Forest Structure and Fire History at Lake Arcadia, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma (1820–2014)
Evidence indicates that the structure of Oklahoma Cross Timbers forests are in transition due to changing climate, land-use patterns, and fire suppression efforts. However, only a handful of studies have addressed the history of fire across the Oklahoma Cross Timbers landscape. This research adds to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Oklahoma Native Plant Society
2015-12-01
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| Series: | Oklahoma Native Plant Record |
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| Online Access: | http://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/ONPR/article/view/6279/5773 |
| _version_ | 1818263139814211584 |
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| author | Chad B. King |
| author_facet | Chad B. King |
| author_sort | Chad B. King |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Evidence indicates that the structure of Oklahoma Cross Timbers forests are in transition due to changing climate, land-use patterns, and fire suppression efforts. However, only a handful of studies have addressed the history of fire across the Oklahoma Cross Timbers landscape. This research adds to the body of literature by studying the contemporary forest structure and fire history at Lake Arcadia in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. Results demonstrate that post oak (Quercus stellata Wangenh.) and blackjack oak (Q. marilandica Münchh.), two common species in Oklahoma Cross Timbers, dominate the forest. However, several mesophytic tree species are found in the overstory as well as the sapling layer of the forest. A total of 25 fire events (mean fire interval = 4.14 years) were documented during the 20th century using fire-scar analysis of Q. stellata trees and remnant wood (stumps, snags, recently dead trees). High fire frequencies in the early to mid-20th century corresponded to the recruitment of Q. stellata and Q. marilandica. Wet conditions (PDSI > 0) during the late 20th century and no fires after 1985 corresponded to the recruitment of non-oak, mesophytic species at the study site. The results of this study suggest that changes in fire frequency and moisture availability are contributing to changes in tree density and species composition at the study site. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T19:14:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-618af82119154136aadd224b46b88fd5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1536-7738 1536-7738 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T19:14:16Z |
| publishDate | 2015-12-01 |
| publisher | Oklahoma Native Plant Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Oklahoma Native Plant Record |
| spelling | doaj.art-618af82119154136aadd224b46b88fd52022-12-22T00:14:45ZengOklahoma Native Plant SocietyOklahoma Native Plant Record1536-77381536-77382015-12-01151193010.22488/okstate.17.100112Forest Structure and Fire History at Lake Arcadia, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma (1820–2014)Chad B. King0University of Central OklahomaEvidence indicates that the structure of Oklahoma Cross Timbers forests are in transition due to changing climate, land-use patterns, and fire suppression efforts. However, only a handful of studies have addressed the history of fire across the Oklahoma Cross Timbers landscape. This research adds to the body of literature by studying the contemporary forest structure and fire history at Lake Arcadia in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. Results demonstrate that post oak (Quercus stellata Wangenh.) and blackjack oak (Q. marilandica Münchh.), two common species in Oklahoma Cross Timbers, dominate the forest. However, several mesophytic tree species are found in the overstory as well as the sapling layer of the forest. A total of 25 fire events (mean fire interval = 4.14 years) were documented during the 20th century using fire-scar analysis of Q. stellata trees and remnant wood (stumps, snags, recently dead trees). High fire frequencies in the early to mid-20th century corresponded to the recruitment of Q. stellata and Q. marilandica. Wet conditions (PDSI > 0) during the late 20th century and no fires after 1985 corresponded to the recruitment of non-oak, mesophytic species at the study site. The results of this study suggest that changes in fire frequency and moisture availability are contributing to changes in tree density and species composition at the study site.http://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/ONPR/article/view/6279/5773fire historyCross Timbersdendroecology |
| spellingShingle | Chad B. King Forest Structure and Fire History at Lake Arcadia, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma (1820–2014) Oklahoma Native Plant Record fire history Cross Timbers dendroecology |
| title | Forest Structure and Fire History at Lake Arcadia, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma (1820–2014) |
| title_full | Forest Structure and Fire History at Lake Arcadia, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma (1820–2014) |
| title_fullStr | Forest Structure and Fire History at Lake Arcadia, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma (1820–2014) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Forest Structure and Fire History at Lake Arcadia, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma (1820–2014) |
| title_short | Forest Structure and Fire History at Lake Arcadia, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma (1820–2014) |
| title_sort | forest structure and fire history at lake arcadia oklahoma county oklahoma 1820 2014 |
| topic | fire history Cross Timbers dendroecology |
| url | http://ojs.library.okstate.edu/osu/index.php/ONPR/article/view/6279/5773 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chadbking foreststructureandfirehistoryatlakearcadiaoklahomacountyoklahoma18202014 |