Foliar morphology and chemistry of upland oaks, red maple, and sassafras seedlings in response to single and repeated prescribed fires

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 740-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.D. Alexander ◽  
M.A. Arthur
Keyword(s):  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Acer Rubrum ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Canopy Openness ◽  
Leaf Mass Per Area ◽  
Prescribed Fires ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
Basal Diameter ◽  
Leaf N Content ◽  
Seedling Leaf

Managers increasingly use prescribed fire in oak forests to decrease fire-sensitive species, increase understory light, and improve oak ( Quercus spp.) regeneration. To better understand woody seedling response to burning, single and repeated (3×) prescribed fires were implemented over 6 years (2002–2007) in eastern Kentucky, and leaf traits of red ( Erythrobalanus spp.) and white oaks ( Leucobalanus spp.) were compared with competitors red maple ( Acer rubrum L.) and sassafras ( Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees). Burned seedlings had higher total leaf area (TLA) because of two to three times higher TLA of sassafras. Leaf mass per area (LMA) and leaf N content per area (Narea) increased postfire but were independent of seedling identity. Canopy openness during 2006, which was lower on unburned sites (4%–8%) compared with those burned 1× (4%–16%) and 3× (7%–33%), was positively correlated with sassafras TLA, oak and sassafras Narea, and LMA of all seedling groups the subsequent year. In 2007, TLA, LMA, and Narea were positively correlated with basal diameter of all groups but most significantly for sassafras and red maple. These findings indicate that low-intensity, early growing season prescribed fire can alter seedling leaf characteristics, but not in a manner that enhances oak seedling leaf traits relative to their competitors red maple and sassafras.

scholarly journals Effects of Seasonal Prescribed Fires on Residual Overstory Trees in Oak-Dominated Shelterwood Stands

1999 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Brose ◽  
David Van Lear
Keyword(s):  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Prescribed Fires ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
Crown Condition ◽  
Treatment Area ◽  
Yellow Poplar ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Resource Managers ◽  
Overstory Trees

Abstract A study was initiated in 1994 to evaluate the degree of bole damage and crown decline residual overstory trees would experience because of prescribed burning of shelterwood stands. Three oak-dominated shelterwood stands, partially harvested 2 to 4 yr earlier, were divided into four treatments (unburned control, spring burn, summer burn, and winter burn). Fifteen permanent sampling points were systematically located in each 5 to 12 ac treatment area, and overstory trees were selected from these points with a 10 BAF prism. Before burning, each tree was evaluated for lower bole and crown condition and reevaluated two growing seasons after the fires. Hickory, oak, and yellow-poplar were largely unaffected by the winter and summer prescribed fires but displayed bole damage and crown decline following spring burning. American beech and red maple declined after all fire treatments. Fire damage to oak, hickory, and yellow-poplar was strongly associated to presence of logging slash near a tree's base. Directional felling or moving slash should minimize injury to these trees. This research will aid resource managers wishing to use prescribed fire in shelterwood stands to favor oak regeneration while minimizing damage to residual overstory oaks. South. J. Appl. For. 23(2):88-93.

Responses of hardwood advance regeneration to seasonal prescribed fires in oak-dominated shelterwood stands

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick H Brose ◽  
David H Van Lear
Keyword(s):  
Acer Rubrum ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Fire Intensity ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Prescribed Fires ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
Stem Form ◽  
Yellow Poplar ◽  
Density Reduction ◽  
Advance Regeneration

Effects of seasonal prescribed fires of varying intensities on density, mortality, stem form, height, and height growth of hardwood advance regeneration were investigated. Three mixed-hardwood stands on productive upland sites were cut using a shelterwood technique, each forming a block of spring burn, summer burn, winter burn, and control treatments. Advance regeneration was inventoried from permanent plots before and after burning. Fires top-killed nearly all hardwood regeneration, forcing the rootstocks to sprout. Fire treatments reduced densities of all hardwood species relative to not burning, with spring and summer fires causing greater density reduction than winter burning. Among species, oak (Quercus spp. L.) and hickory (Carya spp. Nutt.) were more resilient sprouters than yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) and red maple (Acer rubrum L.), especially as fire intensity increased. All prescribed fires improved oak stem form and stimulated height growth of hickory and oak. Overall, prescribed fires improved oak advance regeneration with spring burning providing the most benefit. This approach of following a shelterwood harvest with prescribed fire may be a viable method of regenerating oak-dominated stands on productive upland sites.

Reversing legacy effects in the understory of an oak-dominated forest

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 350-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Thomas-Van Gundy ◽  
James Rentch ◽  
Mary Beth Adams ◽  
Walter Carson
Keyword(s):  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Acer Rubrum ◽  
Fire Frequency ◽  
Canopy Gaps ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
Yellow Poplar ◽  
East Central ◽  
Single Process ◽  
Process Effects ◽  
Poplar Seedlings

Current forests developed under conditions different from original forests, with higher deer densities, reduced fire frequency, denser canopies, and smaller canopy gaps. These alterations have led to understories dominated by species simultaneously browse tolerant, shade tolerant, and fire sensitive leading to difficulties in the regeneration of oak species (Quercus spp.) in some areas. We evaluated how three key processes — understory fire, canopy gaps, and browsing — influenced tree species in east central West Virginia. We were particularly interested in the response of oak species because they are the dominant overstory species and of maple species (Acer spp.), black birch (Betula lenta L.), and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) as these are likely to replace the current forest. Single-process effects were significant and significant interactions among processes were numerous. In general, fire caused significant reductions of seedlings and saplings of red maple (Acer rubrum L.) and striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum L.) and increased the seedlings of black birch and yellow-poplar. Canopy gaps increased the abundance of black birch and yellow-poplar seedlings and saplings. Gaps and fire together caused an increase in the relative abundance of yellow-poplar. Excluding browsers and creating canopy gaps together nearly doubled oak sapling importance values versus either treatment alone; however, oak importance values remained low. Given the significant interactions of browse control with the other two processes, browse control should be considered when planning oak regeneration treatments such as canopy gaps or prescribed fire.

scholarly journals Effects of fire and thinning on Kansas oak woodlands

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Mary Faith Short
Keyword(s):  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
The United States ◽  
Tree Density ◽  
Canopy Openness ◽  
First Year ◽  
Herbaceous Plant ◽  
Basal Diameter ◽  
Advance Regeneration

Prior to Euro-American settlement, a mosaic of prairie, savanna, woodland, and forest existed within the Forest-Prairie Transition Region of the United States, with anthropogenic fire acting as an important driver in the perpetuation of open-oak communities. As fire suppression became a regular practice throughout the 20th century, these historically open communities became threatened by encroaching fire-sensitive, and often shade-tolerant, species. This study evaluated the effects of prescribed fire and thinning treatments as methods to achieve woodland restoration objectives, which commonly include reducing stand density, reducing mesophytic oak-competitors, increasing canopy openness, increasing herbaceous plant cover, and promoting the regeneration of oak. We investigated the effects of six treatment types on the structure and composition of a Kansas oak woodland. Treatments included: prescribed fire (burn), thin to 60 ft sq/acre basal area (T60), thin to 30 ft sq/acre basal area (T30), the combination of fire and thin to 60 ft sq/acre basal area (BT60), the combination of fire and thin to 30 ft sq/acre basal area (BT30), and an untreated control. Additionally, we examined the effect of fire on advance regeneration survival probability for five tree species: chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii), black oak (Q. velutina), bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), and eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana). Following a single girdle and herbicide application thinning treatment, we found low mortality in the first year, especially for sugar maple. As a result, the reduction in overstory basal area did not meet our intended targets. A single dormant season prescribed burn was effective at reducing large and small seedling densities of sugar maple and other oak-competitors, and increased forb and legume cover in the understory. However, the burn only treatment had no effect on overstory stand metrics, including basal area, tree density, percent stocking, and canopy openness. Thinning of the overstory and midstory in combination with prescribed fire resulted in similar effects to seedling densities and ground flora cover as the burn only treatment, but also created reduced tree density in the sapling layer and greater canopy openness. Additionally, the effect of the burn only treatment on advance regeneration revealed that significant relationships exist between pretreatment stem basal diameter and height and the probability of surviving a single fire for some of the species. These initial results are for the first year following treatments and over time we expect vegetation dynamics to continue to respond to treatments.

scholarly journals Elevated CO2 Increases Root Mass and Leaf Nitrogen Resorption in Red Maple (Acer rubrum L.)

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Li ◽  
William Manning ◽  
Xiaoke Wang
Keyword(s):  
Elevated Co2 ◽  
Biomass Allocation ◽  
Acer Rubrum ◽  
Leaf Nitrogen ◽  
Leaf Mass Per Area ◽  
Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
Resorption Efficiency ◽  
Nitrogen Resorption ◽  
Leaf N

To understand whether the process of seasonal nitrogen resorption and biomass allocation are different in CO2-enriched plants, seedlings of red maple (Acer rubrum L.) were exposed to three CO2 concentrations (800 µL L−1 CO2 treatments—A800, 600 µL L−1 CO2 treatments—A600, and 400 µL L−1 CO2 treatments—A400) in nine continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) chambers. Leaf mass per area, leaf area, chlorophyll index, carbon (C), nitrogen (N) contents, nitrogen resorption efficiency (NRE), and biomass allocation response were investigated. The results indicated that: (1) Significant leaf N decline was found in senescent leaves of two CO2 treatments, which led to an increase of 43.4% and 39.7% of the C/N ratio in A800 and A600, respectively. (2) Elevated CO2 induced higher NRE, with A800 and A600 showing significant increments of 50.3% and 46.2%, respectively. (3) Root biomass increased 33.1% in A800 and thus the ratio of root to shoot ratio was increased by 25.8%. In conclusion, these results showed that to support greater nutrient and water uptake and the continued response of biomass under elevated CO2, Acer rubrum partitioned more biomass to root and increased leaf N resorption efficiency.

scholarly journals Effects of burn season on large seedlings of oak and other hardwood regeneration three years after shelterwood harvest

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Ying Xin ◽  
Roger A. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Dominant Species ◽  
Acer Rubrum ◽  
Prescribed Fires ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
White Oak ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Yellow Poplar ◽  
Red Oaks ◽  
Hardwood Species ◽  
Canopy Volume

Abstract The effects of fall and spring prescribed fires on large seedlings (0.3 to 1.3 m height) of oak and other hardwood species three years after a shelterwood harvest were examined in Richland Furnace and Zaleski State Forests in southern Ohio. Fall and spring burns appeared to be more deleterious to red oaks (Quercus rubra L., Q. velutina Lam., Q. coccinea Muenchh.) than white oaks (Q. alba L., Q. prinus L.). Red oak experienced reductions in numbers and canopy volume after spring burns, and canopy reductions after fall burns. White oak experienced small increases in numbers of stems after both fall and spring burns, and an increase in the canopy volume after fall burns, but a slight decrease after spring burns. Yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.), a major oak competitor prior to fire, experienced dramatic reductions in the number of regenerating stems and canopy volume after both fall and spring burns. On the other hand, red maple (Acer rubrum L.) experienced large increases in the number of regenerating stems and canopy volume after both fall and spring burns. Based on importance value, the oak species remained relatively unchanged after both fall and spring burns. Yellow-poplar became the least dominant species after spring burns and the second to last dominant species after fall burns.

scholarly journals Prescribed Fire Affects Eastern White Pine Recruitment and Survival on Eastern Kentucky Ridgetops

1999 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 144-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth A. Blankenship ◽  
Mary A. Arthur
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Acer Rubrum ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
Prescribed Burn ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Eastern White Pine ◽  
Cumberland Plateau ◽  
Eastern Kentucky ◽  
Growing Seasons

Abstract Successful fire prevention and suppression efforts during the past 50 yr have resulted in the proliferation of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) in the understory of oak-pine forests on the Cumberland Plateau. Along with red maple (Acer rubrum L.), increasing density of eastern white pine in these forests signals a change in plant species composition from species adapted to periodic surface fires, such as oaks (Quercus spp.) and yellow pines (P. echinata Miller and P. rigida Miller), to species adapted to longer fire-free intervals. In the Daniel Boone National Forest (DBNF) in eastern Kentucky, the USDA Forest Service has reintroduced fire to these ridgetop ecosystems. In March 1995 and March 1996, single prescribed fires were conducted on three different ridgetops in the Red River Gorge of the DBNF. Diameter and age of white pine stems were recorded prior to burning, two growing seasons post-burn (for 1995 and 1996 fires), and three growing seasons post-burn (for 1995 fires only). Nearly all white pine less than 2.0 cm dbh were killed after a single prescribed fire, and significant mortality (P < 0.05) was measured in size classes up to 6 cm dbh. Post-burn regeneration of white pine, however, was abundant at each site. Therefore, a single prescribed burn affected the age structure of white pine but will not have an important influence on long-term species composition of these stands. A fire return interval of at least 10 to 20 yr will be required to control white pine competition with fire-adapted species on the ridgetop ecosystems of the DBNF. South. J. Appl. For. 23(3): 144-150.

Decay of birdseye sugar maple (Acer Saccharum) and curly red maple (Acer Rubrum)

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 292-297
Author(s):  
Tara Lee Bal ◽  
Katherine Elizabeth Schneider ◽  
Dana L. Richter
Keyword(s):  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Acer Rubrum ◽  
Red Maple

scholarly journals Impacts of increasing fine fuel loads on acorn germination and early growth of oak seedlings

Fire Ecology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel E. Nation ◽  
Heather D. Alexander ◽  
Geoff Denny ◽  
Jennifer K. McDaniel ◽  
Alison K. Paulson
Keyword(s):  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Leaf Number ◽  
Fuel Load ◽  
Quercus Alba ◽  
White Oak ◽  
Fuel Treatment ◽  
Basal Diameter ◽  
Fuel Loads

Abstract Background Prescribed fire is increasingly used to restore and maintain upland oak (Quercus L. spp.) ecosystems in the central and eastern US. However, little is known about how prescribed fire affects recently fallen acorns under different fine fuel loads, which can vary with stand composition and basal area, burn season, and fire frequency. We conducted plot-level (1 m2) burns in an upland oak stand in northern Mississippi, USA, during December 2018, using single (i.e., ambient), double, and triple fine fuel loads, representative of those in nearby unburned and recently fire-treated, closed-canopy stands. Pre burn, we placed 30 acorns each of white oak (Quercus alba L.) and Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii Buckley) ~1 cm below the litter surface in five plots of each fuel treatment. Immediately post burn, we planted unburned and burned acorns in a greenhouse. After ~50% of each species’ unburned acorns germinated, we measured percent germination and height, basal diameter, and leaf number of germinating seedlings weekly for 11 weeks. Then, we harvested seedlings to determine above- and belowground biomass. Results The single fuel treatment reduced acorn germination rates of both species to ~40% compared to ~88% in unburned acorns. When burned in double and triple fuel loads, acorns of both species had a <5% germination rate. There was no difference in basal diameter, leaf number, or biomass of seedlings from burned versus unburned acorns for either species. However, seedlings originating from burned acorns of both species were ~11% shorter than those from unburned acorns. Thus, both species responded similarly to fuel load treatments. Conclusions Acorns of both species exhibited greater survival with lower fine fuel loads, and consequently lower percent fuel consumption. Acorns germinating post fire generally produced seedlings with growth patterns similar to seedlings originating from unburned acorns. These findings indicate that regular, repeated prescribed fires or canopy reductions that limit fine fuel accumulation and create heterogeneous fuel beds are likely to increase acorn germination rates relative to unburned sites or those with recently introduced fire.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document