Fire, Drought, and Human History near the Western Terminus of the Cross Timbers, Wichita Mountains, Oklahoma, USA

Stambaugh, Michael C.; Guyette, Richard P.; Godfrey, Ralph D.; McMurry, Erin R.; Marschall, Joseph M.

doi:10.4996/fireecology.0502051

Cited by 35 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…4). This result is similar to other studies in the Oklahoma Cross Timbers (Allen and Palmer 2011;DeSantis et al 2010b;Stambaugh et al 2009) and contrary to that reported by Clark et al (2007). Three of four severe fire years (1898,1912,1955) coincided with below average PDSI (drought) conditions.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Quercus stellata has been used successfully for fire history studies in Oklahoma Cross Timbers (Clark et al 2007;Stambaugh et al 2009;DeSantis et al 2010b;Allen and Palmer 2011). The analysis approach of Guyette and Stambaugh (2004) was used to identify fire scars in Q. stellata.…”

Section: Fire Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fire history studies in the Oklahoma Cross Timbers have demonstrated frequent fires prior to Euro-American settlement and a continued presence of fire on the landscape into the mid-20 th century (Shirakura 2003;Clark et al 2007;Stambaugh et al 2009;DeSantis et al 2010a;Allen and Palmer 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Forest Structure and Fire History at Lake Arcadia, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma (1820–2014)

King

2015

ONPR

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Evidence indicates that the structure of Oklahoma Cross Timbers forests are in transition due to changing climate, land-use patterns, and fire suppression efforts. However, only a handful of studies have addressed the history of fire across the Oklahoma Cross Timbers landscape. This research adds to the body of literature by studying the contemporary forest structure and fire history at Lake Arcadia in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. Results demonstrate that post oak (Quercus stellata Wangenh.) and blackjack oak (Q. marilandica Münchh.), two common species in Oklahoma Cross Timbers, dominate the forest. However, several mesophytic tree species are found in the overstory as well as the sapling layer of the forest. A total of 25 fire events (mean fire interval = 4.14 years) were documented during the 20 th century using fire-scar analysis of Q. stellata trees and remnant wood (stumps, snags, recently dead trees). High fire frequencies in the early to mid-20 th century corresponded to the recruitment of Q. stellata and Q. marilandica. Wet conditions (PDSI > 0) during the late 20 th century and no fires after 1985 corresponded to the recruitment of non-oak, mesophytic species at the study site. The results of this study suggest that changes in fire frequency and moisture availability are contributing to changes in tree density and species composition at the study site.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Fire Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Forest Structure and Fire History at Lake Arcadia, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma (1820–2014)

King

2015

ONPR

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“…Measurements of the historical fire return interval pre-European American settlement ranged from 2.9-6.7 years [4][5][6][7][8]. Due to a combination of fire exclusion and favorable recruitment Once the forest areas were identified on each of the 25 properties [20], five field measurement plots per property (one larger property had ten field measurement plots) were randomly located within the forest interior using ArcMAP (Esri, Redlands, CA, USA).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Encroachment Dynamics of Juniperus virginiana L. and Mesic Hardwood Species into Cross Timbers Forests of North-Central Oklahoma, USA

Hoff

Will

Zou

et al. 2018

Forests

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Cross Timbers forests, typically dominated by Quercus stellata Wangenh. and Q. marilandica Muenchh., are the transition zone between eastern deciduous forest and prairie in the southern Great Plains. Fire exclusion beginning in the mid-1900s has led to increasing stand density and encroachment of fire-intolerant Juniperus virginiana L. and mesic hardwood. We measured current forest structure and tree ages of 25 stands (130 plots) in north-central Oklahoma to characterize the extent and dynamics of encroachment. The respective basal area and stand density of the overstory (diameter at breast height; dbh > 10 cm) were 19.0 m 2 ha −1 and 407 trees ha −1 with Q. stellata comprising 43% of basal area and 42% of stand density. Quercus marilandica represented only 3% of basal area and 4% of overstory density. Juniperus virginiana represented 7% of basal area and 14% of stand density while mesic hardwoods, e.g., Celtis spp., Ulmus spp., Carya spp., 33% of basal area and stand density. The sapling layer was dominated by mesic hardwoods (68%) and J. virginiana (25%) while the seedling layer was dominated by mesic hardwoods (74%). The majority of Quercus recruited into the overstory between 1910-1970, while recruitment of J. virginiana and mesic hardwoods began more recently (post 1950s). Growth rate, based on the relationship between age and dbh, was faster for mesic hardwoods than for J. virginiana and Q. stellata. These results indicate that removal of recurrent surface fire as a disturbance agent has significantly altered forest composition in the Cross Timbers region by allowing encroachment of J. virginiana and fire-intolerant, mesic hardwoods. This increases wildfire risk because J. virginiana is very flammable and will alter how these forests respond to future drought and other disturbance events.

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“…The fire regime during this period had characteristics of both grassland and boreal forest-a transitional regime where ecosystems with frequent light surface fires meet ecosystems with less frequent, high intensity, stand-replacing fires. The LKFMU, due to its position between grasslands and boreal mixedwood, may present characteristics of both regimes [79]. Some of the fire years (e.g., 1864 and 1894) also corresponded to prairie fire years documented by Rannie [80], but it remains unclear whether these would have reached Riding Mountain.…”

Section: Lkfmu Fires: European Exploitation/settlement Period (1850-1mentioning

confidence: 99%

Fire Regime in Marginal Jack Pine Populations at Their Southern Limit of Distribution, Riding Mountain National Park, Central Canada

Tardif

Cornelsen

Conciatori

et al. 2016

Forests

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Abstract:In central Canada, long fire history reconstructions are rare. In a context where both anthropogenic and climate influences on fire regime have changed, Parks Canada has a mandate to maintain ecological integrity. Here we present a fire history derived from fire-scarred jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) trees growing at their southern distribution limit in Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP). In Lake Katherine Fire Management Unit (LKFMU), a subregion within the park, fire history was reconstructed from archival records, tree-ring records, and charcoal in lake sediment. From about 1450 to 1850 common era (CE) the fire return intervals varied from 37 to 125 years, according to models. During the period 1864-1930 the study area burned frequently (Weibull Mean Fire Intervals between 2.66 and 5.62 years); this period coincided with the end of First Nations occupation and the start of European settlement. Major recruitment pulses were associated with the stand-replacing 1864 and 1894 fires. This period nevertheless corresponded to a reduction in charcoal accumulation. The current fire-free period in LKFMU (1930-today) coincides with RMNP establishment, exclusion of First Nations land use and increased fire suppression. Charcoal accumulation further decreased during this period. In the absence of fire, jack pine exclusion in LKFMU is foreseeable and the use of prescribed burning is advocated to conserve this protected jack pine ecosystem, at the southern margins of its range, and in the face of potential climate change.

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Fire, Drought, and Human History near the Western Terminus of the Cross Timbers, Wichita Mountains, Oklahoma, USA

Cited by 35 publications

References 24 publications

Forest Structure and Fire History at Lake Arcadia, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma (1820–2014)

Forest Structure and Fire History at Lake Arcadia, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma (1820–2014)

Encroachment Dynamics of Juniperus virginiana L. and Mesic Hardwood Species into Cross Timbers Forests of North-Central Oklahoma, USA

Fire Regime in Marginal Jack Pine Populations at Their Southern Limit of Distribution, Riding Mountain National Park, Central Canada

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