Verified Document

Controlled Burning In Yellowstone National Term Paper

Because this article contains one of the many effects of burning, its inclusion in the cannon of literature is important. Houston, Douglas B. (1971). Ecosystems of National Parks. Science. 127 (3984), 648-

Though Douglas B. Houston's article is older than some, its topic is one that does not necessarily require a modern time stamp. Additionally, this article that discusses national park maintenance was written before the great fire in Yellowstone National Park. For those writing about controlled burning, this gives a unique example of the opinions of maintenance and the ecosystem before the fire, which allows the researcher to make comparisons between the pre and post-fire opinion. Other relevant information in the article is a detailed discussion of the parks' ecosystems, and a conclusion that the destructive activities of humans are especially dangerous for the park. In addition, the article points out the difference between national park maintenance and maintenance of other types of land, such as agricultural land. As the author of the article is a representative of the National Park Service and the article has been cited numerous times in other scholarly works, the author's credibility is established.

Romme, William H. And Knight, Dennis H. (1982). Landscape Diversity: The Concept Applied to Yellowstone Park. BioScience. 32 (8), 664-670.

In this article, the authors discuss changes in landscape patterns, and how these changes affect natural features including "wildlife abundance, nutrient flow, and lake productivity" (664). Though this may not seem relevant to controlled burning at first, landscape patterns are intrinsically important to the ecosystem of any national park. Landscape patterns also have a direct impact...

This article will be an important research for those who believe it is important to discuss planting and planning after the controlled or prescribed burn. Additionally, the article describes prescribed burning and some of its effects, including effects on nutrition and plant and animal life. Finally, the article is easy to read and chalk full of facts, numbers, and information about the park. As a reference, therefore, it is useful if only for fact-finding purposes.
Turner, Monica G., Romme, William H., and Tinker, Daniel B. (2003). Surprises and Lessons from the 1988 Yellowstone Fires. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 1(7), 351-358.

For ecologists, naturalists, park personnel, and those living in Wyoming, the 1988 Yellowstone Fires were a monumental experience. When discussing prescribed burning, therefore, scholars continue to return to the fires for inspiration and research purposes. Written by at least two of the leading experts on controlled burning and the Yellowstone Fires, this article discusses the surprises levied by the 1988 Yellowstone Fires. These were mainly positive surprises, such as plant life growing rapidly, and the fact that human restoration in the area was not necessary. By studying the wealth of information available about the fires that was discussed in the last fifteen years, the scholars are applying the information they discovered due to the 1988 fires to prescribed burning and forest fires in other areas. Because this article is written by experts in the field and addresses the real-life effects of prescribed burning, this article is an excellent addition to the collection of research about controlled burns in Yellowstone National Park.

Sources used in this document:
In this article, the authors discuss changes in landscape patterns, and how these changes affect natural features including "wildlife abundance, nutrient flow, and lake productivity" (664). Though this may not seem relevant to controlled burning at first, landscape patterns are intrinsically important to the ecosystem of any national park. Landscape patterns also have a direct impact on plant diversity and what kinds of plants thrive in certain areas. This article will be an important research for those who believe it is important to discuss planting and planning after the controlled or prescribed burn. Additionally, the article describes prescribed burning and some of its effects, including effects on nutrition and plant and animal life. Finally, the article is easy to read and chalk full of facts, numbers, and information about the park. As a reference, therefore, it is useful if only for fact-finding purposes.

Turner, Monica G., Romme, William H., and Tinker, Daniel B. (2003). Surprises and Lessons from the 1988 Yellowstone Fires. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 1(7), 351-358.

For ecologists, naturalists, park personnel, and those living in Wyoming, the 1988 Yellowstone Fires were a monumental experience. When discussing prescribed burning, therefore, scholars continue to return to the fires for inspiration and research purposes. Written by at least two of the leading experts on controlled burning and the Yellowstone Fires, this article discusses the surprises levied by the 1988 Yellowstone Fires. These were mainly positive surprises, such as plant life growing rapidly, and the fact that human restoration in the area was not necessary. By studying the wealth of information available about the fires that was discussed in the last fifteen years, the scholars are applying the information they discovered due to the 1988 fires to prescribed burning and forest fires in other areas. Because this article is written by experts in the field and addresses the real-life effects of prescribed burning, this article is an excellent addition to the collection of research about controlled burns in Yellowstone National Park.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Yellowstone Controlled Burning at Yellowstone
Words: 1094 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

...This whole country is dry...If you don't have to burn it, don't burn it" said the fire marshal from the area (Shay & Johnson 2008). Fire damage at Yellowstone such as the damage that occurred in 1988 and 2008 has come at a tremendous cost: "Since 1984, the annual average number of fires that burn 1,000 acres or more has increased from 25 to 80...and the total average number of

Wildland Management Issue -- Fires
Words: 1078 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

What are the pros and cons of controlled burning in Yellowstone? The pros and cons of controlled burning in Yellowstone National Park have the same consequences -- uncontrollable fire. The pros of controlled burning are twofold. First, studies have proven the positive effects of controlled burning with regards to fire management. As previously stated, controlled burns remove debris from the forest floor that can be considered fodder for larger fires. In

Wildland Recreation There Is an
Words: 1075 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

He also mentions how the lack of fire has affected whitebark pine, a species that supports a variety of high mountain flora and fauna, and attributes this to the fact that there is not sufficient fire to eradicate competing species. H.E. McLean, writing in 1995 in American Forests, covers a handful of relevant topics. These include stating that there is an inherent risk in using prescribed fires because they are

Does the United States Government Have Environmental Ethics
Words: 2987 Length: 10 Document Type: Term Paper

Environmental Ethics US Government and Environmental Ethics The United States government has had a long history with the environment, beginning with the very beginning of the settlement of the Pilgrims, through the industrialization era, forming the beginning principles of having national parks, and to today with the onset of climate change and the environmental hazards of the 21st century. (National Park Service, 2012) Compared to other countries, the U.S. has had a

Forest Fire Management Systems and
Words: 17324 Length: 63 Document Type: Term Paper

It was then important to see the degree at which technology and training played a role in combating each fire. 1.2.4.Rationale of the Study What is that can be gained from this study? The reasoning behind such a study is born out of a need to provide better training for fire fighters so that fire management systems will improve and reduce the amount of loss due to the fire. By studying

Heavier Environmental Regulation on Oil and Gas Drilling Activities...
Words: 5303 Length: 16 Document Type: Research Paper

Regulating Oil and Gas Drilling and Transport The American economy runs on energy produced from oil, coal, natural gas, hydroelectric power, nuclear power and renewable sources like solar and wind energies. In fact according to a report in the Congressional Research Service, oil provides the United States with 40% of its total energy needs. It is used in myriad ways, providing "…fuel for the transportation, industrial, and residential sectors" (Ramseur, 2012).

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now