Shenandoah National Park is working on a GIS model to prioritize burn units and define desired future conditions for fire dependent vegetation. In the past, many prescribed fire projects have been developed with operational considerations and not ecological suitability or fire dependence. This project is similar to GIS models developed at Eglin AFB, Camp Lejeune, Fort Hood and the Pisgah NF.

Along with the GIS model, we are looking for input on target values for each of the strata that we currently monitor. We are working with a professor from Penn State University and have obtained a few target values for xeric Oak sites. We are trying to quantify similar target ranges for Yellow Pine sites. We realize that it is going to be very site dependent, but any information will help us develop target thresholds. Can anyone provide information or let us know where we may find it?

Data we often collect includes:
1.) Yellow Pine seedlings per/ha (<60 cm OR >60cm in height)
2.) Pole Tree Density (<2.5 cm >15 cm in height)
3.) BA Overstory Trees (>15 cm dbh)
4.) % Herb Cover
5.) Shrub cover
6.) Non-Native species cover

Thank you.

Melissa Forder
540-999-3500 ext. 3323
Melissa_Forder@nps.gov

Can you give me a little more information about the condition of the YP stands you are targeting? Fore example, open woodlands maintained by fire or stands as they occur today without fire? Thanks

Many park stands have low pine cover following infestations of the southern pine beetle. Stand composition varies from an open shrubland without an overstory (from pine beetle infestations) to a closed canopy due to aggressive fire suppression. Pitch pine is the dominant pine in most stands with a few stands dominated by table mountain pine or codominated by both species. Overstory pines (>15 cm dbh) have been sampled at 50 stems/acre with no pine regeneration (saplings or seedlings) in areas that have been fire suppressed. Chestnut oak is always codominant with the pines. Other tree species include scarlet oak, blackjack oak, American chestnut, white pine, blackgum and sassafras. The shrub layer is dense to very dense with bear oak, mountain laurel, huckleberry, blueberry and deerberry. The herb layer is depauperate but includes bracken fern, carex and panic grass. Elevations typically range from 1550 – 3000 feet. Most of the pine sites are found in pockets of larger dry oak sites. These pine sites were clearly larger before the SPB and the advent of fire suppression. The dry oak sites are now dominated in the midstory by mesophytic species including red maple, black gum and sassafras with very little oak regeneration. Oak seedlings still persist in the understory but don’t seem to make it to the midstory.

Pat Brose, Helen Mohr and I have been involved in a lot of burning of this type of stand. I am not sure that I can provide the exact numbers that you are looking for but we can start the discussion with the results of those burns. See the papers that I am posting links to. They describe regeneration success after burning. Also, Pat has done a lot of dendrochronology work in these stands and his papers might come closer to defining the DFCs that you want. I will post those links too. If these do not have your answers, let everyone know. We will then need to rely on experience rather than research. I will also contact Pat and try to get him involved in this discussion.


http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/ja/ja_waldrop004.pdf
http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/gtr/gtr ... aldrop.pdf
http://www.srs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr_s ... 21_069.pdf
http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/jrnl/2010 ... se_002.pdf
http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/ja/ja_waldrop006.pdf