Effects of experimental burning on understory plants in a temperate deciduous forest in Ohio
Smith, Jane Kapler, comp. 2010. Effects of experimental burning on understory plants in a temperate deciduous forest in Ohio. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://research.fs.usda.gov/feis/fire-studies/glasgow-and-matlack-2010
Introduction
This Research Project Summary describes effects of fire on small experimental plots in mature second-growth forest, as documented in 3 publications (the "sources" listed below). The 1st and 3rd sources focus on the responses of two invasive plant species to fire in the Central Hardwoods region. The 2nd source focuses on native understory species in the same area and investigates the hypothesis that fire will favor species that form a soil seed bank and species that can sprout from protected meristems.
Common names are used throughout this summary. For a complete list of the common and scientific names of species discussed, see Table A1.
Sources
- Glasgow, Lance S.; Matlack, Glenn R. 2007. Prescribed burning and understory composition in a temperate deciduous forest, Ohio, USA. Forest Ecology and Management. 238(1-3): 54-64 [3].
- Glasgow, Lance S.; Matlack, Glenn R. 2007. The effects of prescribed burning and canopy openness on establishment of two non-native plant species in a deciduous forest, southeast Ohio, USA. Forest Ecology and Management. 238(1/3): 319-329 [1].
- Glasgow, Lance; Matlack, Glenn. 2006. Effects of prescribed burning on invasibility by nonnative plant species in the Central Hardwoods Region. In: Dickinson, Matthew B., ed. Fire in eastern oak forests: delivering science to land managers, proceedings of a conference; 2005 November 15-17; Columbus, OH. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-1. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 277. Abstract [2].
Study Location
Vinton Furnace Experimental Forest, Vinton County, southeastern Ohio [1,2].
Site Description
The study was conducted on the unglaciated section of the Allegheny Plateau, an area dissected by narrow ridges and small valleys [1]. Elevations range from 700 to 1,000 feet (200-300 m). Soils are moderately drained to well drained sandy and silt loams. Annual average temperature is 52.3 °F (11.3 °C), and average annual precipitation is 40 inches (1,024 mm).
Plant Community
Dominant cover is mixed deciduous forest [1,2]. Ridges and south-facing slopes are dominated by oaks, hickories, and red maple; valleys are dominated by less drought-tolerant species, including sugar maple, blackgum, and tuliptree [1,2]. Before the experimental treatments, no multiflora rose or Nepalese browntop was present in experimental plots [2].
Plant Phenology
Experimental fires were conducted in early April 2004. Researchers note that this is a month or more before emergence of Nepalese browntop seedlings [2].
Fire Description
Study sites were stratified according to slope position (ridge vs. valley, where ridges were drier than valleys) and canopy cover (open vs. closed, where "open" had no more than 60% canopy cover). Topography within sites was relatively level. On each site, the following treatments were applied on 7 × 7 foot (2 × 2 m) experimental plots:
- low-severity fire, fueled by naturally occurring leaf litter and twigs, plus a "fine mist" of kerosene applied just before ignition
- moderate-severity fire, fueled by naturally occurring leaf litter and twigs with "additional litter" added and 20 air-dry boards (1× 1× 80 inch (3 × 3 × 200 cm)) distributed evenly across the plot, plus a fine mist of kerosene applied just before ignition
- litter and duff removal (no burning)
- lime addition to raise pH by at least 0.4 unit (no burning). This treatment had no significant effects on understory composition or invasive species abundance and is not further discussed here.
- control
Sample plots for both studies were located on the same sites. Burning was conducted between 5 April and 9 April 2004. Fires burned in surface fuels [1,2]. Flames were 2 to 6 inches (5-15 cm) long in low-severity plots and 4 to 12 inches (10-30 cm) long in moderate-severity plots [1]. Maximum temperatures at the soil surface, measured with temperature-sensitive paint, ranged from 183 to 383 °F (84-195 °C) in low-severity plots and averaged about 350 °F (200 °C) higher in moderate-severity plots [1,2]. More than 90% of fuel was consumed. Maximum temperatures were generally higher on ridges than in valleys (Table 1) [2].
| Site type | Burn severity | Position of sensor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 cm above ground | Soil surface | ||
| Open canopy, ridge | Moderate | 317 (5) | 371 (0) |
| Low | 82 (3) | 151 (25) | |
| Closed canopy, ridge | Moderate | 252 (4) | 343 (19) |
| Low | 56 (2) | 84 (20) | |
| Open canopy, valley | Moderate | 308 (2) | 371 (0) |
| Low | 87 (4) | 195 (33) | |
| Closed canopy, valley | Moderate | 300 (3) | 359 (12) |
| Low | 67 (3) | 105 (19) | |
For the invasive plant study, seeds of Nepalese browntop and multiflora rose were sown into experimental plots shortly after treatments were completed and again 7 months after treatment (April and November 2004) [2].
Fire Season and Severity Classification
Spring/low to moderate
Fire Effects on Plant Community
Native Plant Study
Regeneration in study plots was recorded by species in July and September 2004 and in June 2005 (3, 5, and 14 months after treatment). Species richness, species diversity, and total stem density were significantly greater in valleys than on ridges for all sample dates (P<0.05), so fire effects were analyzed separately for valley and ridge communities.
In ridge communities, moderate-severity burn plots tended to be dominated by graminoids that originated both from seed and sprouting. Three woody species showed significant differences in density between treatments: Smooth sumac and tuliptree were favored by fire, whereas red maple was less abundant on burned than unburned plots (Table 2). Most stems of these woody species had cotyledons, indicating that regeneration was mainly from seed rather than sprouting.
In valley communities, fire favored American burnweed, American pokeweed, and grape species. As in ridge communities, red maple was less abundant on burned than control plots (Table 2). None of these 4 species responded significantly to canopy openness, possibly because the cleared experimental plots were too small to change growing conditions substantially [1].
| Species | Significant differences | Fire effects or implications |
|---|---|---|
| Ridge sites | ||
| Smooth sumac | Moderate-severity burn > all other treatments | Fire of at least moderate severity important for recruitment |
| Red maple | Burn treatments < control or litter removal | — |
| Tuliptree | Low-severity burn > control or moderate-severity burn | Fire's effect due to litter removal |
| Low-severity burn = litter removal | ||
| Valley sites | ||
| American burnweed | Low-severity burn > moderate-severity burn or control | Fire's effect due to litter removal |
| Litter removal > control | ||
| American pokeweed | Moderate-severity burn > all other treatments | Fire of at least moderate severity important for recruitment |
| Grape species | Moderate-severity burn > control or litter removal | Most stems were seedlings |
| Red maple | Burn treatments < control | — |
Many understory species, including common cinquefoil, fourleaf yam, Blue Ridge blueberry, perfoliate bellwort, and sensitive fern, did not respond significantly to burning. These species may have failed to respond because they do not require litter removal, an open canopy, or heat to germinate or sprout. Other possible explanations include absence of seed in the soil, insufficient soil heating to trigger sprouting, and lack of topkill in standing stems [1].
Nonnative Invasive Plant Study
Establishment of Nepalese browntop and multiflora rose was recorded in June and August 2004 and again in June 2005 (2, 4, and 14 months after treatment). Germination and seedling growth, as indicated by height and leaf number, responded positively to fire for both species, although both species showed at least some germination in almost all combinations of treatment, topographic position, and canopy openness. Burned plots in canopy gaps in valley positions provided optimum germination and growth [2,3].
Approximately 7% of the Nepalese browntop seed sown immediately after treatments (April 2004) germinated in postfire year 1, with most germination before the end of June. Less than 2% of April-sown seed survived the winter to germinate in postfire year 2. Approximately 14% of seed sown 7 months after treatment (November 2004) germinated in postfire year 2—again, mostly before the end of June. In both postfire years, germination of Nepalese browntop was greatest in litter-removal plots and burned plots (both low- and moderate-severity), an effect enhanced by valley position and canopy gaps in postfire year 1 (P<0.05). Some recruitment occurred in control plots, especially on valley sites with canopy gaps. Four months after treatment, seedlings were significantly taller in moderate-severity burn plots than in other treatments and taller in canopy gaps than under closed canopies (P<0.05) [2].
Approximately 1% of the multiflora rose seed sown immediately after treatments germinated in postfire year 1, most of it before the end of June. Less than 2% of April-sown seed survived the winter to germinate in postfire year 2. Approximately 2% of seed sown 7 months after treatment germinated in postfire year 2—again, mostly before the end of June. In the 1st postfire year, seedling recruitment was greater in burned and litter-removal plots than in control plots, with greatest recruitment in moderate-severity burn plots at valley positions with open canopies (P<0.05). Some recruitment occurred in control plots. Four months after treatment, seedlings were generally taller in moderate-severity burn plots than in other treatments. In the 2nd postfire year, germination was again greatest in burned plots and litter-removal plots [2].
Native Plant Study
Fires introduced to mixed-deciduous forests in the Central Hardwoods region may change understory composition by increasing germination of disturbance-adapted species from the soil seed bank and promoting vegetative regeneration. Fire in these forests may favor mainly species that require litter removal for establishment [1].
Nonnative Invasive Plant Study
Nepalese browntop and multiflora rose established most successfully in plots that were burned, had a relatively open canopy, or had litter removed; both species also established in unburned plots. Moist sites (in valley positions) were generally more invasible than drier, ridge sites. In field treatments, patches experiencing any fire, low- or moderate-severity, may provide local opportunities for establishment of Nepalese browntop; more severe fire in pockets of heavy fuel or on dry, south-facing slopes may create microsites highly suitable for establishment of multiflora rose. Recruitment of both species in the 2nd postfire year indicates that a site can remain vulnerable to invasion for at least 1 year after fire [2]. While this study demonstrated the potential for fire to increase establishment of 2 invasive species, it did not provide information on postfire sprouting of established plants or long-term persistence and spread of these species.
Because fire increased the vulnerability of mixed-deciduous forests to invasion by Nepalese browntop and multiflora rose, the authors recommend avoiding use of prescribed fire near large populations of these species and reducing large populations in neighboring areas before burning. Because both invasives showed higher germination in canopy gaps than under a closed canopy, canopy disturbance should be minimized. If invasive species are already common on a site proposed for treatment, managers should weigh the benefits of burning or thinning against the risk of increasing invasion [2]. If management techniques will include thinning or prescribed fire, managers could prioritize moist sites and openings for monitoring and follow-up treatments to minimize invasion by Nepalese browntop and multiflora rose.
| Biophysical Setting | Mean Fire Interval (years) | Fire Severity Percent (%) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Fire Regime Group | Low | Mixed | Replacement | All | Low | Mixed | Replacement |
| Series 14710 - Central Interior and Appalachian Floodplain Systems | ||||||||
| 14710_51_62 | III-A | 67 | 429 | 58 | 86 | 14 | 0 | |
| Series 13170 - Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland | ||||||||
| 13170_62 | I-B | 11 | 117 | 37 | 8 | 72 | 7 | 21 |
| Summary | ||||||||
| Minimum | 11 | 117 | 37 | 8 | 72 | 7 | 0 | |
| Maximum | 67 | 429 | 37 | 58 | 86 | 14 | 21 | |
| Mean | 39 | 273 | 37 | 33 | 79 | 11 | 11 | |
| Median | 39 | 273 | 37 | 33 | 79 | 11 | 11 | |
| Percentage of fires in 3 fire severity classes, derived from LANDFIRE succession modeling. Replacement-severity fires cause >75% kill or top-kill of the upper canopy layer; mixed-severity fires cause 26%-75%; low-severity fires cause <26%. | ||||||||
| LANDFIRE. 2020. Biophysical settings models and descriptions, [Online]. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service; U.S. Department of the Interior; U.S. Geological Survey; Arlington, VA: The Nature Conservancy, (Producers). Available: https://www.landfirereview.org/search.php [96496] | ||||||||
| Common name | Scientific name |
|---|---|
| Forbs | |
| fourleaf yam | Dioscorea quaternata |
| American burnweed | Erechtites hieracifolia |
| American pokeweed | Phytolacca americana |
| common cinquefoil | Potentilla simplex |
| perfoliate bellwort | Uvularia perfoliata |
| Graminoid | |
| Nepalese browntop | Microstegium vimineum |
| Fern | |
| sensitive fern | Onoclea sensibilis |
| Liana | |
| grape species | Vitis spp. |
| Shrubs | |
| smooth sumac | Rhus glabra |
| multiflora rose | Rosa multiflora |
| Blue Ridge blueberry | Vaccinium pallidum |
| Trees | |
| red maple | Acer rubrum |
| sugar maple | Acer saccharum |
| hickory species | Carya spp. |
| tuliptree | Liriodendron tulipifera |
| blackgum | Nyssa sylvatica |
| oak species | Quercus spp. |
1. Glasgow, Lance S.; Matlack, Glenn R. 2007. Prescribed burning and understory composition in a temperate deciduous forest, Ohio, USA. Forest Ecology and Management. 238(1-3): 54-64. [65496]
2. Glasgow, Lance S.; Matlack, Glenn R. 2007. The effects of prescribed burning and canopy openness on establishment of two non-native plant species in a deciduous forest, southeast Ohio, USA. Forest Ecology and Management. 238(1-3): 319-329. [66854]
3. Glasgow, Lance; Matlack, Glenn. 2006. Effects of prescribed burning on invasibility by nonnative plant species in the Central Hardwoods region. In: Dickinson, Matthew B., ed. Fire in eastern oak forests: delivering science to land managers: Proceedings of a conference; 2005 November 15-17; Columbus, OH. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-1. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 277. Abstract. [66419]
4. Hann, Wendel; Havlina, Doug; Shlisky, Ayn; [and others]. 2008. Interagency fire regime condition class guidebook. Version 1.3, [Online]. In: Interagency fire regime condition class website. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service; U.S. Department of the Interior; The Nature Conservancy; Systems for Environmental Management (Producer). 119 p. Available: http://frames.nbii.gov/frcc/documents/FRCC_Guidebook_2008.07.10.pdf [2010, 3 May]. [70966]
5. LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment. 2005. Reference condition modeling manual (Version 2.1), [Online]. In: LANDFIRE. Cooperative Agreement 04-CA-11132543-189. Boulder, CO: The Nature Conservancy; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service; U.S. Department of the Interior (Producers). 72 p. Available: http://www.landfire.gov/downloadfile.php?file=RA_Modeling_Manual_v2_1.pdf [2007, May 24]. [66741]
6. LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment. 2007. Rapid assessment reference condition models, [Online]. In: LANDFIRE. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Lab; U.S. Geological Survey; The Nature Conservancy (Producers). Available: http://www.landfire.gov/models_EW.php [2008, April 18] [66533]