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Simulating the impacts of southern pine beetle and fire on the dynamics of xerophytic pine landscapes in the southern Appalachians
Author(s) -
Waldron J.D.,
Lafon C.W.,
Coulson R.N.,
Cairns D.M.,
Tchakerian M.D.,
Birt A.,
Klepzig K.D.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
applied vegetation science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.096
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1654-109X
pISSN - 1402-2001
DOI - 10.1111/j.1654-109x.2007.tb00503.x
Subject(s) - woodland , deserts and xeric shrublands , disturbance (geology) , mountain pine beetle , ecological succession , ecology , abundance (ecology) , vegetation (pathology) , geography , environmental science , prescribed burn , fire regime , forestry , biology , habitat , ecosystem , medicine , paleontology , pathology
Question: Can fire be used to maintain Yellow pine ( Pinus subgenus Diploxylon ) stands disturbed by periodic outbreaks of southern pine beetle? Location: Southern Appalachian Mountains, USA. Methods: We used LANDIS to model vegetation disturbance and succession on four grids representative of xeric landscapes in the southern Appalachians. Forest dynamics of each landscape were simulated under three disturbance scenarios: southern pine beetle, fire, and southern pine beetle and fire, as well as a no disturbance scenario. We compared trends in the abundance of pine and hardwood functional types as well as individual species. Results: Yellow pine abundance and open woodland conditions were best maintained by a combination of fire and southern pine beetle disturbance on both low elevation sites as well as mid‐elevation ridges & peaks. On mid‐elevation SE‐W facing slopes, pine woodlands were best maintained by fire alone. Conclusions: Our simulations suggest that fire can help maintain open pine woodlands in stands affected by southern pine beetle outbreaks.