Document: ELA-3-68-33

Wound characteristics in common Central Hardwoods trees after prescribed burning.

KENNEDY SUTHERLAND, E.* ¹ and K.T.SMITH ²

USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station ¹
USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station ²

Abstract:
Resistance to wounding and spread of decay may be important predictors of forest composition in high-frequency fire regimes in Central Hardwoods forests. We evaluated the patterns of wounding and wound characteristics following multiple prescribed fires in hardwood trees in southern Ohio. One 30 ha plot was burned four times (annually, 1996 to 1999) and another, twice (1996 & 1999). Five common potential overstory species or related groups were identified, including members of the white oak group (Quercus alba and Q. prinus), the red oak group (Q. coccinea, Q. rubra, Q. velutina), Carya sp., Acer rubrum, and Liriodendron tulipifera. Five individuals (20-30cm DBH) with scorched bark from each group were felled and dissected on each burning treatment. Wounding was defined as the death of the vascular cambium. 90% of sampled trees were wounded by the fires, but most wounds were small (<3cm) and near the ground. Nine of ten Acer rubrum trees were wounded. A. rubrum trees had the largest wounds, wounds were open, and had extensive discoloration. Conversely, red oaks had smaller but several (up to five) wounds. Oak wounds were closed within a year or two of wounding and had limited discoloration. Carya sp. were intermediate in wounding and response patterns. These results are evidence that the ability to resist wounding and decay from mechanical damage such as fire are important predictors of species composition in hardwood forests.

Keywords: prescribed fire, Central Hardwoods, wounding, decay, _Quercus alba_, _Quercus prinus_, _Quercus coccinea_, _Quercus rubra_, _Quercus velutina_, _Carya_, _Acer rubrum_, _Liriodendron tulipifera_

This abstract is being presented at: 2:30 PM in session:
Oral Session #35: Fire Ecology.