Barrons AP Environmental Science

(Marvins-Underground-K-12) #1

  1. (B) Ground fires generally kill large and small trees because of the long and
    high temperature heat pulse generated. They release considerable amounts
    of nutrients from the burned fuels, destroy many small organisms and fungi
    that live in the humus and organic layers, consume seed stored in the litter,
    and kill roots in all but deep soil layers. They increase the chance of surface
    flow and erosion on slopes, and leave a baked and hardened seedbed that
    may prevent rapid revegetation. Increased surface runoff across the exposed
    surface may carry away ash and dissolved nutrients, making conditions even
    less favorable for plant growth.

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