|
Study Number: |
4026 |
|---|---|
|
Project Title: |
Post-burn survey of Blazed Creek herbaceous understory plots, 1991. |
|
Investigator(s): |
Barry Clinton E-Mail | Tel. 828.524.2128 | Biographical Sketch |
| Affiliated Institution(s): |
USDA Forest Service Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory |
| Address: |
Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory 3160 Coweeta Lab Road Otto, North Carolina 28763 USA |
| Study Category: | Regional |
| Project Type: | Type 1 |
| Study Period: | 1991 |
| Notes: |
|
| Funding Source(s): |
Man and Biosphere Program, Southern Appalachian Forest Ecosystems Project, US Forest Service |
| Abstract: | Recent declines in the yellow pine component of pine-hardwood stands in the southern Appalachian Mountains has prompted managers to increase the use of fire as a silviculture tool. The fell and burn treatment is designed to remove competing vegetation (hardwoods and mountain laurel [Kalmia latifolia]) to ensure successful establishment of planted eastern white pine (Pinus strobus). Two years after burning, mountain laurel had accumulated more biomass than any other species and accounted for 43% of total biomass in year 1 and 20% in year 2. By year 4, mountain laurel ranked fifth (8.9% of total) in total biomass among hardwood species behind Allegheny serviceberry (Amalanchier arborea, 14.3%), chestnut oak (Quercus prinus, 13.7%), red maple (Acer rubrum, 12.4%), and scarlet oak (Q. coccinea, 9.3%). Across sites, woody species richness ranged from 19-24 in year 1 and 14-22 in year 4. Species richness varied across sites and years, and there were substantial changes in the distribution of biomass among species. The introduction of fire allowed the once dominant pitch pine (P. rigida) to successfully reestablish. On sites, pine accounted for 25% of pretreatment stem density, but <1% and 2% in the first and fourth growing seasons after burning, respectively. However, in year 1, pines had increased in density 20-fold compared to pretreatment levels, and by year 4, had maintained a 17-fold increase compared to pretreatment. The use of fire in forest management has been the subject of considerable criticism. In light of current public concerns over the loss of critical or unique habitats, fire may gain public support for use as a restoration tool. |
| Location(s), Described: | Blazed Creek. |
| Location(s), Download GPS: | ArcView Shape Files (shp.): Decimal Degrees | UTM, NAD83, Zone 17 |
| Location(s), Online Map(s): | Online Map |
| Methods/Experimental Design: | Herbaceous plots were one square meter each. |
| Sampling Frequency: | Variable. |
| Data Columns: |
site - coded variable for
sampling site Site number=1=Blazed Creek |
| Publications: |
Elliott, K.J., J.M.
Vose, B.D. Clinton. 2002.
Growth of eastern white pine (Pinus strobes
L.) related to forest floor consumption by prescribed fire in the
southern Appalachians. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry. 26(1):
18-25. |
| Data Restrictions: | Users must adhere to the Coweeta LTER Data Policy. |
| Metadata: | EML Format (XML Schema) | Information about EML |
| Data Downloads: |
Microsoft® Excel (.xls) Text Comma Delimited (.csv) DBase (.dbf) |