Table 2 Mean (standard error) understory and overstory attributes within ponderosa pine prescribed fire burn units by time since burned for a first entry fire. All percentages represent percent cover measurements. Letters represent significant differences (α ≤ 0.05) between treatment years using PERMANOVA; n = 8 plots. QUGA = Gambel oak, PIPO = ponderosa pine. Data from permanent monitoring plots located at Zion National Park, Utah, USA.
From: Evaluating Prescribed Fire Effectiveness Using Permanent Monitoring Plot Data: A Case Study
| Â | Pre fire | Post-fire years since fire | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | 1 | 2 | 5 | 10 | |
Understory cover (%) | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Woody shrubs | 14.2 (2.7)a | 7.3 (1.8)b | 6.9 (1.7)b | 5.6 (1.0)b | 7.5 (2.2)ab |
   QUGA | 22.4 (4.1) | 8.6 (2.9) | 19.9 (3.4) | 19.4 (3.4) | 27.0 (4.4) |
   Forb | 9.6 (2.8) | 8.2 (1.9) | 12.6 (3.1) | 5.9 (5.0) | 7.1 (2.3) |
   Perennial graminoids | 6.4 (3.1) | 5.1 (2.3) | 8.1 (3.7) | 7.5 (4.1) | 5.6 (2.6) |
   Total vegetation | 55.0 (8.4) | 32.1 (5.7) | 48.7 (6.0) | 38.9 (6.8) | 48.0 (3.6) |
Overstory and midstory | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   PIPO overstory basal area (m2 ha−1) | 20.0 (3.8) | 20.0 (3.6) | 20.1 (3.6) | 21.1 (3.7) | 21.1 (3.7) |
   PIPO midstory basal area (m2 ha−1) | 0.8 (0.4) | 0.8 (0.3) | 0.8 (0.3) | 0.5 (0.2) | 0.6 (0.3) |
   QUGA overstory density (trees ha−1) | 8.8 (5.2) | 5.0 (5.0) | 6.3 (6.3) | 6.3 (6.3) | 6.3 (6.3) |
   QUGA midstory density (trees ha−1) | 655 (447.7) | 360 (320.8) | 345 (305.8) | 335 (306.9) | 250 (250) |