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FIRE
ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS:
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In grassland ecosystems, fires may occur in any year, provided the
grass is cured and ready
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to burn. In the plains grasslands, mean fire intervals likely range
from 4 to 20 years depending
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on climates and ignition sources. Fire in grasslands can burn over
large areas until a break in
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terrain or a change in weather stops the fire. In desert grasslands
where blue grama may
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dominate, reductions in fire frequency result in shrub invasion and
substantially less grass cover.
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Fire occurring during periods of drought combined with wind erosion
may retard the
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process
of succession.
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