Scientific Coordination and Adaptive Management and Experimental Restoration 0f Longleaf Pine Community Structure, Function, and Composition
Abstract
This report addresses aspects of sandhill restoration in fire-suppressed, longleaf pine-dominated sandhills on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Responses of selected variables to three hardwood reduction techniques (growing season fire, application of hexazinone herbicide, and chainsaw felling/girdling) were compared to control on two measures of community similarity between restoration and reference plots. The selected response variables included densities of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) and oaks (Quercus spp.) of different diameter classes, and variables for soil chemistry, tree species, groundcover vegetation, soil/litter arthropod density, herb-layer arthropod density, and breeding bird species. We detected significant effects of restoration treatments on the similarity between restoration and reference plots for 7 fall variables and 6 spring variables. In a separate study, we measured the effects of Choctawhatchee sand pine (Pinus clausa var. immuginata) removal in sand pine-invaded sandhills. We documented the impact of sand pine removal on groundcover plant species, contrasted results from removal plots to reference sites, tested colonization of sand pine seedlings, and measured longleaf pine seedling survival. Plant species and life form densities increased post harvest; regeneration of sand pine seedlings decreased with distance from plot corners; and survival of planted longleaf pine seedlings was approximately 80%.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA362888
Entities
People
- Jeffrey L. Hardesty