University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln JFSP Synthesis Reports U.S. Joint Fire Science Program 2009 Synthesis of Knowledge on the Effects of Fire and Thinning Treatments on Understory Vegetation in U.S. Dry Forests Anne M. Bartuszevige Oregon State University Patricia L. Kennedy Oregon State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/jfspsynthesis Part of the Forest Management Commons, Other Forestry and Forest Sciences Commons, and the Wood Science and Pulp, Paper Technology Commons Bartuszevige, Anne M. and Kennedy, Patricia L., "Synthesis of Knowledge on the Effects of Fire and Thinning Treatments on Understory Vegetation in U.S. Dry Forests" (2009). JFSP Synthesis Reports. 20. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/jfspsynthesis/20 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the U.S. Joint Fire Science Program at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in JFSP Synthesis Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Synthesis of Knowledge on the Effects of Fire and Thinning Treatments on Understory Vegetation in U.S. Dry Forests (SR 1095)—Oregon State University State 1095)—Oregon (SR Forests Dry U.S. in Vegetation Understory on Treatments Thinning and Fire of Effects the on Knowledge of Synthesis Synthesis of Knowledge on the Effects of Fire and Thinning Treatments on Understory Vegetation in U.S. Dry Forests Anne M. Bartuszevige and Patricia L. Kennedy Special Report 1095 Synthesis of Knowledge on the Effects of Fire and Thinning Treatments on Understory Vegetation in U.S. Dry Forests Anne M. Bartuszevige Conservation Science Director Playa Lakes Joint Venture Previously: Postdoctoral Researcher Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Oregon State University Union, Oregon Patricia L. Kennedy Professor Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Oregon State University Union, Oregon Special Report 1095 September 2009 Synthesis of Knowledge on the Effects of Fire and Thinning Treatments on Understory Vegetation in U.S. Dry Forests Special Report 1095 September 2009 Extension and Experiment Station Communications Oregon State University 422 Kerr Administration Building Corvallis, OR 97331 http://extension.oregonstate.edu/ © 2009 by Oregon State University. This publication may be photocopied or reprinted in its entirety for noncommercial purposes. This publication was produced and distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Extension work is a cooperative program of Oregon State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Oregon counties. Oregon State University Extension Service offers educational programs, activities, and materials without discrimination based on age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran’s status. Oregon State University Extension Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Any mention of trade names does not constitute an endorsement. Acknowledgements This is Contribution 72 of the National Fire and Fire Surrogate (FFS) Project, funded by the U.S. Joint Fire Science Program. We thank the Program for funding this synthesis and Jim McIver for helping conceptualize the final product. Jim also provided us with all available Fire and Fire Surrogate Program information. We thank John Cissel, Tim Swedberg, Kim Verhelst, and Becky Jenison for administrative support. Joe Fontaine and Tim Swedberg gave invaluable support in organizing the scoping meeting. We also thank the meeting attendees: Jim Gallagher, Robert Means, Kenneth Outcalt, Dana Perkins, Roger Rosentreter, and Steve Sutherland. They took time out of their impossible schedules to fly to Boise on short notice and share their expertise on understory vegetation and fire and thinning management. Their input was essential to the conceptual development of this project, but they are not to blame for any shortcomings. John Bailey, Carl Fiedler, Joe Fontaine, David Hibbs, and Dana Perkins reviewed this document which resulted in substantial improvements. Finally, a big thanks to Colette Coiner who assisted with all aspects of this document. Cover photos: Top: A feller at the Blue Mountain Fire and Fire Surrogate site in northeastern Oregon. (Elizabeth Dodson Coulter) Bottom: A squad leader uses a drip torch to clean up a fire line on the Bear Prescribed Fire in Washington. (Cason McCain, USDA Forest Service, fs.fed.us) Contents SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................................5 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................................7 Importance of understory herbaceous plant communities in U.S. dry forests .............................................. 11 GOALS, SCOPE, & ORGANIZATION OF THIS DOCUMENT ...................................................................12 METHODS .......................................................................................................................................................14 Scoping meetings ..........................................................................................................................................14 Literature search and criteria for inclusion..................................................................................................14 RESULTS ..........................................................................................................................................................15 Inland Pacific Northwest ..............................................................................................................................15 Rocky Mountains ...........................................................................................................................................20 Sierra Nevada ...............................................................................................................................................23 Southeastern United States ...........................................................................................................................24 Eastern Deciduous Forest .............................................................................................................................26 Effects of fire on rare, threatened, or endangered plants..............................................................................28 DISCUSSION ...................................................................................................................................................30 Intensity, frequency, and season of disturbance ............................................................................................30 Seed sources ..................................................................................................................................................32 Time since disturbance ..................................................................................................................................32 Rare, threatened, and endangered species ....................................................................................................33 CONCLUSIONS AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ..............................................................33 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................................35 TABLES ............................................................................................................................................................39 Table 1 ...........................................................................................................................................................39 Table 2 ...........................................................................................................................................................42 Table 3 ...........................................................................................................................................................45 Table 4 ...........................................................................................................................................................52 Table 5 ...........................................................................................................................................................64 Table 6 ...........................................................................................................................................................98 Table 7 .........................................................................................................................................................100 Table 8 .........................................................................................................................................................101 Table 9 .........................................................................................................................................................102 Table 10 .......................................................................................................................................................106