THE AUTHORS 



NORBERT V. DeBYLE, retired, was a scientist in the Intermountain 

 Research Station's Aspen Ecology and Management research unit 

 in Logan, UT, when this work was accomplished. He now is an 

 associate professor in the Forest Resources Department, Utah 

 State University, Logan. 



PHILIP J. URNESS is a professor in the Range Science Depart- 

 ment, Utah State University. 



DEBORAH L. BLANK, when this research was accomplished, was 

 a graduate assistant in the Range Science Department, Utah State 

 University. This research paper is based on her M.S. degree thesis 

 at Utah State University. 



RESEARCH SUMMARY 



We assessed the effects of fire on the quality of herbaceous and 

 browse forage for elk (Cen/us elaphus) and domestic sheep in the 

 aspen {Populus tremuloides) forest type. Selected forage species 

 were sampled on burned and adjacent unburned areas during the 

 summers of the first and second years after autumn prescribed 

 burning of three sites in southeastern Idaho. These samples were 

 analyzed for in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), crude protein, 

 calcium, and phosphorus. This aspen type has a highly nutritious 

 understory irrespective of burning. We found additional improve- 

 ment in forage quality as a result of prescribed burning. In the 

 middle of the first summer, aspen on the burned areas had higher 

 crude protein and phosphorus contents, higher elk IVDMD, lower 

 calcium contents, and lower calcium/phosphorus ratios than aspen 

 had on the unburned areas. A month later, only crude protein lev- 

 els of aspen remained higher on the burns. All of the shrubs ana- 

 lyzed in the first summer had higher crude protein levels on the 

 burned areas. A year later, none of the shrubs or forbs on the 

 burns had better forage quality than those under nearby unburned 

 aspen. Pinegrass {Calamagrostis rubescens) on the burned areas 

 in the second summer had more robust growth but lower IVDMD 

 and crude protein values, likely due to more extensive flowering 

 and seed production, than did pinegrass on unburned areas. 

 Prescribed burning on these sites changed species composition 

 from dense shrub motts to more palatable and nutritious forbs than 

 were found on the unburned areas. 



Cover illustration: Aspen regeneration amidst lush grass and 

 forb production 2 years after prescribed fire in the Bridger-Teton 

 National Forest, WY. 



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 324 25th Street 

 Ogden, UT 84401 



