The role of fire in succession on experimentally burned sites.

Abstract

Sites that had been experimentally burned in 1936, 1948, 1954, and 1980, as well as a plot that is believed to have burned naturally in 1911 were studied. Frequency of all species found in 100 1 meter square quadrats was calculated. In addition a similarity index between plots was calculated. A decrease in the frequency of Populus grandidentata, an early successional species, and an increase in the frequency of Acer rubrum, a later successional species was found. The similarity index showed a weak trend toward decreasing similarity with increasing age between plots. It is suggested that succession toward the community thought to be typical of presettlement conditions is occurring. However, a low frequency of Pinus sp. was noted and considered to be due to lack of seed source at the experimental sites.