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Cited by 411Fire effects on ecosystemsRangeland and Wildlife ManagementForest Management and Policy

The Effects of Forest Fuel-Reduction Treatments in the United States

Open access
Stephens, Scott L., McIver, James D., Boerner, Ralph E. J., Fettig, Christopher J., Fontaine, Joseph B., Hartsough, Bruce R., Kennedy, Patricia L., Schwilk, Dylan W.·2012·BioScience
DOI 10.1525/bio.2012.62.6.6
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Abstract

The current conditions of many seasonally dry forests in the western and southern United States, especially those that once experienced low- to moderate-intensity fire regimes, leave them uncharacteristically susceptible to high-severity wildfire. Both prescribed fire and its mechanical surrogates are generally successful in meeting short-term fuel-reduction objectives such that treated stands are more resilient to high-intensity wildfire. Most available evidence suggests that these objectives are typically accomplished with few unintended consequences, since most ecosystem components (vegetation, soils, wildlife, bark beetles, carbon sequestration) exhibit very subtle effects or no measurable effects at all. Although mechanical treatments do not serve as complete surrogates for fire, their application can help mitigate costs and liability in some areas. Desired treatment effects on fire hazards are transient, which indicates that after fuel-reduction management starts, managers need to be persistent with repeated treatment, especially in the faster-growing forests in the southern United States.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1525/bio.2012.62.6.6

Cites

70 of 70 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

10 of 99 cited sources checked · 6 supported · 1 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Findingcitation

    In the short term and at the stand scale, fire-surrogate forest-thinning treatments effectively mimic low-severity fire.

    “The wildlife literature, which is dominated by studies on birds and small mammals, demonstrates that in the short term and at the stand scale, fire-surrogate forest-thinning treatments effectively mimic low-severity fire”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Kennedy and Fontaine 2009

      In “Fire and fire-surrogate results” (page unavailable), the synthesis states that fire-surrogate treatments generate different wildlife responses from fire treatments. Its bird-study summary gives stand-level examples: some species responded to thinning but not burning, and others to burning but not thinning. The paper says thinning could be used to mimic fire effects, but does not find that it effectively does so for wildlife in the short term. (LLM, conf=0.86)

      Checked by a reasoning model — may be wrong.

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Findingcitation

    A general pattern observed following mechanical fuel treatments is an increase in understory production and diversity similar to that seen following low-to moderate-intensity fire.

    “Therefore, a general pattern observed following mechanical fuel treatments is an increase in understory production and diversity similar to that seen following low-to moderateintensity fire (Bartuszevige and Kennedy 2009).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Bartuszevige and Kennedy 2009
  • Premisecitation

    These habitat features may attract and sustain populations of many vertebrate species.

    “which in turn may attract and sustain populations of many vertebrate species.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Kennedy and Fontaine 2009
  • Premisecitation

    Tree mortality after prescribed fires can contribute to important wildlife habitat features such as snags and downed logs.

    “Tree mortality after prescribed fires can contribute to important habitat features for wildlife, such as snags and downed logs (Kennedy and Fontaine 2009)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Kennedy and Fontaine 2009

      The “Wildlife Responses to Postfire Conditions” section (page unavailable) says fire creates dead and dying trees, snags, and downed logs that provide wildlife habitat. It does not specifically establish that these features result from tree mortality after prescribed fires, rather than fires generally. (LLM, conf=0.78)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Interpretationcitation

    Fuel treatments can be used in combination across a landscape to mimic the landscape heterogeneity characteristic of low- to moderate- and mixed-severity fire regimes.

    “These fuel treatments can be used in combination across a landscape to mimic the landscape heterogeneity characteristic of low-to moderate-and mixed-severity fire regimes (Collins et al. 2011, Perry et al. 2011).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Collins et al. 2011 source

      The Discussion (page unavailable) reports considerable variation in historical forest structure across the 4,000-ha study area and suggests variable targets for restoration treatments. It does not say that combining fuel treatments across a landscape would mimic the heterogeneity of low-to-moderate- and mixed-severity fire regimes. (LLM, conf=0.82)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites Perry et al. 2011 source
  • May combine two claims. 40
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 20

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    When responses of the same species were compared between mechanical thinning and low-severity fire, 42% of the birds (n = 31) and 54% of the small mammals (n = 13) showed no change in response.

    “When responses of the same species were compared between mechanical thinning and low-severity fire (reported in Fontaine and Kennedy 2012), 42% of the birds (n = 31) and 54% of the small mammals (n = 13) showed no change in response.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Fontaine and Kennedy 2012 source

      The ‘Fire surrogates and low/moderate-severity prescribed fire’ section reports that species often responded similarly to thinning and low/moderate-severity fire. Table 3 gives 47% with no difference among 45 species pooled across taxa, not the claimed separate figures of 42% of 31 birds and 54% of 13 small mammals. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Associated costs including loss of forest products, other values and resources, and personal property may total several thousand dollars per ha for large fires.

    “In addition, associated costs, including the loss of forest products, other values and resources, and personal property, may total several thousand dollars per ha for large fires (e.g., Lynch 2004).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lynch 2004 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The US Department of Energy and the US Department of Agriculture estimate that over 50 million oven-dry metric tons of smaller material could be recovered in fuel treatments across the United States for biomass energy.

    “The US Department of Energy and the US Department of Agriculture estimate that over 50 million oven-dry metric tons of smaller material could be recovered in fuel treatments across the United States for biomass energy (Perlack et al. 2005).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Perlack et al. 2005 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Costs of wildfire suppression in the United States from 1994 to 2004 averaged over $400 per ha burned.

    “The costs of wildfire suppression in the United States from 1994 to 2004 averaged over $400 per ha burned (Perlack et al. 2005).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Perlack et al. 2005 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Burning in the spring results in the fewest significant changes to stand and fuel structures, and spring burning results in greater retention of large woody debris, which could be desirable in some cases, including the retention of microhabitat features required by many wildlife species.

    “Burning in the spring results in the fewest significant changes to stand and fuel structures, and spring burning results in greater retention of large woody debris, which could be desirable in some cases, including the retention of microhabitat features required by many wildlife species (Knapp et al. 2009, Fettig et al. 2010).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Knapp et al. 2009 source
    • cites Fettig et al. 2010

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Both prescribed-fire and mechanical fuel treatments can increase the abundance of exotic species, and this increase is generally greatest with combined mechanical and prescribed-fire treatments.

    “Both prescribed-fire and mechanical fuel treatments can increase the abundance of exotic species, and this increase is generally greatest with combined mechanical and prescribed-fire treatments (e.g., Bartuszevige andKennedy 2009, Schwilk et al. 2009).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Bartuszevige and Kennedy 2009

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Schwilk et al. 2009 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    However, the rates of tree mortality are generally low (less than 5% of trees) and are concentrated in smaller-diameter trees for most bark beetle species.

    “However, the rates of tree mortality are generally low (less than 5% of trees) and are concentrated in smaller-diameter trees for most bark beetle species (figure 4).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites figure 4

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given

    The amount of carbon stored in vegetation was not significantly affected by prescribed fire but decreased by about 30 Mg per ha as the result of mechanical or combined mechanical and prescribed-fire treatment.

    “The amount of carbon stored in vegetation was not significantly affected by prescribed fire but decreased by about 30 Mg per ha as the result of mechanical or combined mechanical and prescribed-fire treatment.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    The soils underlying the 12-site FFS Study network were very diverse and included six soil orders and more than 50 named soil series.

    “The soils underlying the 12-site FFS Study network were very diverse and included six soil orders and more than 50 named soil series.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Boerner et al. 2009 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    At the network scale, soil pH was significantly higher in soils of the combined mechanical and fire treatment than in untreated control soils during the first posttreatment year but not during the later sampling year.

    “Despite this variability, at the network scale, soil pH was significantly higher in soils of the combined mechanical and fire treatment than in untreated control soils during the first posttreatment year but not during the later sampling year (figure 2).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Boerner et al. 2009 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Combined mechanical thinning and low-severity fire led to an increased positive response in birds (47%) but a decrease in small mammals (28%).

    “Combined mechanical thinning and low-severity fire led to an increased positive response in birds (47%) but a decrease in small mammals (28%; figure 3).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites figure 3

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Neither dead-wood carbon nor soil organic carbon was significantly affected by the FFS Study treatments.

    “Neither dead-wood carbon nor soil organic carbon was significantly affected by the FFS Study treatments, although changes in these two carbon stocks were highly variable (Boerner et al. 2008b).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Boerner et al. 2008b

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    Although considerable mineral soil exposure may be observed in skid trails and other areas of intensive vehicle activity during mechanical treatments, such treatments typically had an impact on less than 2% of the forest floor, and therefore had little effect on soil exposure.

    “Although considerable mineral soil exposure may be observed in skid trails and other areas of intensive vehicle activity during mechanical treatments, such treatments typically had an impact on less than 2% of the forest floor, and therefore had little effect on soil exposure.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Neither prescribed fire alone nor the mechanical treatment alone had a significant effect on soil pH at the FFS Study-network scale during either sampling year.

    “Neither prescribed fire alone nor the mechanical treatment alone had a significant effect on soil pH at the FFS Study-network scale during either sampling year (figure 2).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Boerner et al. 2009 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    At the FFS Study-network scale, total inorganic nitrogen increased significantly during the first posttreatment year after all manipulative treatments, but this effect did not persist to the later sampling year.

    “At the FFS Study-network scale, total inorganic nitrogen increased significantly during the first posttreatment year after all manipulative treatments, but this effect did not persist to the later sampling year (figure 2).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Boerner et al. 2009 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Soil bulk density (as a measure of soil compaction) was not affected significantly by any of the fuel-reduction treatments at the FFS Study-network scale, a result that is consistent with other studies.

    “Soil bulk density (as a measure of soil compaction) was not affected significantly by any of the fuel-reduction treatments at the FFS Study-network scale, a result that is consistent with other studies (e.g., Moehring et al. 1966).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Moehring et al. 1966

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    The amount of forest-floor carbon storage was reduced by about 1-7 Mg per ha by fire or combined mechanical and fire treatment but was unaffected by mechanical treatment alone.

    “In contrast, the amount of forest-floor carbon storage was reduced by about 1-7 Mg per ha by fire or combined mechanical and fire treatment but was unaffected by mechanical treatment alone (Boerner et al. 2008b).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Boerner et al. 2008b

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Thirty percent to 36% of the birds responded positively to low-severity fire and mechanical thinning, with smaller negative responses of 21% and 18%, respectively.

    “Thirty percent to 36% of the birds responded positively to low-severity fire and mechanical thinning, with smaller negative responses of 21% and 18%, respectively (figure 3).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites figure 3

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Soil organic carbon content was not significantly affected by any of the treatments during the first posttreatment year and was only marginally reduced by prescribed fire alone during the later sampling year.

    “Soil organic carbon content was not significantly affected by any of the treatments during the first posttreatment year and was only marginally reduced by prescribed fire alone during the later sampling year (figure 2; Boerner et al. 2009).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Boerner et al. 2009 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    In the FFS Study, product values exceeded total costs of treatment by averages of nearly $3000 per ha on some western sites but were less than the costs in other locations.

    “In the FFS Study, for example, product values exceeded the total costs of treatment by averages of nearly $3000 per ha on some western sites but were less than the costs in other locations (Hartsough et al. 2008).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Hartsough et al. 2008 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    This figure includes both the maintenance of previously treated units and the installation of new treatments.

    “This figure includes both the maintenance of previously treated units and the installation of new treatments”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Finney et al. 2007 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given

    Overall responses by bark beetles tend to be relatively short lived and concentrated in the smaller-diameter classes.

    “the overall responses by bark beetles tend to be relatively short lived and concentrated in the smaller-diameter classes.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Of this total, 45% was in vegetation, 38% in soil organic matter, 10% in the forest floor, and 7% in dead wood.

    “of which 45% was in vegetation, 38% in soil organic matter, 10% in the forest floor, and 7% in dead wood”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Boerner et al. 2008b

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Surveys along the perimeter of chipped plots revealed large numbers of recently attacked trees in untreated areas that did not benefit from thinning but suffered risk similar to high monoterpenes beneath the forest canopy.

    “Surveys along the perimeter of chipped plots revealed large numbers of recently attacked trees in untreated areas that did not benefit from the positive effects of thinning but that suffered a level of risk similar to that associated with high levels of monoterpenes beneath the forest canopy (Fettig et al. 2006).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Fettig et al. 2006 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Findingnone given

    Bark beetles often take advantage of fire-damaged trees, particularly in the western United States.

    “Although bark beetles often take advantage of fire-damaged trees-particularly in the western United States”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Conversely, late-growing-season or dormant-season prescribed fires are likely to be of greater intensity and to entail greater fuel consumption and have been reported by some authors to result in greater amounts of tree mortality than early-season prescribed fires.

    “Conversely, late-growing-season or dormant-season prescribed fires are likely to be of greater intensity and to entail greater fuel consumption and have been reported by some authors to result in greater amounts of tree mortality than early-season prescribed fires (e.g., Thies et al. 2005).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Thies et al. 2005 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Both prescribed fire and its mechanical surrogates are generally successful in meeting short-term fuel-reduction objectives such that treated stands are more resilient to high-intensity wildfire.

    “Both prescribed fire and its mechanical surrogates are generally successful in meeting short-term fuel-reduction objectives such that treated stands are more resilient to high-intensity wildfire.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    Current conditions of many seasonally dry forests in the western and southern United States, especially those that once experienced low-to moderate-intensity fire regimes, leave them uncharacteristically susceptible to high-severity wildfire.

    “The current conditions of many seasonally dry forests in the western and southern United States, especially those that once experienced low-to moderate-intensity fire regimes, leave them uncharacteristically susceptible to high-severity wildfire.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    The potential for active crown fires (fire spreading in crown and surface fuels simultaneously) is reduced most effectively by a combination of mechanical and prescribed-fire treatments, because these treatments can target ladder and surface fuels and intermediate-size trees.

    “The potential for active crown fires (fire spreading in crown and surface fuels simultaneously) is reduced most effectively by a combination of mechanical and prescribed-fire treatments, because these treatments can target ladder and surface fuels and intermediate-size trees.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Stephens et al. 2009 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Mechanical treatments may disturb or add to organic material on the forest floor and may lack the heat required to kill fire-sensitive tree and shrub species or to cue seed germination in some fire-dependent species.

    “Such treatments may disturb or add to organic material on the forest floor and may lack the heat required to kill fire-sensitive tree and shrub species or to cue seed germination in some fire-dependent species.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Mechanical fuel treatments can be successful surrogates for fire in modifying forest structure but are variable in their effects on understory plant communities because of large differences among treatments and the variation in understory vegetation composition and productivity among forest types.

    “Mechanical fuel treatments can be successful surrogates for fire in modifying forest structure but are variable in their effects on understory plant communities because of large differences among treatments and the variation in understory vegetation composition and productivity among forest types.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Low-to moderate-intensity fires reduced the quantity and continuity of fuels and discouraged the establishment of fire-intolerant species.

    “Low-to moderateintensity fires reduced the quantity and continuity of fuels and discouraged the establishment of fire-intolerant species (Agee and Skinner 2005).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Agee and Skinner 2005 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Most available evidence suggests that these objectives are typically accomplished with few unintended consequences, since most ecosystem components (vegetation, soils, wildlife, bark beetles, carbon sequestration) exhibit very subtle effects or no measurable effects at all.

    “Most available evidence suggests that these objectives are typically accomplished with few unintended consequences, since most ecosystem components (vegetation, soils, wildlife, bark beetles, carbon sequestration) exhibit very subtle effects or no measurable effects at all.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    Early-growing-season burns occur at the beginning of the annual growth period, when plants are most susceptible to heat damage and when carbohydrate reserves are at their lowest levels.

    “Early-growing-season burns occur at the beginning of the annual growth period, when plants are most susceptible to heat damage and when carbohydrate reserves are at their lowest levels.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Fire suppression, the preferential harvest of large-diameter trees, and land conversion over the past 150 years have changed fuel conditions over millions of hectares of forests such that recent wildfires have tended to be larger and more severe, and this trend may continue in some forests as climates continue to warm.

    “Yet fire suppression, the preferential harvest of large-diameter trees, and land conversion over the past 150 years have changed fuel conditions over millions of hectares (ha) of forests (Stephens and Ruth 2005) such that recent wildfires have tended to be larger and more severe, and this trend may continue in some forests as climates continue to warm (McKenzie et al. 2004).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Stephens and Ruth 2005 source
    • cites McKenzie et al. 2004 source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Desired treatment effects on fire hazards are transient, which indicates that after fuel-reduction management starts, managers need to be persistent with repeated treatment, especially in the faster-growing forests in the southern United States.

    “Desired treatment effects on fire hazards are transient, which indicates that after fuel-reduction management starts, managers need to be persistent with repeated treatment, especially in the faster-growing forests in the southern United States.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Prescribed fire alone can greatly increase the wind speed needed to initiate a passive crown fire, which effectively reduces stand vulnerability to torching and the transition to active crown fire.

    “However, prescribed fire alone can greatly increase the wind speed needed to initiate a passive crown fire, which effectively reduces stand vulnerability to torching and the transition to active crown fire (Stephens et al. 2009).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Stephens et al. 2009 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Although mechanical treatments do not serve as complete surrogates for fire, their application can help mitigate costs and liability in some areas.

    “Although mechanical treatments do not serve as complete surrogates for fire, their application can help mitigate costs and liability in some areas.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Whole-tree-removal systems are one of the most effective mechanical systems and may be preferred where wood-chip or biomass markets are available.

    “In this regard, whole-tree-removal systems are one of the most effective mechanical systems and may be preferred where wood-chip or biomass markets are available.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    This material, killed by the fire, will eventually fall to the ground and can exacerbate fire effects when the site burns again.

    “This material, killed by the fire, will eventually fall to the ground and can exacerbate fire effects when the site burns again.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Given the scale of the FFS Study and the results from previous research, we expect similar minimal effects on soils properties when areas are treated with fire or mechanical fuel treatments in forests that historically experienced frequent, low-to moderate-intensity fire regimes.

    “Given the scale of the FFS Study and the results from previous research, we expect similar minimal effects on soils properties when areas are treated with fire or mechanical fuel treatments in forests that historically experienced frequent, low-to moderate-intensity fire regimes.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The 12-site FFS Study network and other cited studies are representative of seasonally dry forests in the western and southern United States that historically experienced low-to moderate-intensity fire regimes.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The literature indicates that the FFS Study is the most comprehensive study conducted on the effects of fuels treatments on soils, and we therefore rely most heavily on that study in this synthesis.

    “The literature indicates that the FFS Study is the most comprehensive study conducted on the effects of fuels treatments on soils, and we therefore rely most heavily on that study in this synthesis.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Therefore, the results suggest that the use of thinning in lieu of prescribed fire may be warranted for birds and small mammals, particularly in areas in which the implementation of prescribed fire is problematic.

    “Therefore, the results suggest that the use of thinning in lieu of prescribed fire may be warranted for birds and small mammals, particularly in areas in which the implementation of prescribed fire is problematic.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    Bark beetles are recognized as important tree-mortality agents in the coniferous forests of the southern and western United States.

    “Bark beetles are recognized as important tree-mortality agents in the coniferous forests of the southern and western United States.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    Mechanical treatment of smaller material cannot escape to cause damage to neighboring property.

    “Mechanical treatment of smaller material has two obvious advantages over prescribed fire: It cannot escape to cause damage to neighboring property”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Heath et al. (2003) estimated total carbon in US forested ecosystems averaged approximately 203 Mg C/ha.

    “In contrast, Heath and colleagues (2003) estimated that the total amount of carbon in US forested ecosystems averaged approximately 203 Mg of carbon per ha”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Heath et al. 2003

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Key factors affecting treatment costs include amount and type of material to be treated, terrain and weather conditions, and size of treatment unit and its proximity to residential or other developments.

    “The key factors affecting treatment costs include the amount and type of material to be treated, terrain and weather conditions, and the size of the treatment unit and its proximity to residential or other developments (Fight and Barbour 2005).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Fight and Barbour 2005

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Prescribed fire is an effective and relatively inexpensive way of reducing surface fuels and ladder fuels.

    “prescribed fire is an effective and relatively inexpensive way of reducing surface fuels and ladder fuels (Agee and Skinner 2005).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Agee and Skinner 2005 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationcitation

    Some managers may need additional information on local fire regimes to help prioritize restoration activities.

    “which suggests that some managers may need additional information on local fire regimes to help prioritize restoration activities (Schoennagel and Nelson 2010).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Schoennagel and Nelson 2010 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Most available evidence suggests that fuel-reduction objectives are typically accomplished with few unintended consequences because most ecosystem components exhibit very subtle effects or no measurable effects at all.

    “Most available evidence suggests that fuel-reduction objectives are typically accomplished with few unintended consequences, because most ecosystem components (vegetation, soils, wildlife, bark beetles, carbon sequestration) exhibit very subtle effects or no measurable effects at all”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Wittkuhn et al. 2011 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    The results presented in this article are for forests that once burned frequently with low- to moderate-intensity fire regimes.

    “The results presented in this article are for forests that once burned frequently with low-to moderate-intensity fire regimes”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Both maintenance of previously treated units and installation of new treatments are critical for a successful strategy.

    “both of which are critical for a successful strategy.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
52 of 52

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The 12-site FFS Study network and other cited studies are representative of seasonally dry forests in the western and southern United States that historically experienced low-to moderate-intensity fire regimes.

    “Given the scale of the FFS Study and the results from previous research, we expect similar minimal effects on soils properties when areas are treated with fire or mechanical fuel treatments in forests that historically experienced frequent, low-to moderate-intensity fire regimes.”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The seasonality of fire interacts with vegetative species' phenologies.

    “It is reasonable to assume that the seasonality of fire might interact with vegetative species' phenologies, but experimental results have been mixed.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The historical fire season is a meaningful baseline for assessing the risks of prescribed fire.

    “One of the primary concerns with prescribed fire as a management tool is its application outside of the historical fire season (Knapp et al. 2009).”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    It is substantially more expensive per megajoule-kilometer to transport woody biomass by truck than to move coal, oil, or natural gas by rail, ship, or pipeline.

    “It is substantially more expensive (per megajoule-kilometer) to transport woody biomass by truck than it is to move coal, oil, or natural gas by rail, ship, or pipeline.”
4 of 4

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Well-recognized tools and tactics are available for increasing the resilience of fire-frequent forests to disturbances.

    “Well-recognized tools and tactics are available for increasing the resilience of FF forests to disturbances (Stephens et al. 2012, Collins et al. 2014).”

    From Drought, Tree Mortality, and Wildfire in Forests Adapted to Frequent Fire (2018) · cites this paper as Stephens et al. 2012

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

4 of the 74 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Hartsough, 1997, Comparison of mechanized systems for thinning ponderosa pine and mixed conifer stands, Forest Products Journal, 47, 59
  2. Stoddard, 1931, The Bobwhite Quail: Its Habits, Preservation, and Increase

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Stephens, S. L., McIver, J. D., Boerner, R. E. J., Fettig, C. J., Fontaine, J. B., Hartsough, B. R., Kennedy, P. L., & Schwilk, D. W.
ORCID
Venue
BioScience
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2012-06
Volume
62
Issue
6
Pages
549-560
ISSN
  • 0006-3568 (ISSN-L)
  • 1525-3244
DOI
10.1525/bio.2012.62.6.6
OpenAlex
W2149920440
Cited by
411
References
74
Citations by year
2026: 24 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 38 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 11
FWCI
20.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • BioScience (publishedVersion)
  • Murdoch University Research Portal (submittedVersion)
  • BioOne Complete (BioOne) (submittedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Fire effects on ecosystems
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Rangeland and Wildlife Management
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Forest Management and Policy
Keywords
fuel reduction treatments, prescribed burning, mechanical fuel treatment, wildfire risk, high-severity fire, fire regimes, fire hazard management, ecosystem impacts

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-11.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-11.

Cited sources are checked by gpt-6-sol.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

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