DOCUMENT

Name:   Ecophysiological Responses of Two Herbaceous Species to Prescribed Burning, alone or in Combination with Overstory Thinning(FFS)

Date Published:  2007

Document Type:  journal article

Brief Description:  In this present study, we examined the effects of prescribed burning alone or combined with overstory thinning on two perennial herbaceous species commonly found in mixed-oak forests in southern Ohio. The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the effects of prescribed fire and thinning on photosynthetic responses and plant resource use strategies, (2) to compare the ecophysiological responses of a dicot with those of a monocot, and (3) to relate leaf-level photosynthetic responses to morphological and nutritional responses, such as specific leaf area and foliar nutrient concentrations.

Complete Description:  Abstract: The oak-rich deciduous forests of the central Appalachian Mountains of eastern North America have changed significantly since the onset of effective fire suppression early in the 20th century. Those changes have resulted in progressively decreasing light and nutrient supplies to herbaceous perennial understory species. Application of ecological restoration treatments such as reintroduction of frequent dormant-season fire and overstory thinning to pre-suppression density often increase light, soil temperature and moisture, and short-term nutrient availability to pre-suppression levels. To persist in this environment, perennial understory herbs must be able to acclimate phenotypically to the very different resource supply combinations present with and without fire suppression. As part of a larger study of the response of the long-lived herbaceous perennials Desmodium nudiflorum and Panicum boscii to ecosystem restoration treatments in Ohio mixed-oak forests, this study examined the ecophysiological effects of prescribed burning (B) and the combination of burning and thinning (T + B) in mixed-oak forests in southern Ohio. Control (C) plants had significantly lower maximum photosynthetic rate (Amax) than those in the treated plots. The enhancement of Amax averaged 26.7% and 52.7% in the B and T�atments, respectively. Plants from the T�ts had higher quantum yield, stomatal conductance, and photosynthetic nutrient use efficiency than B and C plants. B plants had greater intrinsic water use efficiency (WUE) than plants in the C or T�atments. Light saturation point (LSP), light compensation point (LCP), and ‘‘dark’’ respiration (DR) did not differ among treatments. Photosynthetic parameters did vary significantly between the species, but no significant treatment 3 species interactions were detected. Our results support the hypothesis that prescribed burning, especially when combined with overstory thinning, in these perennial herbs can result in phenotypic acclimation characterized by enhanced photosynthetic performance.

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Fire and Fire Surrogate Study (FFS)

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Distribution ®	Format ® Online Source: http://frames.nbii.gov/ffs/documents/vegetation/FFS103-Huang.pdf Fees: none Instructions: This article is available in pdf on the FRAMES website at http://frames.nbii.gov/ffs/documents/vegetation/FFS103-Huang.pdf
Contact Information ®	Individual: Jim McIver Organization: Fire & Fire Surrogates Study FRAMES Position: Address: Telephone: 541-562-5129 Fax: E-mail: james.mciver@oregonstate.edu Hours: Instructions: URL: http://frames.nbii.gov
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Details ®	Created Date: 5/11/2007 Metadata Creator: Chris Szell The Nature Conservancy 6114 Fayetteville Rd Suite 109 Durham, NC  27713  USA (919) 484-7857 Ext. 142 cszell@tnc.org Type: FRAMES document Metadata Version: 1 Security Information: Schema: http://frames.nbii.gov/metadata/documents/documents.xsd
Keyword(s):	FRAMES subject categories fire effects FRAMES subject categories prescribed fire GACC regions Eastern NBII Resource Type Journal Articles none ecophysiological response none ecosystem restoration none FFS none mixed-oak forests none photosynthetic response none thinning
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