Prescribed Fire First-Order Effects on Oak and Maple Reproduction in Frequently Burned Upland Oak–Hickory Forests of the Arkansas Ozarks

Abstract

Alteration of the fire regime in upland oak–hickory (Quercus L. spp.–Carya Nutt. spp.) forests of the Central Hardwood Region is a major factor for the current shifts in species’ composition and oak recruitment and regeneration failures. The reintroduction of fire into these ecosystems requires a better understanding of fire effects on oak and co-occurring competitors. First-order (i.e., during and immediately after) fire effects on oak and red maple (Acer rubrum L.) topkill and resprouting at neighborhood scales were evaluated in frequently burned upland oak–hickory forests. A groundline threshold of 5 cm provided oaks with high (60%) survival probability (p < 0.001). White (Quercus alba L.) and post (Quercus stellata Wangenh.) oak survival odds were 21 and 14 times higher than that of red maple (p = 0.01 and 0.03), respectively. Three and twelve months after burn, oaks had three to six times more sprouts per clump than red maple. Frequent fires may continue to topkill the maples, while maintaining oak dominance in the reproduction pool and, thus, providing higher recruitment potential into the overstory. Burns with fire behavior that is very low to low in these frequently burned systems may provide greater control in favoring oaks and selecting against red maple, especially if groundline diameter thresholds are considered.