Effect of fire intensity on understory composition and diversity in aKalmia-dominated oak forest, New England, USA
✍ Scribed by Ducey, Mark J. ;Moser, W. Keith ;Ashton, P. Mark S.
- Publisher
- Springer-Verlag
- Year
- 1996
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 611 KB
- Volume
- 123
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1573-5052
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✦ Synopsis
This study investigates the understory dynamics of two mixed-oak stands following fire of varying intensity. Composition and diversity of woody and herbaceous species in the understory were measured in two stands 7-8 years after a prescribed burn. On both sites, unburned areas, low-intensity fire areas, and areas where the overstory had been severely damaged were measured. Patterns of species presence and absence following fire were consistent with an initial-floristics model. Most species increased in density and frequency following fire; only Aralia nudicaulis and Quercus alba showed statistically significant decreases in density. Overall, 29 species increased in density following fire, while 8 declined; 29 species increased in frequency, while 6 declined. However, diversity and equitability measures were depressed on the moderately burned sites, due to rapid regrowth of Kalmia latifolia. Ordination using binary discriminant analysis suggested species responded individualistically to both burning and site variation.