KUCHLER TYPE FIRE ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
KUCHLER TYPE: Northern floodplain forest



FUELS, FLAMMABILITY, AND FIRE OCCURRENCE : 
Fire is rare in northern floodplain forest in humid climates.  Higgins
[21] noted that fire was frequent enough to favor grasslands in the
northern Great Plains, but that areas with rough and dissected
topography were much less likely to experience fire [21].  However,
occasionally fire probably influenced presettlement northern floodplain
forests in drier climates.  In a North Dakota gallery forest, the oldest
trees were only 80 years old, even though the forest had been recorded
in presettlement survey records.  A long-term local resident noted that
prairie fires frequently invaded the forest and sometimes killed some of
the larger trees [27].


FIRE EFFECTS ON SITE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE EFFECTS ON VEGETATION : 
Willows (including black willow, sandbar willow, and peachleaf willow)
are usually top-killed by fire.  Severe fire that consumes organic
layers and exposes roots kills most willows.  Most top-killed willows
sprout following fire; however, black willow typically decreases
following fire [57].  Willows are pioneer species on burned sites and
establish from light, windborne seed [54].  Fire easily kills
cottonwood seedlings and saplings.  Trees less than 20 years old may
sprout after fire damage.  Large cottonwoods have thick bark which may
provide some resistance to fire damage, but fire wounds are likely to
create avenues for infection [58].

Mid- and late successional northern floodplain species such as American
elm, silver maple, and boxelder are easily damaged or killed by fire,
particularly when young.  Some species sprout after damage or top-kill,
particularly green ash [16].  Bur oak is more resistant to fire damage;
prairie fires burning into bur oak-dominated stands tend to maintain the
large oaks with a grassy understory [42].

Controversy continues over whether northern Great Plains woodlands have
expanded or declined since settlement and the beginning of fire
exclusion in the late 19th century.  The suppression of fire may have
allowed woodland expansion; but some authors argue that woodland species
are adapted to fire (due to sprouting ability and rapid colonization of
bare sites) and thus may be limited by climate and moisture availability
[58].  In the absence of fire, trees and shrubs may replace prairie
grasses on mesic sites [51].


FIRE EFFECTS ON RESOURCE MANAGEMENT : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE USE CONSIDERATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Myers and Buchman [37] do not consider fire a management tool for site
preparation or shrub control in elm-ash-cottonwood types.  All species
present are susceptible to fire damage; surface fire readily kills
saplings and seedlings, and wounds larger trees.  Fire wounds lead to
heart rots and decrease timber values [37].  Putnam [41] also made a
general recommendation against the use of prescribed fire for any
objectives in bottomland forests.


REHABILITATION OF SITES FOLLOWING WILDFIRE : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Kuchler Type: Northern floodplain forest