Deep Well Burn Line-Intercept Vegetation Transects at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico (1995-2009)

A natural burn occurred in the Deep Well area of McKenzie Flats in June, 1995, following which studies were initiated to evaluate the effect of fire on plant species composition and the spatial and temporal dynamics of regrowth. The burn area was approximately 24 hectares, forming a swath about 200 m wide from the initial lightning-ignition source. The fire moved in a westward direction from the ignition point, leaving a relatively straight border along the southern boundary and an irregular edge along the northern boundary. The fire was extinguished naturally.One week after the burn, four 100 m line-intercept transects were established along the southern boundary of the burn. Transects were installed perpendicular to the burn, so that 50 m lay inside the burned area and 50 m outside, in unburned grassland. The first transect (nearest the road) was placed 100 m from the west end of the burn and identified as Transect A. The remaining transects (B,C,D) were located at 200 m intervals from Transect A. Rebar was placed at 0 m, 50 m, and 100 m and these points recorded with a GPS unit. Initial measurements were made in October, 1995. In subsequent years, measurements have been made in late May and late September to evaluate the response of "cool season" and "warm season" plant species. Another fire occurred on June 24, 2001. This burn only affected the unburned southern end of one transect. A prescribed burn in 2003 did not affect the transects.1995年6月，麦肯齐平原（McKenzie Flats）的深井区域发生自然野火，此后研究人员启动相关研究，以评估火灾对植物物种组成及植被恢复的时空动态特征的影响。该野火过火面积约24公顷，从最初的雷电点火源处形成一条宽约200米的带状过火区。火势从点火点向西蔓延，南部边界相对规整，北部边界则呈现不规则形态，最终野火自然熄灭。野火发生一周后，研究人员沿过火区南部边界布设了4条长100米的样线拦截法样带（line-intercept transect）。每条样带均垂直于过火边界设置，其中50米位于过火区内，剩余50米延伸至外侧未过火的草地中。第一条样带（距道路最近）设置在离过火区西端100米处，编号为样带A。其余三条样带（B、C、D）与样带A间隔200米依次布设。研究人员在样带的0米、50米及100米位置处布设钢筋桩（rebar），并通过全球定位系统（GPS）记录各点位坐标。首次野外调查于1995年10月开展。后续每年均于5月末与9月末开展调查，以评估凉季型与暖季型植物物种的响应特征。2001年6月24日，该区域再次发生野火，此次过火仅波及其中一条样带的未过火南端区域。2003年的计划火烧（prescribed burn）未对现有样带造成影响。