BTNY-3116 2 Credit hrs.
Plant Ecology-I
Topic of assignment
Fire as an ecological factor
Submitted by
Ayesha Khalil
Lsci201104034
Botany 5A
Submitted to
Ms. Saira Sameen
Department of life Sciences
Fire as an ecological factor brings sudden changes in the
ecosystem. It destroys the ecosystem life and affects the whole
ecosystem, like plants, animals, etc. The fire Factor is related to the
environmental factor which is included in Autecology.
Fire is a chemical reaction that gives light and heat.
Food is usually cooked to improve its taste and also kill any
disease-causing organism which may be in it. This cooking makes
fire a very crucial thing to our survival because man cannot survive
without food and most of the food eaten by man has to be
cooked.
Fire is most important in forests and grassland of North America
Indonesia Australia and South and East Africa.
So, Ecology fire is defined as” fire is a factor that brings sudden
changes in the ecosystem”.
There are three conditions that are necessary for the setting of a
fire.
• Accumulation of dry organic matter sufficient to burn.
• Dry weather conditions to render the material combustible.
• Source of ignition.
There are three main causes or sources of ignition.
It is a natural cause or source, lightning has been the most
common source of ignition when the lightning strokes hit the
ground, the drive material is kindled and fire is set off. According
to one estimate, 70% of forest fires are caused by lightning.
It is the most frequent cause of the fire. Men often sets fire
deliberately to modify the environment for his own ends, such as
to clear the ground for agriculture, play, and area for housing
societies and road construction, to improve conditions for
hunting, etc.
Sometimes fire exists due to the carelessness of man easy (e.g.
Throwing a cigarette butt). Sometimes mainly in forests fires
developed due to mutual friction between trees (bamboo etc.).
There are three different types of Fire.
1. Surface fire
2. Crown fire
3. Ground fire
Wildlife can usually escape from these slow-burning fires.
In the case of crown fire, there are no chances or very less chances
to escape wildlife. These fires kill wildlife and lead to accelerated
soil erosion.
It is a flameless fire. It attacks dead organic remains and debris
etc. Because it is flameless it is continuous for many days and is
very difficult to extinguish. There are many effects of Fire, which
are harmful and also ecologically beneficially important for the
forest.
Sudden change in temperature and it must be noted that
temperature that prevails, when a fire in progress may reach up to
1300 degrees Fahrenheit.
Due to an increase in temperature, the soil microorganisms which
are chief agents of decomposition are killed. Their survival and
activity are decreased and they are killed, so no decomposition
takes place.
Fire is useful but also very dangerous because destroys many
things and causes houses trees and many other things to burn
into Ashes. Fire destroys forests and huge areas in a matter of
minutes.
When a fire occurs in the vegetation cover area,
the vegetation is burned and after the fire that area becomes
bare. Due to the bare surface of the soil, the chances of soil
erosion increase so fire causes soil erosion and leaching of
topsoil.
Fire causes air pollution, especially crown fire The Flames and
smoke have many particles in them which spread into
the atmosphere and cause air pollution.
Control surface fires on light fires are beneficial in many
respects:
Stimulate the germination of certain tree seeds, several kinds of
legume and grass seeds that are in the dormant form present, and
soil, and fire help to germinate the seeds. The hard seed coat
bursts and the seed germinates under favorable conditions.
Fire increases the activity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Fire creeps
on the forest floor surface and hence nitrogen-fixing bacteria
increase their activity because of the direct contact with the
atmosphere by creeping waste products on them. These bacteria
form nitrogen in the soil.
In forests where ground litter accumulates rapidly, a surface fire every
4 to 5 years is essential, because it burns away flammable material and
thereby helps to prevent more destructive crowns and ground fires.
Fire reduces dead organic matter to soluble ash and releases
important nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, etc.
Surface fire can be used to control outbreaks of tree diseases and
pests. Many pathogens are killed due to fire and help to control
disease to spread.
Fire helps in regulating the ecosystem by eliminating certain
species and favoring the survival and growth of desired species.
Wildfires, when allowed to burn in areas where they do not
impact human development, are regenerative for the forest,
revitalizing the watershed, renewing the soil, and rest the clock for
the ecosystem. As a researcher on Wildfire and streams let’s
recount the many ways that natural Wildfire is beneficial.
Fire is a great way of clearing out the clutter. They can break
down nutrients and Minerals in burning plants and other debris
such as old logs, leaves, and dense undergrowth and restore them
to the soil, thus making for a more fertile area.
Fires are a natural and necessary part of the ecosystem. Even
healthy forests contain dead trees and decaying plant matter,
when a fire turns them to ashes, nutrients returned to the soil
instead of remaining captive in old vegetation.
what are some ecological benefits of occasional
surface fires?
Surface fires are fires that burn through the layer of vegetation
and other organic material found on the ground. Occasional
surface fires can have a number of ecological benefits, including:
1. Promoting plant diversity: In many ecosystems, surface fires
can help to create a diverse plant community by removing certain
plant species and promoting the growth of others. For example, in
grasslands, surface fires can help to control invasive species and
allow native grasses to thrive.
2. Improving habitat for wildlife: Surface fires can create
openings in vegetation and stimulate new growth, providing food
and shelter for a variety of animal species.
Reducing fuel accumulation: By reducing the amount of dead
plant material and other organic matter on the ground, surface
fires can reduce the risk of future, more intense fires.
3. Promoting nutrient cycling: Surface fires can release nutrients
from dead plant material and make them available to other plants
and animals in the ecosystem.
