Gilliam, F.S. Chronic Exclusion of Fire in Longleaf Pine Stands of an Urban Interface: The University of West Florida Campus Ecosystem Study. Forests2023, 14, 1125.
Gilliam, F.S. Chronic Exclusion of Fire in Longleaf Pine Stands of an Urban Interface: The University of West Florida Campus Ecosystem Study. Forests 2023, 14, 1125.
Gilliam, F.S. Chronic Exclusion of Fire in Longleaf Pine Stands of an Urban Interface: The University of West Florida Campus Ecosystem Study. Forests2023, 14, 1125.
Gilliam, F.S. Chronic Exclusion of Fire in Longleaf Pine Stands of an Urban Interface: The University of West Florida Campus Ecosystem Study. Forests 2023, 14, 1125.
Abstract
The dependence of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystems on fire is well-understood, and anthropogenic alteration of fire cycles within its natural range has contributed to its decline. This is increasingly exacerbated in areas of urban interfaces, wherein use of prescribed fire can be problematic. The purpose of this study—the University of West Florida Campus Ecosystem Study—was to examine effects of fire exclusion on longleaf pine in the unique urban interface of a university campus. This was conceived as an interconnected series of investigations on the main campus and three associated natural areas that comprise remnant longleaf stands following cessation of widespread longleaf pine harvesting ~120 years ago. This period of chronic fire exclusion has allowed for a distinct shift in stand structure and composition. The open, savanna-like structure of fire-maintained longleaf stands has transitioned into closed-canopy forests with the increased prevalence of southern evergreen oaks (especially live oak—Quercus virginiana) and Magnolia spp., resulting in complete absence of longleaf regeneration. Fire exclusion has also appeared to have decreased soil fertility. Significant variation in mean age of longleaf pine stems of the main campus and natural areas suggest that the natural areas were likely under separate ownership with contrasting land-use history prior to purchase by the State of Florida for campus construction in 1963.
Keywords
longleaf pine; urban interface; fire exclusion
Subject
Biology and Life Sciences, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
