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Dynamics of vegetation and soils of oak/saw palmetto scrub after fire: Observations from permanent transectsTen permanent 15 m transects previously established in two oak/saw palmetto scrub stands burned in December 1986, while two transects remained unburned. Vegetation in the greater than 0.5 m and the less than 0.5 m layers on these transects was sampled at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months postburn and determined structural features of the vegetation (height, percent bare ground, total cover). The vegetation data were analyzed from each sampling by height layer using detrended correspondence analysis ordination. Vegetation data for the greater than 0.5 m layer for the entire time sequence were combined and analyzed using detrended correspondence analysis ordination. Soils were sampled at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postburn and analyzed for pH, conductivity, organic matter, exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K, Na), NO3-N, NH4-N, Al, available metals (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn), and PO4-P. Shrub species recovered at different rates postfire with saw palmetto reestablishing cover greater than 0.5 m within one year, but the scrub oaks had not returned to preburn cover greater than 0.5 m in 3 years after the fire. These differences in growth rates resulted in dominance shifts after the fire with saw palmetto increasing relative to the scrub oaks. Overall changes in species richness were minor, although changes occurred in species richness by height layers due to different growth rates. Soils of well drained and poorly drained sites differed markedly. Soil responses to the fire appeared minor. Soil pH increased at 6 and 12 months postfire; calcium increased at 6 months postburn. Nitrate-nitrogen increased at 12 months postburn. Low values of conductivity, PO4-P, Mg, K, Na, and Fe at 12 months postburn may be related to heavy rainfall the preceding month. Seasonal variability in some soil parameters appeared to occur.
Document ID
19910012322
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Schmalzer, Paul A.
(Bionetics Corp. Cocoa Beach, FL., United States)
Hinkle, G. Ross
(Bionetics Corp. Cocoa Beach, FL., United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 25, 1991
Subject Category
Environment Pollution
Report/Patent Number
NASA-TM-103817
NAS 1.15:103817
Accession Number
91N21635
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS10-11624
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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