Overstory retention in a managed mixed-conifer stand limits cheatgrass invasion after wildfire

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Wildfire induced large declines in the live overstory biomass for control (47%) and prescribed fire plots (32%) though remotely sensed burn severity was lower in treated plots relative to the control. Downed woody fuels and duff were consumed equivalently in both control and treated plots, ranging from 24 to 99% consumption. Grass loading increased 78-fold in control plots and 22-fold in prescribed fire plots after wildfire, largely driven by invasive cheatgrass, which comprised 79% to 99% of grass cover. However, overstory canopy cover was negatively correlated with cheatgrass loadings (R2 = 0.81) and cover (R2 = 0.84).