Long-term effects of fire on a tallgrass prairie community in Kansas.
Before a controlled burn. A prairie that has not burned for several years has a high proportion of detritus (dead grass).		During the burn. The detritus serves as fuel for fires. The trees in the photographs were growing along a stream and were not burned.		After the burn. Approximately one month after the controlled burn, virtually all of the biomass in this prairie is living.