Surviving suppression : no detectable impacts of Class A foam on soil invertebrates and some Australian native plants


Autoria(s): Adams, Robyn; Simmons, Dianne; Hartskeerl, K.; Koehler, M.
Data(s)

01/01/2004

Resumo

Firefighting foams (Class A foams) are an effective and widespread firefighting tool which are frequently used in environmentally sensitive areas. Firefighting foams are known to be ecologically damaging in aquatic environments, however their impacts at the plant species or ecosystem level are relatively unknown. Reports of shoot damage to plants, suppressed flowering, and changes in plant community composition suggested that the ecological damage caused by their use may be unacceptable. However, applications of foam to seedlings of some Australian plant species from representative and widespread families, showed no detectable impacts on a range of vegetative growth characteristics. Application of 1.0% foam to heathland soils showed no detectable impacts on soil invertebrate Orders sampled over several months. The results are encouraging for the continued use of Class A foam as a fire suppression technique.<br />

Identificador

http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30014105

Idioma(s)

eng

Publicador

Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia

Relação

http://dro.deakin.edu.au/eserv/DU:30014105/adams-survivingsuppression-2004.pdf

Palavras-Chave #ecological impacts #Class A foam #native plant species #soil invertebrates #minimum impact suppression tactics
Tipo

Conference Paper