Structure and composition changes following restoration treatments of longleaf pine forests on the Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama
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Published source details
Outcalt K.W. & Brockway D.G. (2010) Structure and composition changes following restoration treatments of longleaf pine forests on the Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama. Forest Ecology and Management, 259, 1615-1623.
Published source details Outcalt K.W. & Brockway D.G. (2010) Structure and composition changes following restoration treatments of longleaf pine forests on the Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama. Forest Ecology and Management, 259, 1615-1623.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Use prescribed fire: effect on understory plants Action Link |
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Thin trees within forests: effects on understory plants Action Link |
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Use prescribed fire: effect on understory plants
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2002-2005 in temperate coniferous forest in Alabama, USA (Outcalt & Brockway 2009) found that prescribed fire decreased the density of understory shrubs and trees and increased the cover of grasses. The density of small hardwoods (<3 cm diameter at breast height) (burned: ~300; unburned: >1,500 trees/ha) and cover of tall shrubs (>1.4 m) (burned: 10%; unburned: 33%) were higher in unburned plots. The cover of grasses was higher in burned plots (burned: 20%; unburned: 7%) and the cover of short shrubs (<1.4 m) (45-57%) and forbs (3-10%) was similar between treatments. Control (unburned) and burned (prescribed burned in 2002 and 2004) treatment units were replicated in three blocks. Data were collected in 2005 in ten 20 × 50 m subplots within each treatment unit.
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Thin trees within forests: effects on understory plants
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2002-2008 in temperate coniferous forest in Alabama, USA (Outcalt & Brockway 2010) found that thinning decreased the density of understory shrubs and trees and increased the cover of grasses. Density (stems/ha) of hardwood trees <3 cm DBH (thinned: <50; unthinned: >1,500) and cover of shrubs >1.4 m tall (thinned: <1%; unthinned: 33%) were higher in control plots, while cover of grasses (thinned: 20%; unthinned: 7%) was higher in thinned plots. Cover of shrubs <1.4 m tall (~55%) and forbs (3%-8%) were similar between treatments. Unthinned and thinned (leaving 11.5–13.5 m2 basal area of longleaf pine Pinus palustris, removing hardwoods and other pines) treatment units (12 ha) were replicated in three blocks. Thinning was in April 2002. Data were collected in 2005 in ten 20 × 50 m subplots within each treatment unit.
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