EFFECTS OF FIRE ON ABUNDANCE OF ERAGROSTIS-INTERMEDIA IN A SEMIARID GRASSLAND IN SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA

Eragrostis intermedia (Plains lovegrass) is a mid-height perennial bun chgrass native to semi-arid grasslands of the southwestern USA, that b ecomes an abundant and dominant component of these grasslands in areas long protected from livestock grazing. Substantial mortality of plain s lovegrass occurred on a large livestock exclosure in southeastern Ar izona, after a period of declining precipitation, but only in areas th at had not burned in the previous three years. Lovegrass abundance sub sequently increased on both undisturbed and burned sites, but remained substantially higher on the burned area. Long-term abundance of plain s lovegrass may depend on episodic fire, particularly during periods o f reduced precipitation.