Abstract
Forest managers in the Southeastern United States are interested in the restoration of not only longleaf pine (
Pinus palustris) trees, but also the characteristic forest structure and ground-layer vegetation of the longleaf pine ecosystem. Season of burn, fire intensity, and fire frequency are critical components of a fire regime that supports diverse ground layer vegetation and an open midstory. While some previous studies have concluded that a change to growing season burning for long periods of time (decades) facilitates restoration, such a change may be undesirable, especially for private land managers with more immediate management objectives, such as improving habitat for quail. There is a need to document short-term benefits associated with a change from dormant- to growing-season burning.
Parent Publication
Citation
Mudder, Bryan T.; Wang, G. Geoff; Walker, Joan L.; Lanham, J. Drew; Costa, Ralph. 2010. Effects of fire season on vegetation in longleaf pine (
Pinus palustris) forests. In: Stanturf, John A., ed. 2010. Proceedings of the 14th biennial southern silvicultural research conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–121. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 569-570.