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Sandra Rideout-Hanzak, Ross J. Phillips, Thomas A. Waldrop USDA Forest Service Clemson, SC RWU-SRS-4104

Effects of fire intensity on vegetative composition in Piedmont loblolly-shortleaf pine communities: Preliminary results of the National Fire and Fire Surrogate Study. Sandra Rideout-Hanzak, Ross J. Phillips, Thomas A. Waldrop USDA Forest Service Clemson, SC RWU-SRS-4104 .

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Sandra Rideout-Hanzak, Ross J. Phillips, Thomas A. Waldrop USDA Forest Service Clemson, SC RWU-SRS-4104

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  1. Effects of fire intensity on vegetative composition in Piedmont loblolly-shortleaf pine communities: Preliminary results of the National Fire and Fire Surrogate Study Sandra Rideout-Hanzak, Ross J. Phillips, Thomas A. Waldrop USDA Forest Service Clemson, SC RWU-SRS-4104

  2. National Fire & Fire Surrogate Study • Communities with frequent, low- to moderate-severity fires • More fuels, more small trees and fewer large trees, increased fuel loading • Consequences and trade-offs of fuel reduction techniques USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  3. Eastside Cascades Northern Rockies Blue Mountains Southern Cascades Ohio Hills Central Sierra Southern Sierra Southern Appalachian Mtns Jemez Mountains Southwest Plateau Southeastern Piedmont Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Coastal Plain National Fire and Fire Surrogate Study Site Locations USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  4. RCBD • 3 Blocks (Reps) • 4 Treatments USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  5. Control Burn Only USDA Forest Service SRS-4104 Thin Only Thin&Burn

  6. Treatment Area Layout USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  7. Vegetation Plot USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  8. Treatment Implementation • Thinning • winter 2000-01 • removal of small, merchantable-sized trees, diseased or beetle-infested trees, and others • goal to achieve 18 m2/ha • Burning • Burn only treatments: April 2001 • RH 42-56% • Flame length 1-2 m • Air temp 22-30 degrees C, light S-SW winds • Thin&Burn treatments: March 2002 • RH 42-55% • Flame length up to 1 m • Air temp 18-28 degrees C, light SE-SW winds USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  9. Results Understory differences between four treatments • Life form classes Fire intensity effects in Burn only and Thin & Burn treatments • Life form classes USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  10. Understory composition differences USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  11. Measuring fire intensity • Ceramic tiles with heat-sensitive paint indicate maximum fire temperatures • Temperatures were correlated with post-treatment vegetation in the nearest 1m2 plots. USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  12. Vegetation Plot * * * * * USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  13. Maximum temperatures USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  14. Statistical analysis • Post-treatment percent cover was recorded in cover classes • Median value of each cover class was arcsin transformed to normalize data • ANOVA were performed in SAS Analyst Application • Only temp categories with 3 or more observations were used USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  15. Grass cover by treatment % USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  16. Grass cover by temperature category % USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  17. Grass cover by treatment and temperature % USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  18. Forbs cover by treatment % USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  19. Forbs cover by temperature category % USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  20. Forbs cover by treatment and temperature % USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  21. Shrubs, vines and trees • Significant difference between Thin & Burn and Burn only post treatment cover • No effect of fire intensity on either Burn only or Thin & Burn USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  22. Summary & conclusions • Significant differences in understory percent cover between treatments that included burning and those that did not • Thin & Burn is most effective treatment studied for increasing grasses and forbs • Burn only is more effective than Thin only for increasing grasses and forbs—the hotter the burn, the better • Will early trends remain in future years? USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  23. Cooperators Clemson University Department of Forest Resources Mr. Knight Cox - forest management Dr. David Guynn - wildlife Dr. Roy Hedden - entomology Dr. Steve Jeffers - pathology Dr. Drew Lanham - birds Mr. Steve Perry - forest management Dr. Vic Shelburne – soils Numerous graduate students University of California-Davis Dr. Bruce Hartsough - economics USDA Forest Service-PNW Station Dr. Jamie Barbour - economics and utilization Acknowledgements USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  24. USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  25. Shrub cover by treatment % USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  26. Vine cover by treatment % USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  27. Tree cover by treatment % USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

  28. Understory composition USDA Forest Service SRS-4104

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