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Title: Tree Mortality following Prescribed Fire and a Storm Surge Event in Slash Pine ( Pinus elliottii var. densa ) Forests in the Florida Keys, USA

Abstract

In fire-dependent forests, managers are interested in predicting the consequences of prescribed burning on postfire tree mortality. We examined the effects of prescribed fire on tree mortality in Florida Keys pine forests, using a factorial design with understory type, season, and year of burn as factors. We also used logistic regression to model the effects of burn season, fire severity, and tree dimensions on individual tree mortality. Despite limited statistical power due to problems in carrying out the full suite of planned experimental burns, associations with tree and fire variables were observed. Post-fire pine tree mortality was negatively correlated with tree size and positively correlated with char height and percent crown scorch. Unlike post-fire mortality, tree mortality associated with storm surge from Hurricane Wilma was greater in the large size classes. Due to their influence on population structure and fuel dynamics, the size-selective mortality patterns following fire and storm surge have practical importance for using fire as a management tool in Florida Keys pinelands in the future, particularly when the threats to their continued existence from tropical storms and sea level rise are expected to increase.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Southeast Environmental Research Center (SERC), Florida International University, University Park, Miami, FL 33199, USA
  2. Southeast Environmental Research Center (SERC), Florida International University, University Park, Miami, FL 33199, USA, Department of Earth and Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
  3. US Geological Survey, Florida Integrated Science Center, Ochopee, FL 34141, USA
  4. Department of Earth and Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
Publication Date:
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1198274
Resource Type:
Published Article
Journal Name:
International Journal of Forestry Research (Print)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: International Journal of Forestry Research (Print) Journal Volume: 2010; Journal ID: ISSN 1687-9368
Publisher:
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Country of Publication:
Egypt
Language:
English

Citation Formats

Sah, Jay P., Ross, Michael S., Snyder, James R., and Ogurcak, Danielle E.. Tree Mortality following Prescribed Fire and a Storm Surge Event in Slash Pine ( Pinus elliottii var. densa ) Forests in the Florida Keys, USA. Egypt: N. p., 2010. Web. doi:10.1155/2010/204795.
Sah, Jay P., Ross, Michael S., Snyder, James R., & Ogurcak, Danielle E.. Tree Mortality following Prescribed Fire and a Storm Surge Event in Slash Pine ( Pinus elliottii var. densa ) Forests in the Florida Keys, USA. Egypt. https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/204795
Sah, Jay P., Ross, Michael S., Snyder, James R., and Ogurcak, Danielle E.. Fri . "Tree Mortality following Prescribed Fire and a Storm Surge Event in Slash Pine ( Pinus elliottii var. densa ) Forests in the Florida Keys, USA". Egypt. https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/204795.
@article{osti_1198274,
title = {Tree Mortality following Prescribed Fire and a Storm Surge Event in Slash Pine ( Pinus elliottii var. densa ) Forests in the Florida Keys, USA},
author = {Sah, Jay P. and Ross, Michael S. and Snyder, James R. and Ogurcak, Danielle E.},
abstractNote = {In fire-dependent forests, managers are interested in predicting the consequences of prescribed burning on postfire tree mortality. We examined the effects of prescribed fire on tree mortality in Florida Keys pine forests, using a factorial design with understory type, season, and year of burn as factors. We also used logistic regression to model the effects of burn season, fire severity, and tree dimensions on individual tree mortality. Despite limited statistical power due to problems in carrying out the full suite of planned experimental burns, associations with tree and fire variables were observed. Post-fire pine tree mortality was negatively correlated with tree size and positively correlated with char height and percent crown scorch. Unlike post-fire mortality, tree mortality associated with storm surge from Hurricane Wilma was greater in the large size classes. Due to their influence on population structure and fuel dynamics, the size-selective mortality patterns following fire and storm surge have practical importance for using fire as a management tool in Florida Keys pinelands in the future, particularly when the threats to their continued existence from tropical storms and sea level rise are expected to increase.},
doi = {10.1155/2010/204795},
journal = {International Journal of Forestry Research (Print)},
number = ,
volume = 2010,
place = {Egypt},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2010},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2010}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/204795

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