Restoration Fire and Hurricanes in Longleaf Pine Sandhills

Provencher, Louis; Litt, Andrea R.; Gordon, Doria R.; Rodgers, H. LeRoy; Herring, Brenda J.; Galley, Krista E. M.; McAdoo, J. P.; McAdoo, Senta J.; Gobris, Nancy M.; Hardesty, Jeffrey L.

doi:10.3368/er.19.2.92

Cited by 34 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…In the absence of fire (or longer fire interval), pine litter and woody debris accumulation, in addition to hardwood establishment, may have led to the development of spatial gradients through higher inputs of organic matter near trees. Reintroduction of fire at a frequency of once every 4 years was apparently not enough to return soil N levels to historic conditions (i.e., 0.018%-0.027%) [37].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 1994, the Longleaf Pine Restoration Project (LPRP) was established in fire-suppressed longleaf pine sandhills on base lands to explore the effects of restoration treatments on community composition and soil processes [37]. Prior to the LPRP project, these fire-suppressed forest stands remained unburned for more than 20 years and were also subjected to some logging activities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Effect of Restoration Treatments on the Spatial Variability of Soil Processes under Longleaf Pine Trees

Lavoie

Mack

Hiers

et al. 2012

Forests

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Abstract:The objectives of this study were to (1) characterize tree-based spatial patterning of soil properties and understory vegetation in frequently burned ("reference state") and fire-suppressed longleaf pine forests; and (2) determine how restoration treatments affected patterning. To attain these objectives, we used an experimental manipulation of management types implemented 15 years ago in Florida. We randomly located six mature longleaf pine trees in one reference and four restoration treatments (i.e., burn, control, herbicide, and mechanical), for a total of 36 trees. In addition to the original treatments and as part of a monitoring program, all plots were subjected to several prescribed fires during these 15 years. Under each tree, we sampled mineral soil and understory vegetation at 1 m, 2 m, 3 m and 4 m (vegetation only) away from the tree. At these sites, soil carbon and nitrogen were higher near the trunk while graminoids, forbs and saw palmetto covers showed an opposite trend. Our results confirmed that longleaf pine trees affect the spatial patterning of soil and understory vegetation, and this patterning was mostly limited to the restoration sites. We suggest frequent burning as a probable cause for a lack of spatial structure in the "reference state". We attribute the presence of spatial patterning in the restoration sites to accumulation of organic materials near the base of mature trees.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Restoration Treatments on the Spatial Variability of Soil Processes under Longleaf Pine Trees

Lavoie

Mack

Hiers

et al. 2012

Forests

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“…In some cases, herbaceous plants have also shown increases in abundance shortly after hurricanes, but subsequently declined as dominant species recovered (Chinea 1999). Likewise, some shrubs, such as Quercus geminata (a dominant in our study areas), have a growth form that makes them resistant to wind damage (Provencher et al 2001). Other shrubs can show positive responses to hurricanes, such as increased growth and flowering (Pascarella 1998), and high population growth rates (Pascarella & Horvitz 1998).…”

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confidence: 99%

Effects of Hurricanes on Rare Plant Demography in Fire-Controlled Ecosystems

et al. 2011

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Hurricanes have dramatic effects on forest vegetation, but their effects on shrublands have rarely been studied. We analyzed the effects of three 2004 hurricanesamong the strongest on record in Florida-on vital rates of 12 rare plant species of pyrogenic interior Florida scrub and sandhill. Tree damage varied by vegetation type (being highest in areas with Pinus clausa) and was associated with debris deposition. Most rare species were minimally impacted by hurricanes. The two most frequently damaged species were the shrubs Prunus geniculata (11% of individuals) and Asimina obovata (7%); both were resilient to damage. Prunus geniculata had little mortality during the hurricane year but damaged plants had a temporary (1-yr) reduction in relative growth rate. Prunus geniculata flowering was unaffected by hurricane damage. Hurricane damage had no effects on vital rates of A. obovata, Eriogonum longifolium var. gnaphalifolium, or Chrysopsis highlandsensis. Other species suffered little or no observable hurricane damage. Of 12 species analyzed, nine had similar annual survival in hurricane and nonhurricane years. Relatively low survival in the hurricane year (compared with other years) was linked to prehurricane drought or prescribed fire in two of three species. Thus, the 2004 hurricanes did not have important effects on populations of interior Florida scrub and sandhill plants, especially herbaceous species. This is in marked contrast to dramatic demographic responses to fire in central Florida and strong effects of hurricanes in coastal Florida, highlighting that these different disturbances may have divergent effects on vegetation and populations over short distances.

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“…Longleaf pine might not prefer the less-fertile soils of the Coastal Plain but rather have endured the lessfavorable edaphic conditions out of necessity for regeneration and not choice. Wahlenberg (1946) suggested that longleaf pine might have been the Longleaf Pine Morphology and Climate and Growth Responses 7 dominant pine of the coastal Southeast because it could endure fire, drought, and hurricane-force winds (Provencher et al 2001), whereas other pines could not. Further, the Coastal Plain region experiences more intense hurricane-force winds and has the most rapidly drained soils, conditions that might make the ecosystem less habitable for other species with higher soil-moisture requirements.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%