Shortleaf Pine and Fire

Paper Summary:

The paper examines the effects of wildland and prescribed fire on the ecosystems of eastern and midwestern forests in the US. The paper discusses three detrimental effects of fire on an ecological system in general and then focuses on the shortleaf pine species and explains how the shortleaf pine actually benefits from both wildland and prescribed fire in a number of ways. The paper does note, however, that caution is needed to ensure that prescribed fires are performed properly. The paper includes a map and a table.

From the Paper:

"First, it is important to understand what makes up the shortleaf pine species. The shortleaf pine, scientifically named Pinus echinata, is a member of the Pinaceae family of trees. It is the most common of the southern yellow pines, with an average height between 70 and 100 feet. The trunk, on average, is between one and a half and three feet. It is considered one of the larger pines, and has a broad, open crown. The needles of the species are slender and flexible, and vary from dark blue to light green in color. They are often between two and four inches in length, with two or three in each needle bundle. The cones of the shortleaf pine are long and egg-shaped, dull brown in color, and vary from one and one half to three inches in length. The cones remain attached following maturity, but do open at that time to reveal thin, keeled scales with small prickles (Farjon, 2001)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Danter, J. Fire Dependant Ecosystems of the United States [Internet]. 2005 [cited Nov. 18, 2007]. Available from: http://www.nifc.gov/preved/comm_guide/wildfire/fire_6.html.
• Elliott, K. J. and Vose, J.M. 2005. Long term patterns in vegetation-site relationships in a southern Appalachian forest. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 126:320-334.
• Farjon, A. 2001. World Checklist and Bibliography of Conifers. 2nd edition. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
• Gilmore, G. Prescribed Fire for Forest Regeneration [Internet]. 2007 [cited Nov. 18, 2007]. Available from: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/sfrmp/documents/TimberRegen_Prescribed_Fire_Guidelines.pdf.
• Halls, L.K. 1977. Pines Pinus. In: Lowell K. Halls, editor. Southern Fruit-Producing Woody Plants Used by Wildlife. USDA Forest Service, General Technical Report SO-16. Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, LA.

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