Factors Affecting the Regrowth of <i>Ilex glabra</i> in a Routinely Burned Longleaf Forest

<p>This study examines the effects of historical management by use of prescribed fire on <em>Ilex glabra</em> stems/m² and factors affecting the regrowth of <em>I. glabra</em> after a prescribed burn to gain beneficial knowledge for management purposes. Environmental factors and morphological parameters of <em>I. glabra</em> were sampled before and after a prescribed burn of the Longleaf Trace Nature Preserve in September 2016. The study site is located in Lamar County, Mississippi, just west of Hattiesburg, MS. Stem densities of <em>I. glabra</em> were collected once before the prescribed burn and twice after the prescribed burn at 2 month and 9 month intervals. Soil moisture, soil texture, maximum soil surface temperature during the fire, leaf area index at 0m and 1.5m before and after the burn, common woody species presence, and <em>I. glabra</em> stem diameter and height were tested for effects on post burn regeneration of <em>I. glabra</em>. Frequently burned areas had a significantly higher (F_1,67= 22.95, p< 9.6e-06, R²= 0.255) <em>I. glabra</em> stem density. Maximum soil surface temperature during the fire had a negative correlation (F_1,34= 10.76, p= 0.002, R²= 0.24) with <em>I. glabra</em> stem/m² at 2 months post burn. Average <em>I. glabra</em> stem diameter had a positive correlation (F_1,37= 4.58, p= 0.039, R²= 0.11) with the average number of sprouts produced per <em>I. glabra </em>stem at 2 months post burn. Pre-fire <em>I. glabra</em> densities had a positive correlation (F_1,37= 17.62, p< 0.0002, R²= 0.322) with stem densitites at 9 months post fire. Early management of<em> I. glabra</em> populations is important to keep the plant numbers manageable. Prescribed burning should aim to increase the intensity/residency time of the fire to increase effective damage/shock to <em>I. glabra</em> rootstocks.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biological Sciences

Year dc:date.available

2018

Author dc:creator

• Price, Jaybus

Contributors dc:contributor

• Micheal Davis
• Kevin Kuehn
• Frank Heitmuller

• longleaf pine
• ilex glabra
• gallberry
• prescribed burn
• fire
• management
• Agricultural Science
• Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Other Plant Sciences
• Plant Biology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/352

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:aquila.usm.edu:masters_theses-1389