scholarly journals Trembling aspen response to a mixed-severity wildfire in the Black Hills, South Dakota, USA

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 2679-2684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara L Keyser ◽  
Frederick W Smith ◽  
Wayne D Shepperd
Keyword(s):  
South Dakota ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Black Hills ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Clone Size ◽  
High Severity ◽  
Production Growth ◽  
Sprout Growth

Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) regeneration dynamics including sprout production, growth, and clone size were measured to determine the effects of fire on small aspen clone persistence following a mixed-severity wildfire in the Black Hills, South Dakota. Four years postfire, 10 small, isolated aspen clones per low and high fire severity classes were compared with 10 unburned clones. Regardless of severity, fire did not cause an increase in the area occupied by individual aspen clones. Clones affected by high severity fire had the greatest suckering response producing an average of 31 930 sprouts·ha–1; more than double the sprout density in unburned clones and 67% greater than the sprout density in clones affected by low severity fire. Sprout growth in high severity clones was 135% and 60% greater than sprout growth in unburned and low severity clones. The succession of these clones to more shade-tolerant ponderosa pine was delayed in clones affected by high severity fire as high severity fire caused significant pine mortality within and surrounding the clone, whereas, without further disturbance, pine encroachment and dominance will likely continue in clones affected by low severity fire.

scholarly journals Growth Response of Pinus ponderosa following a Mixed-Severity Wildfire in the Black Hills, South Dakota

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara L. Keyser ◽  
Frederick W. Smith ◽  
Wayne D. Shepperd
Keyword(s):  
South Dakota ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Growth Response ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Black Hills ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Moderate Severity

Abstract In late summer 2000 the Jasper Fire burned ∼34,000 ha of ponderosa pine forest in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Although regarded as a catastrophic event, the Jasper Fire left a mosaic of fire severity across the landscape, with live trees present in areas burned under low andmoderate fire severity. In October 2005, we cored 96 trees from unburned, low-severity, and moderate-severity stands and assessed whether tree growth differed among fire severity classes during the 5 years postfire. We observed no differences in basal area increment (BAI) 10 years prefireamong fire severities with BAI averaging 9.6 cm2 per year. Despite severe drought conditions, BAI in moderate severity sites 2 years postfire was 58% greater than in unburned and low-severity stands. Although significant, this growth increase was short-lived. Three, 4, and 5 yearspostfire, no differences in growth among unburned, low-severity, and moderate-severity sites were detected, as BAI averaged 8.3, 7.5, and 7.0 cm2, respectively. The lack of a consistent and prolonged growth response suggests that the Jasper Fire did not result in any short-termchanges in growth patterns. Data extending beyond 5 years postfire are required to infer potential long-term changes in tree growth and productivity.

Influence of topography and forest structure on patterns of mixed severity fire in ponderosa pine forests of the South Dakota Black Hills, USA

2006 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leigh B. Lentile ◽  
Frederick W. Smith ◽  
Wayne D. Shepperd
Keyword(s):  
South Dakota ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Fire Effects ◽  
Black Hills ◽  
Burn Severity ◽  
High Severity ◽  
Density Index ◽  
Stand Density Index

We examined the influence of topography and stand structure on fire effects within the perimeter of the ~34 000 ha Jasper fire of 2000 in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.) forests of the South Dakota Black Hills, USA. We used a remotely sensed and field-verified map of post-fire burn severity (accuracy 69%, kappa statistic 0.54), the Digital Elevation Model, and vegetation databases maintained by the Black Hills National Forest to empirically test relationships at 500 randomly located points in each of three severity classes. Burn severity was defined as the relative degree of post-fire change based on fire effects on soil, forest floor, and vegetation. This fire burned rapidly, yet created a patchy mosaic of effects (25, 48, and 27% low, moderate, and high severity). Stands burned by low and moderate severity fire had fewer trees (stand density index <470 with fewer than 230 trees >13 cm diameter at breast height ha–1) and were found on less steep sites (slope < 18%). Denser stands (stand density index >470) with larger trees (average stand diameter >24 cm) or many small trees were more likely to burn with high severity effects. Our results suggest that managers should consider topography and stand structure together when making strategic decisions about which stands to thin or otherwise manage to reduce the severity with which forests will burn in wildfires.

Fire severity effects on soil organic matter from a ponderosa pine forest: a laboratory study

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff A. Hatten ◽  
Darlene Zabowski
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
High Severity ◽  
Hydrophobic Compounds ◽  
C And N ◽  
Labile Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Ponderosa Pine Forest

This study investigated the changes in soil organic matter composition by controlling fire severity of laboratory burns on reconstructed surface soil profiles (O, A1 (0–1 cm), and A2 (1–2 cm)). Laboratory burning simulated prescribed burns that would be typical in the understorey of a ponderosa pine forest at low, moderate, and high–moderate severity levels. Soils were analysed for C, N and soil organic matter composition. Soil organic matter was fractionated into humin, humic acid, fulvic acid, soluble non‐humic materials and other hydrophobic compounds. In the O horizon, low‐, moderate‐, and high‐severity treatments consumed an increasing proportion of C and N. Carbon content of the mineral soil was unaffected by burning; however, N content of the A2 horizon decreased after the moderate‐ and high‐severity treatments, likely as a result of N volatilisation. The proportion of non‐soluble material in the O horizon increased with fire severity, whereas the proportion of humin C as total C of the A horizon decreased with fire severity. The decrease in humin was followed by an increase in the other hydrophobic compounds. The higher fire intensity experienced by the burning O horizon created recalcitrant materials while an increase in labile soil organic matter was observed in mineral soil. An increase in labile soil organic matter may cause elevated C and N mineralisation rates often seen after fire.

scholarly journals A Survey of the Vegetation of Jewel Cave National Monument

1985 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 112-116
Author(s):  
Hollis Marriott ◽  
Ronald Hartman
Keyword(s):  
South Dakota ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
National Park ◽  
Black Hills ◽  
National Monument ◽  
Plateau Area ◽  
Park Service ◽  
Us Forest Service ◽  
Steep Topography ◽  
Ponderosa Pine Forest

Jewel Cave National Monument (hence referred to as JECA) occupies 516 ha on the southwestern edge of the Limestone Plateau area of the Black Hills (Custer Co., South Dakota). Underlain by the resistant Pahasapa limestone (Mississippian), it is characterized by steep topography and deep canyons, with elevations ranging from roughly 1550 to 1750 m above sea level. Ponderosa pine forest dominates the landscape. Much of the forest was logged at least once prior to being incorporated into the Monument during a US Forest Service-National Park Service land swap in the early 1960's. Roughly one quarter section (the "old area") was part of the original Monument and has not been logged.

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