Effects of long-term fire exclusion on tree species composition and stand structure in an old-growth Pinus palustris (Longleaf pine) forest

Frequent fire is an integral component of longleaf pine ecosystems, creating environmental conditions favoring survival and growth of juvenile pines. This study examined stand structure, species composition, and longleaf pine regeneration in an old-growth tract of longleaf pine forest (Boyd Tract) experiencing long-term (>80 yr) fire exclusion in the Sandhills of North Carolina. Sampling of woody stems (i.e., 2.5 cm diameter at breast height) and tallies of longleaf pine seedlings were carried out in plots established randomly on upland, mesic areas and lowland, xeric areas within the Boyd Tract. Dominant woody species in mesic plots were black oak, hickories, and large, sparse longleaf pines. Xeric plots had high densities of turkey oak with the large longleaf pines, as well as higher frequencies of smaller longleaf stems. These differences between areas were associated with higher clay content of upland soils and higher sand content of lowland soils. Age-class frequency distributions for fire-suppressed longleaf pine following the last wildfire at the Boyd Tract approximately 80 yr ago contrasted sharply with data from an old-growth longleaf tract in southern Georgia (Wade Tract) that has been under a long-term frequent fire regime. Post-burn recruitment for the Boyd Tract wildfire appears to have been initially high on both site types. Longleaf pine recruitment diminished sharply on the mesic site, but remained high for 60 yr on the xeric site. Currently, longleaf pine regeneration is minimal on both site types; several plots contained no seedlings. Sharp contrasts in longleaf pine dominance and stand structure between the Boyd and Wade Tracts demonstrate the importance of large-scale disturbance, especially hurricanes and fire, in shaping the structure and function of longleaf pine ecosystems of the southeastern United States. In particular, long-term exclusion of fire on the Boyd Tract has altered stand structure dramatically by permitting hardwoods to occupy at high densities the characteristically large gaps between longleaf stems that are maintained by fire and other disturbances.     

Response of Six‐Lined Racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineata) to Habitat Restoration in Fire‐Suppressed Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) Sandhills

Six‐lined racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineata) is an indicator species of frequently burned Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests. To evaluate how the species responded to forest restoration, we conducted a mark‐recapture study in formerly fire‐suppressed Longleaf pine forests exposed to prescribed fire or fire surrogates (i.e. mechanical or herbicide‐facilitated hardwood removal) as well as in fire‐suppressed control sites and reference sites, which represented the historic condition. After initial treatment, all sites were exposed to over a decade of prescribed burning with an average return interval of approximately 2 years. We used population‐level response of A. sexlineata as an indicator of the effectiveness of the different treatments in restoring habitat. Specifically, we compared mean numbers of marked adults and juveniles at treatment sites to that of reference sites. After 4 years, restoration objectives were met at sites treated with burning alone and at sites treated with mechanical removal of hardwoods followed by fire. After over 10 years of prescribed burning, restoration objectives were met at all treatments. We conclude that prescribed burning alone was sufficient to restore fire‐suppressed Longleaf pine sandhills for A. sexlineata populations.     

西藏朗县地区不同龄级高山松林木径向生长对火干扰的响应

林火影响着林木的更新、生长发育以及林分演替, 是森林生态系统的重要干扰因子。为了评估林火对不同龄级树木生长的影响, 该文研究了西藏林芝市朗县2005年林火前后高山松(Pinus densata)的树轮变异特点。在林分内, 选择62株过火林木, 进行树芯样品采集, 且依据胸径将样树分为幼树(胸径< 10 cm)和成年树(胸径≥10 cm)。树木年轮学交叉定年结果显示样本最大年龄为102年, 最小年龄为19年, 平均年龄为48年。研究结果表明: 过火前幼树径向生长与上一年11月平均最低气温显著负相关, 成年树径向生长与当年9月平均最低气温和平均气温显著正相关; 过火后幼树和成年树的径向生长均与当年1月平均气温和平均最高气温显著负相关。成年树对火干扰的抵抗力(过火年-过火前树轮宽度降低的百分比)和恢复力(过火后-过火前树轮宽度恢复的百分比)都显著高于幼树。过火后不同龄级的树木生长都加快。在地表火干扰中, 成年树比幼树更能抵抗火干扰的影响。研究结果可为全球变化背景下森林恢复及林火应用提供科学依据。