University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Gewählte Master / Diploma Thesis:
Franziska Hesser
(2011):
Case Study of Post-fire Fuel Analysis and Habitat Structures, and Pre-fire Reconstruction in Bad Bleiberg, Southern Austria..
Master / Diploma Thesis - Institut für Waldbau (WALDBAU),
BOKU-Universität für Bodenkultur,
pp 149.
UB BOKU
obvsg
FullText
- Abstract:
- In the course of the “Austrian Forest Fire Research Initiative” (AFFRI) a fuel analysis of forests in Austria was conducted. The fuel load in forests, especially vegetation, litter and downed woody material, play an important role in the spread and behaviour of wildfires. At the same time, these ecosystem resources and structures are important components of the habitat suitability for wildlife. Hence, corresponding fuel types, which contribute to fire behaviour, and habitat types in terms of “Wildlife Ecological Stand Types” were identified. Furthermore the fuel and habitat structures prior to the wildfire in 2003 were reconstructed. Using forest inventory maps from different time periods, it was possible to reveal the changes in habitat suitability due to the wildfire, exemplary for Capreolus capreolus and Tetrao urogallus. On average 4838kg/ha drymass have been measured in the different stand types. The fuel load < 0.6 cm makes up 56% of the total amount. The majority of pellets found originate from Capreolus capreolus (52%), followed by Rupicapra rupicapra (23%) and Lepus (18%). The use of fuel data for assessing habitat suitability is discussed. However, a direct translation of the fuel types to “Wildlife Ecological Stand Types” was not possible. In the context of the assessment of habitat suitabilities, the estimation of the fire susceptibility of forests can open new perspectives in wildlife management and nature conservation.
- Beurteilende(r): Vacik Harald