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Fire-Dependent Ecosystems
The focus of the Lake States Fire Science Consortium is on the fire-dependent ecosystems that occur across the Lake States region, from western New York and Ontario in the east to central Minnesota in the west. The boundaries of the Consortium follow those of The Nature Conservancy's Great Lakes (47) and Superior Mixed-Forest (48) Ecoregions.
There are few ecosystems within the region that were not influenced in some way by fire, and as result we classify those ecosystems that were maintained in some way by fire as fire-dependent. In both ecoregions there are a variety of openland-savanna, forest, and wetland ecosystems that are influenced by wildfire and/or are managed using prescribed burning. Nomenclature for these ecosystems varies widely depending on the state or province, or by organization.
Quick links to different ecosystem types:
| Woodlands-Savannas | Forests | Wetlands |
Below is a list of fire-dependent woodland-savanna and forest ecosystems within the Consortium boundaries using the LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment Vegetation Models:
Below is a list of fire-dependent woodland-savanna and forest ecosystems within the Consortium boundaries using the LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment Vegetation Models:
Conifer Lowland Forests (embedded in fire-prone ecosystem)
Conifer Lowlands Forests (embedded in fire-resistant ecosystem)
Eastern White Pine-Eastern Hemlock Forests
Great Lakes Floodplain Forests
Great Lakes Pine Forests: White Pine Hemlock Forests with Frequent Fire
Great Lakes Spruce Fir Forests
Great Lakes Maple-Basswood Mesic Hardwood Forests
Maple Basswood Oak Aspen Forests
Minnesota Spruce Fir Forests (Adjacent to Lake Superior and Drift and Lake Plain)
Northern Hardwood-Hemlock Forests
Northern Hardwood Maple Beech Hemlock Forests
Red Pine-White Pine Forests (with frequent fire)
Red Pine-White Pine Forests (less frequent fire)
In addition to the woodland-savanna and forest ecosystems, there are a variety of wetland ecosystems that are influenced by fire across the Lake States region. These include the following with links to descriptions provided by one or more organizations: