Long-term (13-year) effects of repeated prescribed fires on stand structure and tree regeneration in mixed-oak forests

Hutchinson, Todd F.; Yaussy, Daniel A.; Long, Robert P.; Rebbeck, Joanne; Sutherland, Elaine Kennedy

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2012.08.036

Cited by 62 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Oak sapling density on the HighF/Recent plots was double that of LowF/Recent plots, 8 times the density of LowF/Nonrecent plots, and 25 times the density of nonfire plots. Our findings support recent studies and reviews highlighting the need for canopy reduction in conjunction with prescribed fire for successful oak regeneration (Iverson et al 2008, Hutchinson et al 2012a, 2012b, Brose et al 2013.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…However, studies involving multiple prescribed fires in eastern oak forests have also reported mixed results with three or four fires reducing red maple seedling numbers but not improving the competitive position of oak seedlings (Alexander et al 2008, Green et al 2010, two or three fires reducing red maple saplings but also reducing oak sapling numbers and increasing red maple sprouts (Blankenship and Arthur 2006), and the composition of tree regeneration unchanged after two or four prescribed burns (Hutchinson et al 2005). Whereas fire may be key to the development of a sufficient and competitive pool of oak advanced reproduction on mesic sites, the ultimate success may also depend on a fire-free period during which oak stems can grow beyond the sapling-size class (Guyette et al 2006, Dey and Fan 2009, Arthur et al 2012) and a reduction in canopy density to release oak advanced reproduction (Iverson et al 2008, Hutchinson et al 2012a, 2012b, Brose et al 2013.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Impacts of Wildfire Recency and Frequency on an Appalachian Oak Forest

Gundy

Wood

Rentch

2015

Journal of Forestry

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Cabwaylingo State Forest in southern West Virginia has experienced numerous anthropogenic wildfires over the past 36 years. In this case study, we assessed the relationship between fire frequency and recency and stand composition and structure, with emphasis on oak and its competitors. Frequent and recent fire was significantly correlated with reduced red maple overstory stem density and basal area. Overstory oak density did not significantly vary with either fire frequency or recency. Total overstory basal area was greatest in areas of either no fire or nonrecent fire. Oak sapling density was significantly greater with high frequency and recent fire. Red maple sapling densities were greatest when fires were infrequent and recent, and red maple seedlings were greatest in no fire and low-frequency nonrecent fire areas. Our results suggest that recurring fire can enhance the development of large oak advanced reproduction. However, frequent fires without a sufficient fire-free interval could prevent the recruitment of oaks into the overstory.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

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confidence: 99%

Impacts of Wildfire Recency and Frequency on an Appalachian Oak Forest

Gundy

Wood

Rentch

2015

Journal of Forestry

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“…However, Hutchinson et al. () did find that oak‐hickory regeneration competed well in natural canopy gaps that formed in stands with a recent history of frequent dormant‐season fires.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long‐term response of oak‐hickory regeneration to partial harvest and repeated fires: influence of light and moisture

et al. 2017

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Abstract. By tracking oak-hickory (Quercus-Carya) regeneration for 13 yr across management-manipulated light and topographically driven moisture gradients after partial harvest and three prescribed fires, we document best-case conditions to promote advanced oak regeneration, and thereby provide a promising management tool to reverse the downward spiral in oak that plagues much of the Central Hardwoods within the eastern United States. This study was established in 2000 to assess regeneration following prescribed fire (spring of 2001, 2005, and 2010) in combination with partial harvest (late 2000) across two sites in southern Ohio. Each of the four 20+ ha treatment units (two partial harvest and burn, two controls) were modeled and mapped for long-term moisture regime using the Integrated Moisture Index (IMI) , and a 50-m grid of sampling points established throughout the units. Vegetation and light were sampled at each gridpoint before and after treatments, in 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2009, and 2013. The partial harvest and burn treatments generally had more light which resulted in an increased number of oak stems. The fires promoted heterogeneity (pyrodiversity) in tree mortality and light availability, and consequently oakhickory regeneration, mostly following IMI patterns with the drier portions of the landscape having more fire, more light penetration, and greater regeneration compared to moist locations. Several other species also had marked variations in numbers and size throughout this period, depending on landscape variation in fire intensity and moisture regimes. These included Acer rubrum and Liriodendron tulipifera which expanded initially then collapsed after repeated fire, and Sassafras albidum which continued to flourish on dry sites. Based on this study, we recommend for topographically appropriate dry and intermediate sites, a partial harvest followed by two or three dormant-season fires (depending on fire intensity) allowing roughly 6-18% light to penetrate the forest floor. This will promote oak-hickory into the advanced oak regeneration status. Then, following a hiatus from burning for some years to further advance oak-hickory growth without topkill, some proportion of oaks and hickories can be expected to advance to the canopy following natural disturbance or harvest of current canopy. On mesic sites, though treatments demonstrated here do improve oak-hickory regeneration, the relative cost to benefit would be high.

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“…Historical tamarack (Larix laricina)-dominated mixed forests were more dense in tree number than current aspen (i.e., Populus tremulides)-dominated mixed forests but aspen forestry may remove less biomass than high severity fires and the landscape remains forested. Conversely, in the Eastern Broadleaf Forest division, open oak savannas and woodlands resulted from frequent surface fires, which reduced stem density of small diameter trees (in any type of forests with a surface fire regime; North et al 2009;Hutchinson et al 2012), and larger diameter trees also developed over time without overstory canopy disturbance. Open forest ecosystems have densified into eastern broadleaf forests after fire exclusion (Hanberry et al 2012a) but forested area has decreased.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of historical and current disturbance on forest biomass in Minnesota

Hanberry

2015

Landscape Ecol

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Context Historical carbon storage prior to widespread forest clearing is uncertain. We examined aboveground biomass in historical (1847-1908) and current (2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008) mixed and broadleaf forests of Minnesota. Objective Our objective was to compare aboveground forest biomass density and total aboveground carbon storage for two forest types with different historical and current disturbance regimes. Methods We used densities and diameter distributions from historical and current tree surveys and applied relationships between diameter and biomass to estimate biomass in historical and current forests for larger trees with diameters C12.7 cm.

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Long-term (13-year) effects of repeated prescribed fires on stand structure and tree regeneration in mixed-oak forests

Cited by 62 publications

References 39 publications

Impacts of Wildfire Recency and Frequency on an Appalachian Oak Forest

Impacts of Wildfire Recency and Frequency on an Appalachian Oak Forest

Long‐term response of oak‐hickory regeneration to partial harvest and repeated fires: influence of light and moisture

Effects of historical and current disturbance on forest biomass in Minnesota

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