Simulating the Impacts of Southern Pine Beetle and Fire on the Dynamics of Xerophytic Pine Landscapes in the Southern Appalachians
Waldron JD, Lafon CW, Coulson RN, Cairns DM, Tchakerian MD, Birt A, Klepzig KD. 2007. Simulating the Impacts of Southern Pine Beetle and Fire on the Dynamics of Xerophytic Pine Landscapes in the Southern Appalachians. Applied Vegetation Science. 10(1):53-64
ABSTRACT: We used LANDIS to model vegetation disturbance and succession on four grids representative of xeric landscapes in the southern Appalachians. Forest dynamics of each landscape were simulated under three disturbance scenarios: southern pine beetle, fire, and southern pine beetle and fire, as well as a no disturbance scenario. We compared trends in the abundance of pine and hardwood functional types as well as individual species. Results: Yellow pine abundance and open woodland conditions were best maintained by a combination of fire and southern pine beetle disturbance on both low elevation sites as well as mid‐elevation ridges & peaks. On mid‐elevation SE‐W facing slopes, pine woodlands were best maintained by fire alone. Conclusions: Our simulations suggest that fire can help maintain open pine woodlands in stands affected by southern pine beetle outbreaks.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Waldron, J; Lafon, C; Coulson, R; Cairns, D; Tchakerian, M; Birt, A; Klepzig, K
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, Coleoptera, Dendroctonus frontalis, fire, Forest disturbance, Forest restoration, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, GRSM-00390, Insecta, LANDIS, Landscape modeling, Pinus, SER, Southeast Region, southern pine beetle, Vegetation dynamics