Fire is thought to have been generally rare historically in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. However, invasion by exotic grasses (e.g., Schismus spp.) has increased fuel continuity, promoting fire in these deserts. Succession and recovery are not well understood processes in deserts, nonetheless for a novel disturbance like fire. In addition to helping build theories of desert succession and recovery, information on post-fire recovery has numerous practical implications (e.g., determining whether active revegetation is needed). Systematic reviews provide a means for obtaining literature using reproducible search criteria. This approach facilitates a balanced appraisal of available information, synthesizes scattered literature, and may result in insights not apparent by examining research studies individually. Using the systematic approach, I addressed these questions: What are post-fire resprouting frequencies among species? How quickly does perennial plant cover recover following fire? What is the relationship of species composition and time since fire? Which species are major post-fire colonizers? What variation occurs in post-fire responses between deserts?
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