Digital-Desert : Mojave Desert |
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Overview of the Mojave
Fire and Weeds
Fires historically were not common in the Mojave Desert, and when they did occur, they did not spread rapidly or very
far. The natural spaces left between native desert plants usually kept fires under control. Today these spaces are
increasingly filled by nonnative grasses, such as cheat-grass (Bromus tectorum) and red brome (Bromus rubens), which
remain rooted after they die, creating an uninterrupted fuel source for fires. (By contrast, native desert annuals
crumble and blow away after they die.) Nonnative grasses also are the first to emerge after a fire, giving them a
competitive edge. The result is weed-infested landscapes. In the Mojave, land managers now suppress fires when possible
to inhibit weed growth..
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ecology: wildlife - plants - geography: places - MAPS - roads & trails: route 66 - old west - communities - weather - glossary |
ghost towns - gold mines - parks & public lands: wilderness - native culture - history - geology: natural features - comments |
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