Influence of topography and forest structure on patterns of mixed severity fire in ponderosa pine forests of the South Dakota Black Hills, USA

2006 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leigh B. Lentile ◽  
Frederick W. Smith ◽  
Wayne D. Shepperd
Keyword(s):  
South Dakota ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Fire Effects ◽  
Black Hills ◽  
Burn Severity ◽  
High Severity ◽  
Density Index ◽  
Stand Density Index

We examined the influence of topography and stand structure on fire effects within the perimeter of the ~34 000 ha Jasper fire of 2000 in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.) forests of the South Dakota Black Hills, USA. We used a remotely sensed and field-verified map of post-fire burn severity (accuracy 69%, kappa statistic 0.54), the Digital Elevation Model, and vegetation databases maintained by the Black Hills National Forest to empirically test relationships at 500 randomly located points in each of three severity classes. Burn severity was defined as the relative degree of post-fire change based on fire effects on soil, forest floor, and vegetation. This fire burned rapidly, yet created a patchy mosaic of effects (25, 48, and 27% low, moderate, and high severity). Stands burned by low and moderate severity fire had fewer trees (stand density index <470 with fewer than 230 trees >13 cm diameter at breast height ha–1) and were found on less steep sites (slope < 18%). Denser stands (stand density index >470) with larger trees (average stand diameter >24 cm) or many small trees were more likely to burn with high severity effects. Our results suggest that managers should consider topography and stand structure together when making strategic decisions about which stands to thin or otherwise manage to reduce the severity with which forests will burn in wildfires.

Stand density index in uneven-aged ponderosa pine stands

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
C W Woodall ◽  
C E Fiedler ◽  
K S Milner
Keyword(s):  
Relative Density ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Site Occupancy ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Summation Method ◽  
Diameter Class ◽  
Density Index ◽  
Pine Stands ◽  
Stand Density Index ◽  
Diameter Distributions

Stand density index (SDI) was developed to quantify relative stand density in even-aged stands. Application of SDI in uneven-aged stands has been described mathematically but not justified biologically. Diameter-class trends in SDI and sapwood area across 14 uneven-aged ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex P. & C. Laws.) stands in eastern Montana were examined to elucidate the biological underpinnings of the SDI summation method. Results indicate that the SDI summation method is biased in its apportionment of relative stand density across diameter classes in uneven-aged ponderosa pine stands. SDI apportions greater relative density to small trees than to larger ones. Therefore, SDI may overpredict site occupancy for reverse J-shaped diameter distributions with more small trees than large ones, and it may underpredict occupancy with nonreverse J-shaped diameter distributions. Application of the SDI summation method in uneven-aged ponderosa pine stands may be biologically justified only if site occupancy – diameter-class trends are taken into account when interpreting SDI values. Replacing the self-thinning scaling factor of the SDI summation method with more biologically relevant scaling relationships may create improved relative density measures for uneven-aged stands.

scholarly journals Trembling aspen response to a mixed-severity wildfire in the Black Hills, South Dakota, USA

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 2679-2684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara L Keyser ◽  
Frederick W Smith ◽  
Wayne D Shepperd
Keyword(s):  
South Dakota ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Black Hills ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Clone Size ◽  
High Severity ◽  
Production Growth ◽  
Sprout Growth

Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) regeneration dynamics including sprout production, growth, and clone size were measured to determine the effects of fire on small aspen clone persistence following a mixed-severity wildfire in the Black Hills, South Dakota. Four years postfire, 10 small, isolated aspen clones per low and high fire severity classes were compared with 10 unburned clones. Regardless of severity, fire did not cause an increase in the area occupied by individual aspen clones. Clones affected by high severity fire had the greatest suckering response producing an average of 31 930 sprouts·ha–1; more than double the sprout density in unburned clones and 67% greater than the sprout density in clones affected by low severity fire. Sprout growth in high severity clones was 135% and 60% greater than sprout growth in unburned and low severity clones. The succession of these clones to more shade-tolerant ponderosa pine was delayed in clones affected by high severity fire as high severity fire caused significant pine mortality within and surrounding the clone, whereas, without further disturbance, pine encroachment and dominance will likely continue in clones affected by low severity fire.

Patch structure, fire-scar formation, and tree regeneration in a large mixed-severity fire in the South Dakota Black Hills, USA

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (12) ◽  
pp. 2875-2885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leigh B Lentile ◽  
Frederick W Smith ◽  
Wayne D Shepperd
Keyword(s):  
South Dakota ◽  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Scar Formation ◽  
Tree Regeneration ◽  
Black Hills ◽  
Burn Severity ◽  
Patch Structure ◽  
Fire Scar ◽  
Postfire Regeneration

We compared patch structure, fire-scar formation, and seedling regeneration in patches of low, moderate, and high burn severity following the large (~34 000 ha) Jasper fire of 2000 that occurred in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex P. & C. Laws.) forests of the Black Hills of South Dakota, USA. This fire created a patchy mosaic of effects, where 25% of the landscape burned as low, 48% as moderate, and 27% as high severity. Dead cambium on a significant portion of tree circumference in a tree with live cambium and a vigorous crown was taken as evidence of incipient fire-scar formation. Tree mortality was approximately 21%, 52%, and 100% in areas of low, moderate, and high burn severity, respectively. Dead cambium was detected on approximately 24% and 44% of surviving trees in low and moderate burn severity patches, respectively. Three years postfire, regeneration densities were ~612 and 450 seedlings·ha–1 in low and moderate burn severity patches, respectively, and no regeneration was observed in the interior of high burn severity patches. Fire-scars will be found on 73% of the area burned in this fire, and large patches of multicohort forest will be created. Mixed-severity fire may have been common historically in the Black Hills, and in conjunction with frequent surface fire, played an important role in shaping a spatially heterogeneous, multicohort ponderosa pine forest.

scholarly journals ESTIMATE OF STAND DENSITY INDEX FOR EUCALYPTUS UROPHYLLA USING DIFFERENT FIT METHODS

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 921-929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernani Lopes Possato ◽  
Natalino Calegario ◽  
Gilciano Saraiva Nogueira ◽  
Elliezer de Almeida Melo ◽  
Joyce de Almeida Alves
Keyword(s):  
Stochastic Frontier Analysis ◽  
Stochastic Frontier ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Eucalyptus Urophylla ◽  
Frontier Analysis ◽  
Density Index ◽  
Number Of Stems ◽  
Stand Density Index

ABSTRACT The Reineke stand density index (SDI) was created on 1933 and remains as target of researches due to its importance on helping decision making regarding the management of population density. Part of such works is focused on the manner by which plots were selected and methods for the fit of Reineke model parameters in order to improve the definition of SDI value for the genetic material evaluated. The present study aimed to estimate the SDI value for Eucalyptus urophylla using the Reineke model fitted by the method of linear regression (LR) and stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). The database containing pairs of data number of stems per hectare (N) and mean quadratic diameter (Dq) was selected in three intensities, containing the 8, 30 and 43 plots of greatest density, and models were fitted by LR and SFA on each selected intensities. The intensity of data selection altered slightly the estimates of parameters and SDI when comparing the fits of each method. On the other hand, the adjust method influenced the mean estimated values of slope and SDI, which corresponded to -1.863 and 740 for LR and -1.582 and 810 for SFA.

scholarly journals Use of Modified Reineke’s Stand Density Index in Predicting Growth and Survival of Chinese Fir Plantations

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 776-783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiongqing Zhang ◽  
Quang V Cao ◽  
Lele Lu ◽  
Hanchen Wang ◽  
Aiguo Duan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Predictor Variable ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Chinese Fir ◽  
The Self ◽  
Survival Models ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Density Index ◽  
Stand Density Index

Abstract Stand density index (SDI) has played an important role in controlling stand stocking and modeling stand development in forest stands. Reineke’s SDI (SDI_R) is based on a constant slope of –1.605 for the self-thinning line. For Chinese fir plantations, however, it has been reported that the self-thinning slope varied with site and climate, rendering SDI_R questionable. Remeasured data from 48 plots distributed in Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, and Sichuan provinces were used to develop models for prediction of stand survival and basal area, with SDI_R incorporated as a predictor variable. Also included in the evaluation were growth models based on self-thinning slopes estimated from two groups of sites (SDI_S) or from climate variables (SDI_C). Results indicated that models with climate-sensitive SDI (SDI_C) performed best, followed by SDI_S and SDI_R. The control models without SDI received the worst overall rank. Inclusion of climate-sensitive SDI in growth and survival models can therefore facilitate modeling of the relation between stand density and growth/survival under future climate-change conditions.

A Comparison of Diameter-and Volume-Based Stocking Guides for Red Alder

1989 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 113-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Hibbs ◽  
Gary C. Carlton
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
The Self ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Alnus Rubra ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Red Alder ◽  
Rule Based ◽  
Density Index ◽  
Stand Density Index

Abstract Stocking guides based on Reineke's stand density index concept (diameter vs stem density) and on the self-thinning rule (volume vs stem density) are currently in use in the western United States. A self-thinning rule-based guide has been developed for red alder (Alnus rubra). In this paper, we develop a Reineke-type guide for red alder and compare the growth of thinned and self-thinning stands in both systems. Stand density appears to be defined differently in the two systems, leading to differences in density management prescriptions. West. J. Appl. For. 4(4):113-115, October 1989.

Effect of thinning and prescribed burning on crown fire severity in ponderosa pine forests

2002 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolie Pollet ◽  
Philip N. Omi
Keyword(s):  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Fire Effects ◽  
Pine Forests ◽  
Crown Fire ◽  
Fuel Treatments ◽  
Ponderosa Pine Forests ◽  
Wildfire Hazard

Fire exclusion policies have affected stand structure and wildfire hazard in north American ponderosa pine forests. Wildfires are becoming more severe in stands where trees are densely stocked with shade-tolerant understory trees. Although forest managers have been employing fuel treatment techniques to reduce wildfire hazard for decades, little scientific evidence documents the success of treatments in reducing fire severity. Our research quantitatively examined fire effects in treated and untreated stands in western United States national forests. Four ponderosa pine sites in Montana, Washington, California and Arizona were selected for study. Fuel treatments studied include: prescribed fire only, whole-tree thinning, and thinning followed by prescribed fire. On-the-ground fire effects were measured in adjacent treated and untreated forests. We developed post facto fire severity and stand structure measurement techniques to complete field data collection. We found that crown fire severity was mitigated in stands that had some type of fuel treatment compared to stands without any treatment. At all four of the sites, the fire severity and crown scorch were significantly lower at the treated sites. Results from this research indicate that fuel treatments, which remove small diameter trees, may be beneficial for reducing crown fire hazard in ponderosa pine sites.

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