Survival of Trees After Low‐Intensity Surface Fires In Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Abstract

The importance of bark thickness, diameter, and growth rate in determining tree survival following low—intensity of surface fires was examined in xeric pine and oak forests of western Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Bark thickness at breast and ground levels increased with dbh, and tree survival of low—intensity surface fires increased with bark thickness. Equations relating bark thickness, survival, diameter, and diameter growth rate were used to estimate the time required to grow a tree with a 50% chance of surviving a low—intensity surface fire. The mean prepark fire return interval of 10 yr favored fast—growing, thick—barked tree species over thin—barked, slow—growing species. Fire suppression since 1940 has allowed thin—barked, slow—growing species to grow into size—classes that are resistant to fire. This indicates restoration of the prepark fire interval alone will not restore the prepark forest structure.