientific Basis for Resource Management
• Relationship between science and management
o Scientist study biophysical systems to understand their functioning
o Resource managers manage biophysical systems to achieve objectives set by policy makers
o Key to successful management is a sound scientific basis for both setting policy and making
management decisions
Case Study 1:
• 1939 – Dead/dying saguaro observed in park
• 1941 – bacterium (Erwinea carnegieana)
• Pathogenesis Efforts:
o An experimental 1.3 km2 area was cleared entirely of diseases saguaro
• Results:
o No change between treated and controlled plots
• 1944 – suppression operations questioned:
o Evidence of this disease found back to 1889
o Only saguaro seemed susceptible
• Management Response:
o Another 20 years of funding pathogen research
• 1970 – Cause of Saguaro mortality conclusively attributed to climatic variability
o Inspiration for research from a 1911 paper published by Forrest Shreve
• Cause of continuous research may be due to other species infected by pathogens (Dutch elm
disease, Chestnut light)
• Are similar resource management problems today being solved by ignoring what is
already known in the scientific literature?
Case Study 2:
• What causes wildfire?
o Fuels accumulation (leaves, twigs, needles, things that easily burn)
o Weather
o Humans
• Firestorm: The fire suppression paradox
Two key Assumptions
1. That fires suppression has resulted in smaller fires, less area burned, and longer fire intervals
2. That’s older forests are more flammable
o Does the evidence support the first assumption?
▪ Not equitable
o What is the source of assumption one?
▪ Fine fuels do not increase after ~25 years
▪ Weather variables change
o Does the evidence support the second assumption?
▪ Not likely
More Area Burned
Uncontrollable Fires
More Fules Accoumulation
Longer Time Between Fires, Older Forests
Less Area Burned
Fire Suppression
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
