Vegetation Changes following Fire in the Pinyon-Juniper Type of West-Central Utah

Abstract

The stages of succession following fire began with weedy annuals that reached a peak within 3 to 4 years. Juniper woodlands were well developed 85 to 90 years following fire. Intermediate stages of succession varied, but followed a general pattern of perennial grasses, perennial grasses-shrubs, and perennial grasses-shrubs-trees. The percentage of dead sagebrush was positively correlated with density of junipers. Thirty-three years was the average minimum age at which Utah juniper produced seed.