Fire in Tropical Savannas The Kapalga Experiment
CSIRO's ten-year research program featuring the landscape-scale Kapalga fire experiment in Australia has provided a wealth of knowledge about savanna ecosystems and the critical but poorly understood role of fire. The frequent low-intensity fires examined
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Edited by I.T. Baldwin, Jena, Germany M.M. Caldwell, Logan, USA G. Heldmaier, Marburg, Germany O.L. Lange, Würzburg, Germany H.A. Mooney, Stanford, USA E.-D. Schulze, Jena, Germany U. Sommer, Kiel, Germany
Ecological Studies Volumes published since 1996 are listed at the end of this book.
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Alan N. Andersen Garry D. Cook Richard J. Williams Editors
Fire in Tropical Savannas The Kapalga Experiment
With 62 Illustrations
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Alan N. Andersen CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems Tropical Ecosystems Research Centre Winnellie, NT 0822 Australia [email protected]
Richard J. Williams CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems Tropical Ecosystems Research Centre Winnellie, NT 0822 Australia [email protected]
Garry D. Cook CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems Tropical Ecosystems Research Centre Winnellie, NT 0822 Australia [email protected] Cover and frontispiece illustrations: Experimental fires at Kapalga. (Photographs by Barbara McKaige.)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Fire in tropical savannas: the Kapalga experiment / editors, Alan N. Andersen, Garry D. Cook, Richard J. Williams. p. cm.—(Ecological studies ; v. 169) Includes bibliographical references (p.). ISBN 0-387-00291-X (hc : alk. paper) 1. Fire ecology—Australia—Kakadu National Park (N.T.) 2. Savanna ecology—Australia—Kakadu National Park (N.T.) I. Andersen, Alan N. (Alan Neil), 1957– II. Cook, Garry D. III. Williams, Richard J., 1955– IV. Series. QH197.F5624 2003 577.2—dc21 2002044505 ISSN 0070-8356 ISBN 0-387-00291-X
Printed on acid-free paper.
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SPIN 10905654
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This book is a tribute to Michael Ridpath’s vision in establishing Kapalga as a dedicated research site and To Brian Walker’s scientific leadership and unstinting support throughout the fire experiment.
Preface
Fire is a major agent of disturbance in many biomes of the world but is a particularly important feature of tropical savannas. Up to 50% of the extensive tropical savanna landscapes of northern Australia are burnt each year. This includes prestig
