Post-oak fire scars as a function of diameter, growth, and tree age

Abstract

The biological and statistical characteristics of fire scarring will aid in predicting the effects of prescribed fire on trees and in the historical interpretation of past fire occurrences. We measured, tree-ring dated, and characterized 126 fire scars on post-oaks ( Quercus stellata) from The Barrens complex of the Highland Rim, Tennessee, USA. We hypothesized that tree characteristics such as diameter, growth rate, and age would have an effect on the scarring of trees and found that the percent of circumference with cambial damage was a function of diameter, growth rate, and age. We quantified the probability of a tree being scarred using logistic regression that included tree diameter, growth rate, and age as significant independent variables. Post-oaks were more likely to be scarred and survive when they were from 9 to 22 cm in diameter and had a radial growth rate <2 mm per year. Predicting the effects of a prescribed fire on tree damage is particularly important where multiple resource objectives are integrated on a single site such as fire hazard reduction, high-quality timber production, wildlife habitat, and species diversity.