Influences of Changing Disturbance Regimes on Forest Structure in Southern Appalachian Landscapes: John Waldron Charles Lafon, David Cairns, Robert Coulson, Maria Tchakerian, Kier Klepzig Photo Credit: C. Lafon Photo Credit: T. Waldrop Causes of Fire: 1. Prehuman: > 12,000 BP Lightning 2. Early Prehistoric: 12,000 BP 1000 AD Lightning Humans- ??? 3. Late Prehistoric: 1,000 AD 1600 AD Lightning Humans- Low Elev. Terraces & Bottomlands, Maize, Settlements 4. Early Historic: 1600 AD 1886 AD Lightning Humans- Agriculture, Small Settlements 5. Late Historic: 1840 AD 1920 AD Humans (Logging/Land Clearing) Lightning 6. Contemporary: 1920 AD - Present Lightning Humans (Arson, Prescribed Burning) LANDIS LANDIS was developed, and continues to be developed, by David Mladenoff & a team of researchers from both the University of Wisconsin & the USDA Forest Service LANDIS (LANdscape DIsturbance and Succession) is designed to meet the following specifications: Raster (cell) based operates regionally with cell sizes ranging from m simulates successional dynamics at 10-year intervals simulates forest change at the species level simulates disturbances by wind, fire, insect/disease and harvesting simulates the interaction between succession and disturbances simultaneously LANDIS Limitations: Cannot model process occurring between individual trees Cannot model process below ten-year intervals No direct consideration of soil type, elevation, topography. Limited to 30 species Does not distinguish between overstory and understorey Only models trees: A perfect world with no Kudzu, Oriental Bittersweet, Mt. Laurel, Rhododendron, etc 1. Determine the LANDTYPE CLASSES (LC) for the project area 2. Create a SPECIES FILE (SF) -Contains information regarding attributes of each species included 3. Create a SPECIES COMPOSITION FILE (SCF) -Listing of communities of species from the SF that are found within each LC 4. Create a SPECIES COMPOSITION MAP (SCM) -A raster map reflecting locations of communities in the SCF 5. Create a FIRE DISTURBANCE FILE (FDF) -This contains information about FIRE Great Smoky Mountains National Park Landtype Classes: Moisture & Elevation Gradient 1. Determine the LANDTYPE CLASSES (LC) for the project area 2. Create a SPECIES FILE (SF) -Contains information regarding attributes of each species included 3. Create a SPECIES COMPOSITION FILE (SCF) -Listing of communities of species from the SF that are found within each LC 4. Create a SPECIES COMPOSITION MAP (SCM) -A raster map reflecting locations of communities in the SCF 5. Create a FIRE DISTURBANCE FILE (FDF) -This contains information about FIRE Dead hemlock creating opening in canopy for Shade Intolerant species Dispersal: Table Mountain Pine Photo Credit: C. Lafon Dispersal: Red Oak Fire Tolerance: Pitch pine 1. Determine the LANDTYPE CLASSES (LC) for the project area 2. Create a SPECIES FILE (SF) -Contains information regarding attributes of each species included 3. Create a SPECIES COMPOSITION FILE (SCF) -Listing of communities of species from the SF that are found within each LC 4. Create a SPECIES COMPOSITION MAP (SCM) -A raster map reflecting locations of communities in the SCF 5. Create a FIRE DISTURBANCE FILE (FDF) -This contains information about FIRE #Red Oak# #abiefras# #acerrubr# #acersacc# #aescocta# #betulent# #betulute# #caryglab# #carytome# #fagugran# #halecaro# #lirituli# #magnfras# #nysssylv# #oxydarbo# #picerube# #pinuechi# #pinupung# #pinurigi# #pinustro# #pinuvirg# #prunpenn#1000 #prunsero# #queralba# #quercocc# #querprin# #querrubr# #quervelu# #robipseu# #tilihete# #tsugcana# Used Individual Species Distributions rather than communities 1. Determine the LANDTYPE CLASSES (LC) for the project area 2. Create a SPECIES FILE (SF) -Contains information regarding attributes of each species included 3. Create a SPECIES COMPOSITION FILE (SCF) -Listing of communities of species from the SF that are found within each LC 4. Create a SPECIES COMPOSITION MAP (SCM) -A raster map reflecting locations of communities in the SCF 5. Create a FIRE DISTURBANCE FILE (FDF) -This contains information about FIRE Coves Canyons Sheltered Slopes NW-ESE-WRidges Peaks Flats Draws ravines 3000 4500 MesicXeric 1. Determine the LANDTYPE CLASSES (LC) for the project area 2. Create a SPECIES FILE (SF) -Contains information regarding attributes of each species included 3. Create a SPECIES COMPOSITION FILE (SCF) -Listing of communities of species from the SF that are found within each LC 4. Create a SPECIES COMPOSITION MAP (SCM) -A raster map reflecting locations of communities in the SCF 5. Create a FIRE DISTURBANCE FILE (FDF) -This contains information about FIRE FIRE 1.Fire is dependant on LandTypes a. Ignition Ignition Density b. Initiation Time Since Last Fire c. Spread Cardinal Directions Maximum Fire Size Barriers 2.Fire is a bottom-up process 12 #landtype name# 5 #mean fire return interval# #fire ignition density# 5 #MFS# 0.001#STD# 10 #last fire disturbance# #fire curve# #fire severity classes# Fire (example) Some Preliminary results Coves Canyons Sheltered Slopes NW-ESE-WRidges Peaks Flats Draws ravines 3000 4500 MesicXeric DiversitySpecialization Low Elevation Coves/Canyons (No Fire) Low Elevation Coves/Canyons (Fire) Low Elevation NW-E Facing Slopes (No Fire) Low Elevation NW-E Facing Slopes (Fire) Low Elevation Ridges & Peaks (No Fire) Low Elevation Ridges & Peaks (Fire) Pitch Pine Forest 1911 Mid Elevation Coves/Canyons (No Fire) Mid Elevation Coves/Canyons (Fire) Mid Elevation SE-W Facing Slopes (No Fire) Mid Elevation SE-W Facing Slopes (Fire) Mid Elevation Ridges & Peaks (No Fire) Mid Elevation Ridges & Peaks (Fire) Southwest section of Big Ridge beginning to get hot Photo Credit: T. Waldrop One day after burning at Big Ridge Photo Credit: T. Waldrop Cones open and drop seed almost immediately after burning Photo Credit: T. Waldrop Six months after burning, seedling are thick in some areas Photo Credit: T. Waldrop Conclusions: Fire is instrumental in shaping the vegetation structure of the Southern Appalachians. Further testing is needed to delineate prehistoric fire regimes in order to adequately restore fire processes. Future Work: Actually a first step in a project on restoring areas that have been Decimated by Southern Pine Beetle -Parameterize LANDIS BDA for SPB -Determine patterns and impacts of SPB disturbance -Model restoration scenarios with and without fire Acknowledgements: Project Team: Charles Lafon, David Cairns, Bob Coulson, Kier Klepzig, Maria Tchakerian Henry McNab, David Loftis: Bent Creek Experimental Forest Jim Vose: Coweeta Hydrologic Lab Brian Sturtevant : North Central Forest Experiment Station Rob Scheller: University of Wisconsin THANK YOU