Suppress or kill regeneration of mesic tree species.Burn the stand to kill young maples and promote young oaks that vigorously re-sprout.Wait 3 – 5 years for oak sprouts and seedlings to establish strong root systems.Partial harvest canopy to release regeneration of all species.Multiple burns over a decade or more are needed to positively influence oak regeneration Make seedbed less desirable for mesic tree species.Spring groundstory fires at multiple intervals (3-5 years).Summary of prescribed fire uses in oak forests in the eastern United States. Fires should be low-intensity and occur in late winter or early spring over multiple intervals (every 3-5 years). Single fires conducted in closed-canopy stands have little impact in the short term, but multiple burns eventually benefit oaks in the long term (Table 1), especially when followed by a canopy disturbance. Strategic use of prescribed fire (Table 1) and deer exclosure fences can be used by park managers to promote oak regeneration. The oak leaves are slow to decompose and are an excellent fuel source for low-intensity surface fires that further diversify forest-floor plant communities. Furthermore, oak forests host more species of birds than maple-dominated forests because oak bark, flowers and leaves support more insects that are an important food source for birds.Ĭanopies of oak trees are penetrated easily by sunlight which facilitates the development of diverse herbaceous and shrub communities on the forest floor. Within the mid-Atlantic region, acorns produced by oak trees are a valuable food resource for more than 50 bird and mammal species and numerous species of invertebrates. Forests dominated by oaks support diverse communities of animals and plants.
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