Understory response to springtime prescribed fire in two New York transition oak forests

Portions of two south-central New York transition oak stands received 0, 1 or 2 springtime prescribed fires between 1980/1981 and 1984. Observations 8–12 years later showed that forb richness, forb and shrub cover, and the importance values of forbs relative to shrubs increased in areas receiving on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forest ecology and management 1995-08, Vol.76 (1), p.149-168
Main Authors: McGee, G.G., Leopold, D.J., Nyland, R.D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
BOTANICAL COMPOSITION
BRULAGE DIRIGE
Community composition
Competitive strategies
COMPOSICION BOTANICA
COMPOSITION BOTANIQUE
Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife
CONTROLLED BURNING
Disturbance
Environmental degradation: ecosystems survey and restoration
Forest and land fires
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection
PREPARACION DEL SITIO
PREPARATION DU SITE
QUEMA CONTROLADA
QUERCUS RUBRA
SITE PREPARATION
SOTOBOSQUE
SOUS BOIS
UNDERGROWTH
Weather damages. Fires
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Summary:Portions of two south-central New York transition oak stands received 0, 1 or 2 springtime prescribed fires between 1980/1981 and 1984. Observations 8–12 years later showed that forb richness, forb and shrub cover, and the importance values of forbs relative to shrubs increased in areas receiving one or two fires. Fagus grandifolia, Dennstaedtia punctilobula, Gaultheria procumbens and Trientalis borealis exhibited small, but detectable increases in importance values in burned areas. The importance values of Quercus rubra, Kalmia latifolia and Viburnum acerifolium decreased in burned areas. Areas receiving greater intensity fires contained taller tree regeneration and greater shrub cover, but no important changes in community composition could be attributed to fire intensity. An apparent relationship between rhizome depth and post-fire competitiveness of dominant perennial forbs and shrubs suggests the importance of below-ground morphological traits on survival and recovery following fire. Overall, the 12-year, post-burn cover and density of understory vegetation increased in burned areas and in areas receiving greater intensity fires, however, community composition remained largely unaffected by these springtime prescribed fires.
ISSN:0378-1127
1872-7042
DOI:10.1016/0378-1127(95)03548-O