Long-term (13-year) effects of repeated prescribed fires on stand structure and tree regeneration in mixed-oak forests

The survival and growth of oak advance regeneration is often limited by shade-tolerant species that are abundant in the understory of oak stands. Evidence of historic burning has prompted the use of prescribed fire as a tool to improve the competitive status of oak regeneration in mature stands. A primary shortfall of fire effects research in oak forests has been a lack of long-term studies on the effects of multiple fires. Here we describe the effects of repeated fires on stand structure and tree regeneration over a 13-year period in mature mixed-oak forests located in southern Ohio, USA. Three stands were burned 3–5 times from 1996 to 2005 with low-intensity dormant-season fires, and two stands remained unburned. Woody vegetation was sampled periodically on nine 0.125 ha plots per stand. Plots were located across the upland landscape and were characterized by an Integrated Moisture Index. Fire altered stand structure by reducing the density of large saplings (3.0–9.9 cm DBH) and midstory trees (10–25 cm DBH) by 76% and 34%, respectively. Fire had little impact on trees >25 cm DBH. Small saplings (1.4 m tall to 2.9 cm DBH) were dynamic over time on dry plots that were burned. After being repeatedly topkilled from year 1–8, the small sapling layer had redeveloped on dry burned plots by year 13 and species composition had shifted from dominance by shade-tolerant species to a more equal distribution of shade-tolerants, oaks + hickories, and sassafras. The density of oak + hickory and sassafras advance regeneration (stems 30 cm tall to 2.9 cm DBH) was significantly greater on burned plots than on unburned plots in year 13, though variability among plots was high. Advance regeneration of shade-tolerant species was equally abundant on burned and unburned plots. Density of oak + hickory advance regeneration in year 13 was positively related to its weighted frequency (a surrogate for size and abundance) in year 0 (r2 = 0.67, p < 0.0001) and inversely related to stand density (r2 = 0.33, p < 0.0001) and canopy cover (r2 = 0.31, p < 0.0001), both of which were reduced by fire. Although oak + hickory advance regeneration was more abundant on burned plots, we conclude that other methods (e.g., herbicide, partial cutting) are necessary to further reduce stand density and promote the development of larger oak + hickory regeneration, particularly on mesic sites.

► The effects of prescribed fire were studied in Ohio mixed-oak forests. ► Fire reduced sapling and midstory density by 76% and 34%, respectively. ► Small saplings of oak + hickory increased on dry burned plots only. ► Oak + hickory advance regeneration was more abundant on burned plots. ► Partial cutting or herbicide are needed to develop larger oak + hickory regeneration.