Insight into the roles of prescribed fire and hardwood competition in the survival and growth of shortleaf pine throughout its early life
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Shortleaf pine is an economically and ecologically important species that was once prevalent across the southeastern United States, and there is growing interest in its restoration throughout its former range. One challenge with restoring shortleaf pine is competition from hardwoods. In Missouri specifically, many sites formerly occupied by shortleaf pine are now dominated by oak species with established and highly competitive advanced regeneration. Prescribed fire is a tool often used in shortleaf pine management, with varying effects at different life stages. This dissertation incorporates results from four studies on the early life stages of shortleaf pine in the Missouri Ozarks. The first study examined the direct and indirect effects of fire on shortleaf pine seeds. The second study focuses on survival, sprouting, and growth following prescribed burning of shortleaf pine and oak seedlings and saplings of various sizes from 0-15 cm basal diameter, and can be used to help managers determine the best time to use prescribed fire to manage for shortleaf pine success in mixed oak-pine forests. The third focuses on the growth and survival of planted shortleaf pine seedlings under a range of overstory conditions and highlights the importance of competitive status relative to hardwood competition for survival of shortleaf pine regeneration during their first decade. The fourth study uses tree-ring analysis to study growth response of shortleaf pine planted following a 2002 tornado in two stands with different known histories of management activities, specifically prescribed burning and mechanical release, across a range of competition levels. Taken together these findings provide insight into the roles of prescribed fire and hardwood competition in the survival and growth of shortleaf pine throughout its early life.
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Ph. D.