16A.16
S,N - The Oak - Fire Hypothesis: Theory and Application
Patrick Brose, USDA Forest Service, Irvine, PA; and D. Van Lear
Throughout eastern North America, there is considerable difficulty in regenerating mixed-oak forests, especially on productive upland sites. An emerging hypothesis for this intractable, widespread oak regeneration problem is that fire played a crucial role in perpetuating mixed-oak forests. The fire - oak hypothesis consists of four parts: 1) periodic, low-intensity surface fires were common prior to European settlement due to Indian burning practices; 2) oaks are directly and indirectly adapted to this disturbance regime; 3) cessation of that regime is at least partly responsible for oak regeneration difficulties; and 4) prescribed fire can be successfuly used to regenerate mixed-oak forests.
This paper highlights the science supporting the first three parts of the fire - oak hypothesis but concentrates on presenting guidelines for using prescribed fire to establish and release oak regeneration on productive upland sites.
Session 16A, Other
Wednesday, 9 October 2002, 1:30 PM-1:30 AM
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