Effects of fire on brackish marsh communities: management implications
-
Published source details
Hackney C.T. & de la Cruz A.A. (1981) Effects of fire on brackish marsh communities: management implications. Wetlands, 1, 75-86.
Published source details Hackney C.T. & de la Cruz A.A. (1981) Effects of fire on brackish marsh communities: management implications. Wetlands, 1, 75-86.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
| Action | Category | |
|---|---|---|
|
Use prescribed fire to maintain or restore disturbance: brackish/salt marshes Action Link |
 |
|
|
Cut/mow herbaceous plants to maintain or restore disturbance: brackish/salt marshes Action Link |
|
-
Use prescribed fire to maintain or restore disturbance: brackish/salt marshes
A controlled, before-and-after study in 1977–1979 in a brackish marsh in Mississippi, USA (Hackney & de la Cruz 1981) reported that a prescribed burn temporarily reduced the biomass and height of black rush Juncus roemerianus, but persistently reduced dominance of black rush and big cordgrass Spartina cynosuroides. Statistical significance was not assessed. One study area was initially dominated by black rush. Before burning, above-ground rush biomass was 520 g/m2 (live) and 1,080 g/m2 (dead). In the first six months after burning, black rush biomass was depressed (live: 5–360; dead: 0–84 g/m2). Over the following 30 months, live black rush biomass recovered (290–820 g/m2) whilst dead biomass remained depressed (43–740 g/m2). The maximum height of black rush was 153, 182 and 214 cm respectively in plots one- two- and three- years after burning, compared to 203 cm in unburned plots. Across these plots, black rush comprised only 56–87% of the plant biomass in burned plots (vs 62–94% in unburned plots). Another study area was initially dominated by big cordgrass. It comprised only 1–97% of the plant biomass in burned plots (vs 62–99% in unburned plots). Methods: In early 1977, 1978 or 1979, some plots in rush- or cordgrass-dominated areas of a tidal brackish marsh were burned once. Some additional plots were left unburned. The marsh was historically burned, but not since 1973. Vegetation was surveyed until November 1979. The study does not report further methodological details.
(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
-
Cut/mow herbaceous plants to maintain or restore disturbance: brackish/salt marshes
A controlled study in 1977–1979 in a brackish marsh in Mississippi, USA (Hackney & de la Cruz 1981) reported that cutting reduced black rush Juncus roemerianus height and dominance, and reduced big cordgrass Spartina cynosuroides dominance. Statistical significance was not assessed. In an initially rush-dominated area, black rush reached a maximum height of 130–134 cm in cut plots, in the year following the final cut (vs 203 cm in uncut plots). Rushes comprised only 39–80% of all plant biomass in cut plots (vs 62–94% in uncut plots). In an initially cordgrass-dominated area, cordgrass comprised only 33–97% of all plant biomass in cut plots (vs 61–99% in uncut plots). Methods: Plots in a tidal brackish marsh, dominated by black rush or big cordgrass, were cut once (1979), twice (1978 and 1979) or three times (1977, 1978 and 1979). Some additional plots were left uncut. Cutting was done in winter and cuttings were removed. The marsh was historically burned, but not since 1973. Vegetation was surveyed from April to November 1979. The study does not report further details of the methods.
(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)
)_2023.JPG)
