Abstract
Studies on frequent fire return intervals often span a few years and historically it has been presumed that this is sufficient to assess fire effects in different seasons and/ or frequencies. However, long-term data increasingly challenges this assumption. Our research targets an ecosystem dominated by the fire-dependent longleaf pine (Pinus palustris). Longleaf pine forests once dominated Southeastern United States uplands and it is well-accepted that the ecosystem was maintained by frequent fire. Nevertheless, important questions remain, including how frequent is frequent enough and how critical is season of burn. Results were evaluated in seven sampling periods spanning 25 years on the Escambia Experimental Forest (Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture) in south-central Alabama. Treatments were six different complex fire regimes: fire every 2, 3, or 5 years in winter or late spring plus a no-burn treatment in each of 3 blocks. Data were collected on longleaf plus hardwood stems > 2.5 cm at breast height. By Year 25 there was little difference in longleaf growth or survivorship, but there were significant treatment-dependent differences in number and size of hardwood stems. Fire return intervals of 2-3 years were important but frequent growing-season burns appear to be critical for managing encroaching native hardwoods and maintaining habitat structure over long time periods.
Parent Publication
Keywords
fire regime,
season of burn,
fire frequency,
longleaf pine,
hardwood stems
Citation
Hermann, Sharon M.; Kush, John S. 2020. Impacts of six different, complex fire regimes in a longleaf pine ecosystem: Results over 25 years. In: Hood, Sharon M.; Drury, Stacy; Steelman, Toddi; Steffens, Ron, [eds.]. Proceedings of the Fire Continuum-Preparing for the future of wildland fire; 2018 May 21-24; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-78. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 110-117.
