Southern Plains Fire Group Fire Ecology Wildland fire has played a large role in shaping the flora and fauna of the Texas Panhandle.. Short and mixed-grass prairies are the dominant vegetation type in the Southern Plains and were maintained by frequent and large-scale fires started by both lightning and, once humans were on the landscape, Indigenous peoples. As a result, the plants and animals found in the Southern Plains possess adaptations to survive wildfires. Animals Animals in the Southern Plains have an innate fear of fire and know how to escape them while several animals even benefit from fire. Many smaller animals, such as rodents, prairie dogs, and turtles escape an approaching fire by burrowing into the ground or hiding in a hole. The main risk is a lack of air, stress from escaping, or becoming prey for predators attracted to the fire. Arthropods have a variety of responses to fire depending on the life stage, timing of the fire, weather after the fire and regrowth of the vegetation. Unless birds are nesting with young, most birds easily survive fire by flying and most respond well to fire. Prey escaping the fire is easier to catch and the increase in flowers and seeds provide herbivories an increase in food. Fire is most damaging to birds who are nesting or rely on shrubs that are destroyed during the fire. Large animals, such as deer, bison, and prong horned antelope respond well to fire as an increase in growth provides more food. Predators are also attracted to fire as fleeing animals provide an easy source of food. Following the flaming front, many animals are seen returning to or emerging from the newly blackened ground.
Plants Most of the Texas Panhandle consists of grasses and a limited number of trees and shrubs. Frequent fire likely limited the woody species found in the Southern Plains. However, a lack of fire gives way for encroachment by woody species resulting in a potential loss of grass and forb cover and the transition of prairies to woodlands. Common grasses are Buffalograss, Purple Threeawn, Blue grama, Sideoats grama, Little Bluestem, and Switchgrass. These grasses are an important part of the ecosystem as they provide soil stability and help limit blowing dust. They also provide forage for a variety of herbivores. With average or above-average precipitation, the majority of grasses in the region perform well when burned. The grasses are hardy as the area receives roughly 20 inches of precipitation each year. This increased growth greatly benefits herbivores by providing more food. However, if grasses are burned and there is a lack of precipitation then it is hard for the grasses to recover. Many flowering plants, such as globemallow, firewheel, and milkweeds respond positively to fire and can expand into recently burned areas. The majority of trees in the region are fire resistant and are only harmed by hot, long-duration fires or when they are young. The main exception is the cottonwood tree, which firefighters work to protect by removing fuel beneath them during prescribed burns. Overall, fire largely has a positive or neutral effect on plants and animals in the region. Few native plants and animals respond negatively to fire. The greatest danger fire poses to plants and animals is if there is an extended lack of precipitation after a fire. A drought will keep plants from recovering and can cause a reduction in growth for several years. This will affect animals and can cause issues if an exceptionally large fire occurred recently. However, most fires in the region are frequent but small in scale.
Sources: Ford, Paulette L., and Guy R. McPherson “Ecology of fire in shortgrass communities of the Kiowa National Grassland.” In Fifteenth North American prairie conference proceedings, pp. 71-76. 1996. Ford, Paulette L.; McPherson, Guy R. 1996. Ecology of fire in shortgrass prairie of the southern Great Plains. In: Finch, Deborah M., Editor. Ecosystem disturbance and wildlife conservation in western grasslands- A symposium proceedings. September 22-26, 1994; Albuquerque, NM. General Technical Report RM-GTR-285. Fort Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. P. 20-39.
Southern Plains Fire Group 
Southern Plains Fire Group 
Southern Plains Fire Group |
Last updated: February 20, 2024