Study Site
To examine the impact of fire on availability and nutritional quality of
browses for moose we examined the Alphabet Hills Fire (62.713906N
146.655193W), a prescribed burn intended to enhance moose habitat in the
Nelchina Basin. The burn occurred in the summer of 2004 and its extent
was 152 km2 (Figure 1). The Nelchina Basin is dominated by black spruce
forest interspersed with numerous lakes and small streams. The canopy is
dominated by black spruce with white spruce dispersed intermittently.
The understory is dominated by deciduous browse including diamond leaf
willow (Salix pulchra ), Grayleaf willow (Salix glauca ),
mountain alder (Alnus crispa ), and dwarf birch (Betula
nana ). Not only does the area house a large moose population but it is
also home to caribou, who use the burned area in the summer, bears, and
wolves.