The impact of broadcast burning and fire severity on species composition and abundance of surface vegetation in a jack pine ( Pinus banksiana) clear-cut

Abstract

Species composition and abundance of surface vegetation was examined within 4-year-old jack pine ( Pinus banksiana Lamb.) clear-cuts and clear-cuts treated with prescribed burning. Six unique species including Diervilla Lonicera Mill., Convulvulus spithameus L., Erigeron canadensis L., Salix spp., Viola adunca J.W. Smith and Rubus allegheniensis Porter were found solely within burned-over sites whereas only one species, Linnea borealis L., was exclusive to unburned areas. Fire severity levels were associated with the occurrence of buried seed species such as Salix spp. and Viola adunca J.W. Smith while most vegetative species occurred independent of severity. Abundance of deeply buried vegetatively reproducing species, including Prunus pumila L., Vaccinium angustifolium Ait., Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn, Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx., Kalmia angustifolia L. and the seed species Panicum xanthophysum A. Gray and Carex houghtonii (Torr.), varied significantly with fire severity.