00913nas a2200133 4500008004100000245004400041210004400085300001300129490000700142520053300149653000900682100001700691856007100708 1992 eng d00aFire and the development of oak forests0 aFire and the development of oak forests a346 -3530 v423 a
Fire, whether it has occurred to a low, moderate, or high degree, seems to be the common denominator for the development of oak forests on upland sites and their past and present ecological status. This article reviews pre- and postsettlement forest conditions for the major oak dominated ecosystems throughout eastern North America to discern how the influence of fire and human activity have affected the past and present ecology of oak forests and how these factors will likely continue to affect forests in the future
10afire1 aAbrams, M.D. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-and-development-oak-forests01956nas a2200169 4500008004100000245010000041210006900141260004300210300001000253520130700263653002201570100001701592700001701609700001701626700001801643856012501661 1991 eng d00aEffects of fire exclusion on tallgrass prairie and gallery forest communities in eastern Kansas0 aEffects of fire exclusion on tallgrass prairie and gallery fores bSoutheastern Forest Experiment Station a3 -103 aThe purpose of this review is to synthesize a long-term body of research dealing with fire exclusion effects on tallgrass prairie and gallery forest communities on Konza Prairie in eastern Kansas. Upland and lowland prairie communities burned in spring at intervals ranging from 1-11 years were consistently dominated (79-90 percent cover) by Andropogon gerardii. With this increasing interval between fires other dominant warm-season grasses, A. scoparius and Sorghastrum nutans, had decreased cover, whereas forbs and woody species had increased cover. Aboveground biomass was higher on an annual burned versus unburned lowland prairie, due to stimulated graminoid production. Sites unburned for 10 or more years were converting to woodlands dominated by Juniperus, Ulmus, Gleditsia and Celtis. Older gallery forests occurred in stream channels and ravines and were comprised of overstory Quercus and Celtis and understory Celtis, Cercis and Ulmus. The extent of gallery forests on Konza Prairie dramatically increased from the time of European settlement (1850) to present; this has been attributed to decreased fire frequency and intensity in the region. With continued fire exclusion this century further succession in these forests has caused oak replacement by more shade tolerant species
10atallgrass prairie1 aAbrams, M.D.1 aGibson, D.J.1 aNodvin, S.C.1 aWaldrop, T.A. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/effects-fire-exclusion-tallgrass-prairie-and-gallery-forest-communities-eastern-kansas01746nas a2200133 4500008004100000245009900041210006900140300001100209490000700220520122200227653002201449100001701471856012401488 1988 eng d00aEffects of burning regime on buried seed banks and canopy coverage in Kansas tallgrass prairie0 aEffects of burning regime on buried seed banks and canopy covera a65 -700 v333 aVegetation cover and buried seeds were studied on three upland sites burned at different intervals (unburned, 4-year burn, and annual burn) in tallgrass prairie in northeastern Kansas. Vegetation of all sites (89 species total) was dominated by Andropogon gerardii (76 to 81% cover). Schizachyrium scoparium and Sorghastrum nutans cover was higher, whereas Poa pratensis and Sporobolus hererolepis cover was lower on more frequently than on less frequently burned sites. A total of 735 seedlings comprising 28 species were recorded in soil samples from the three treatments. Seed density was variable within and between treatments but was generally highest in unburned treatment and lowest in annually burned prairie. Many Sporobolus cryptandrus were recorded in each treatment. The number of forb seedlings was not significantly different between treatments and was dominated by Erigeron strigosus and Oxalis stricta. Many species that germinated from buried seeds were not recorded as vegetation on the site, and much of the vegetation was not represented as seedlings. The scarcity of viable buried seeds of the dominant tallgrasses and forbs suggest that they are highly dependent on vegetative propagation
10atallgrass prairie1 aAbrams, M.D. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/effects-burning-regime-buried-seed-banks-and-canopy-coverage-kansas-tallgrass-prairie01344nas a2200133 4500008004100000245010500041210006900146300001100215490000700226520081600233653001901049100001701068856012501085 1988 eng d00aEffects of prescribed fire on woody vegetation in a gallery forest understory in northeastern Kansas0 aEffects of prescribed fire on woody vegetation in a gallery fore a63 -700 v913 aWoody vegetation in the understory of a gallery forest dominated by large bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) trees in eastern Kansas was surveyed before (1983) and after two years of annual prescribed burning in April (1984 and 1985). Elm (Ulmus spp.) was the dominant reproduction on the area before burning and increased after burning because of prolific basal sprouting. Five rarer species, including bur oak and chinquapin oak (Q. muehlenbergii), were recorded in 1983 or 1984, but were absent in 1985. Sapling density averaged 1200 per ha prior to burning in 1983 and 0.0 after burning in 1984 and 1985. Total shrub cover significantly decreased from 59.9 percent in 1983 to 9.5 percent in 1985, as a result of decreases in buckbrush (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus) and rough-leaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii)
10agallery forest1 aAbrams, M.D. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/effects-prescribed-fire-woody-vegetation-gallery-forest-understory-northeastern-kansas02178nas a2200133 4500008004100000245011800041210006900159300001300228490000700241520162800248653002001876100001701896856013101913 1988 eng d00aGenetic variation in leaf morphology and plant and tissue water relations during drought in Cercis canadensis . L0 aGenetic variation in leaf morphology and plant and tissue water a200 -2070 v343 aGenetic variation in plant and tissue water relations in response to drought, and in leaf morphology, were examined in greenhouse-grown Cercis canadensis L. (eastern redbud) seedlings originating from seed obtained in three contrasting habitats: a relatively xeric Kansas prairie, a Kansas gallery forest understory, and a relatively mesic Indiana understory. Kansas prairie redbud maintained significantly greater leaf conductance (gwv) during a 13-day drought than did Kansas and Indiana understory redbud, despite similar decreases in leaf water potential in all three sources. Moreover, Kansas paririe redbud had significantly lower osmotic potentials at full and zero turgor compared to Indiana redbud at both the early and later stages of drought. Kansas understory redbud was the only source to undergo a signigicant decrease in relative water content at zero turgor and the bulk modulus of elasticity during drought. Kansas prairie redbud leaver were smaller and thicker and had higher specific leaf mass (i.e., more xerophytic) than understory redbud leaves. Kansas understory redbud had intermediate characteristics in terms of gwv at the early to middle stages of drought, osmotic potentials at high and low leaf water potential, and leaf area and thickness compared to Kansas prairie and Indiana understory redbud. These results suggest that genetically controlled physiological and morphological adaptation has occurred in redbud that should facilitate its survival in greatly contrasting habitats. ADDITIONAL KEY WORDS: Ecophysiology, Kansas prairie, gallery forest, Indiana understory, leaf morphology
10aWater relations1 aAbrams, M.D. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/genetic-variation-leaf-morphology-and-plant-and-tissue-water-relations-during-drought-cercis01575nas a2200145 4500008004100000245010800041210006900149300001300218490000800231520100300239653002201242100001701264700001801281856013001299 1987 eng d00aEffect of topographic position and fire on species composition in tallgrass prairie in northeast Kansas0 aEffect of topographic position and fire on species composition i a442 -4450 v1173 aPlant species composition was evaluated on shallow upland and deep lowland soils in annually burned and unburned watersheds in an eastern Kansas Flint Hills tallgrass prairie. Species richness was higher in upland than lowland communities. Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem) was dominant on all sites (cover=70-96%) and was not significantly affected by topographic position or burn treatment, whereas, A. scoparius (little bluestem) and Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass) increased with burning. Cover of Panicum virgatum (switchgrass) was higher on lowland soils, but burning differences were not significant. Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass), the dominant cool-season grass, was not affected by topography but was greatly reduced by annual burning. Cover of most forb and woody species was reduced on burned areas but species were differentially affected by topography. One exception was the woody species Amorpha canescens (leadplant), which had its highest cover on burned lowland soils
10atallgrass prairie1 aAbrams, M.D.1 aHulbert, L.C. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/effect-topographic-position-and-fire-species-composition-tallgrass-prairie-northeast-kansas01729nas a2200157 4500008004100000245012400041210006900165300001300234490000700247520113300254653000901387653001901396653001201415100001701427856012701444 1987 eng d00aLeaf structural and photosynthetic pigment characteristics of three gallery-forest hardwood species in northeast Kansas0 aLeaf structural and photosynthetic pigment characteristics of th a261 -2660 v223 aLeaf structural and photosynthetic pigment characteristics were measured in three dominant gallery-forest hardwood species in northeast Kansas, U.S.A. Leaves of Quercus macrocarpa and Q. muehlenbergii (more-xeric, shade-intolerant species) had significantly greater thickness, specific mass, stomatal densities and guard cell lengths than leaves of Celtis occidentalis (more-mesic, shade-tolerant). Except for guard cell lengths, these findings are consistent with differences between xeric and mesic species and shade-intolerant and shade-tolerant species. These gallery-forest species generally had much greater stomatal densities and/or lower guard-cell lengths compared to the same species or genera growing in more mesic forests further in the east of the U.S. Compared to C. occidentalis, the Quercus species had significantly greater total chlorophyll and carotenoids, but similar chlorophyll-a:b ratios. The chlorophyll findings contradict the established idea that shade-tolerant species have greater total chlorophyll and lower chlorophyll-a:b ratios, but may be related to exceptional site and climatic factors
10aleaf10aphotosynthesis10apigment1 aAbrams, M.D. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/leaf-structural-and-photosynthetic-pigment-characteristics-three-gallery-forest-hardwood01533nas a2200157 4500008004100000245006500041210006500106260006100171300001100232520099000243653000901233653001101242100001701253700001501270856009001285 1986 eng d00aEcological role of fire in gallery forests in eastern Kansas0 aEcological role of fire in gallery forests in eastern Kansas aStevens Point, WIbUniversity of Wisconsin-Stevens Point a73 -803 aThe historical role of fire was studies in the gallery forests on Konza Prairie in eastern Kansas. Quercus macrocarpa and Celtis occidentalis dominated mesic and/or intermediate sites, whereas Q. muehlenbergii dominated the more xeric sites. An evaluation of fire history using oak species suggest a mean fire interval of 11-20 years or less since the mid-1800s. Nonetheless, a dramatic expansion of the gallery forests has occurred from 1859-1978. It also appears that Q. macrocarpa is being replaced by C. occidentalis on the mesic sites and that Q. muehlenbergii is being replaced by Cercis canadensis on the more xeric sites. Prescribed burning in a Q. macrocarpa dominated stand resulted in an increase in Ulmus spp. sprouts and a reduction in samplings from 1200 per ha to 0 and in shrub cover from 60% to 9%. These studies suggest that fire has been an historical factor affecting the distribution, composition and successful dynamics of gallery forests in eastern Kansas
10afire10aforest1 aAbrams, M.D.1 aKoonce, A. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/ecological-role-fire-gallery-forests-eastern-kansas02208nas a2200133 4500008004100000245006500041210006500106300001100171490000700182520175300189653002201942100001701964856009301981 1986 eng d00aHistorical development of gallery forest in northeast Kansas0 aHistorical development of gallery forest in northeast Kansas a29 -370 v653 aWoody vegetation, soils, age-diameter relationships and historical development are described for 18 gallery forest stands on Konza Prairie, a tallgrass prairie reserve in northeast Kansas. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) coupled with the importance values of dominant species was used to identify four stand types in these forests: Quercus muehlenbergii, Q. muehlenbergii-Q. macrocarpa, Q. macrocarpa-Q. muehlenbergii, and Celtis occidentalis-Q. macrcocarpa. Location of these groups on the first DCA axis was correlated with decreasing slope and increasing percent silt (i.e. a moisture gradient form xeric to mesic). Shrub cover increased with droughtness and decreased with both stand basal area and total reproduction. Original Land Office Survey suggest a dramatic expansion of gallery forests along the stream channels and ravines during the period from 1859-1939. Further expansion occurred through 1978. Increases in woody vegetation were attributed to decreased fire intensity and frequency since European settlement. Q. macrocarpa and/or Q. muehlenbergii were the oldest and largest trees in each stand, but were poorly represented as young trees and seedlings. In contrast, Celtis occidentalis, Cercis canadensis and Ulmus spp. were well represented as young trees and were vigorously reproducing singly or in combination in all stands. The growth of these species into trees occurred 10 to 30 years after the major recruitment of Q. macrocarpa and Q. muehlenbergii into the tree size class. It suggested that the oaks will be replaced by C. occidentalis on the more mesic sites and by C. canadensis on the more xeric sites. The potential of Ulmus spp. as an overstory dominant is probably limited by the Dutch Elm Disease
10atallgrass prairie1 aAbrams, M.D. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/historical-development-gallery-forest-northeast-kansas02075nas a2200133 4500008004100000245014000041210006900181300001500250490000700265520150500272653002001777100001701797856012701814 1986 eng d00aPhysiological plasticity in water relations and leaf structure of understory versus open-grown Cercis canadensis in northeastern Kansas0 aPhysiological plasticity in water relations and leaf structure o a1170 -11740 v163 aField and laboratory studies were used to evaluate physiological plasticity in water relations and leaf structural characteristics of Cercis canadensis L. (redbud) saplings growing in a gallery forest understory and an adjacent prairie in eastern Kansas. Two study periods were defined based on high (greater than -0.2 MPa in May) and low (-1.5 MPa in July) predawn soil water potential ( soil) Leaf conductance to water vapor diffusion (gwv) was greater for prairie than understory redbud saplings during both sampling periods (maximum gwv=7.5-8.7 mm s-1) Moreover, gwv for prairie redbud remained high at both high and low soil, but was significantly lower for understory redbud during midday at low soil. Transpiration flux was also higher in the prairie than in the understory site and reach a maximum for prairie redbud (318 mg m-2s-1) in July, in conjunction with high leaf to air vapor pressure deficits (maximum 5.3 kPa). Leaf water potential declined significantly at both sites with decreased soil and the minimum values (-3.0 MPa) were recorded in understory redbud. Leaves of prairie redbud were significantly smaller, thicker, and had higher specific leaf mass and stomatal density than leaves of understory redbud, which are consistent with differences between zeric and mesic species, respectively. These differences in water relations and leaf morphology between understory and prairie redbud suggest a high degree of physiological plasticity for this species in eastern Kansas
10aWater relations1 aAbrams, M.D. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/physiological-plasticity-water-relations-and-leaf-structure-understory-versus-open-grown01993nas a2200145 4500008004100000245009000041210006900131300001300200490000700213520145200220653002001672100001701692700002001709856011801729 1986 eng d00aSeasonal water relations of three gallery forest hardwood species in northeast Kansas0 aSeasonal water relations of three gallery forest hardwood specie a687 -6960 v323 aField and laboratory studies were used to evaluate several water relations characteristics for saplings of three species: hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), a mesic, late successional tree, and bur and chinquapin oak (Quercus macrocarpa and Q. muehlenbergii), more xeric, early successional trees growing in a northeast Kansas gallery forest understory during a dry summer. For all species, maximum stomatal conductance (gwv) (8.9-9.5 mm*s-1) was recorded early in the season when soil moisture was greatest. Seasonally, sunlit leaves generally had significantly higher gwv than shaded leaves. Both gwv and leaf water potential decreased during the season in each species, with minimum leaf water potential values ranging from - 2.13 to -2.48 MPa. Seasonally, leaf water potential remained consistently higher than the osmotic potential at zero turgor for each species (minimum values of zero turgor ranged from -2.61 to -3.02 MPa). Hackberry, the most mesic species, experienced the largest seasonal decrease in gwv in both shaded and sunlit leaves (69% and 78% reduction, respectively). Moreover, in contrast to the two oaks, a significant seasonal decline in 600 h leaf water potential was shown for hackberry. By season's end, hackberry had the lowest gwv and leaf water potential suggesting that this species was better able to utilize late season precipitation. Additional key words: Quercus, Celtis, ecophysiology, prairie, drought
10aWater relations1 aAbrams, M.D.1 aKnapp, Alan, K. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/seasonal-water-relations-three-gallery-forest-hardwood-species-northeast-kansas01944nas a2200157 4500008004100000245011700041210006900158300001500227490000700242520133200249653002201581100001701603700002001620700001801640856012801658 1986 eng d00aA ten-year record of aboveground biomass in a Kansas tallgrass prairie: effects of fire and topographic position0 atenyear record of aboveground biomass in a Kansas tallgrass prai a1509 -15150 v733 aMeasurements of mid-season live and dead aboveground biomass are reported for a 10 year period (1975- 1984) in a northeast Kansas tallgrass prairie. Study sites included shallow, rocky upland and deep, nonrocky lowland soils in annually burned (April) and unburned watersheds. Lowland sites had significantly greater live biomass than upland sites for both burned and unburned prairie for the 10 year period. Moreover, live biomass was greater on burned than unburned lowland sites, but was not significantly increased by fire on the upland sites. Averaged across upland and lowland sites, mid-season live biomass was 422 g m-2 on annually burned and 364 g m-2 on unburned sites for the 10 year period. Each site had its lowest live biomass value during the severe drought year of 1980 (range=185-299 g m-2). During the study period, live biomass was most strongly correlated with seasonal pan water evaporation (r=-0.45 to -0.82), whereas dead biomass was correlated with the previous years precipitation (r=0.62 and 0.90 for upland and lowland sites, respectively). When aboveground biomass was sampled throughout the 1984 season and separated into several components, biomass of the graminoids was 40% lower, whereas that of forbs and woody plants was 200-300% greater in the unburned than in the annually burned site
10atallgrass prairie1 aAbrams, M.D.1 aKnapp, Alan, K.1 aHulbert, L.C. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/ten-year-record-aboveground-biomass-kansas-tallgrass-prairie-effects-fire-and-topographic01483nas a2200121 4500008004100000245012000041210006900161300001300230490000700243520097200250100001701222856012201239 1985 eng d00aAge-diameter relationships of Quercus species in relation to edaphic factors in gallery forests in northeast Kansas0 aAgediameter relationships of Quercus species in relation to edap a181 -1930 v133 aAge-diameter relationships were evaluated for Quercus macrocarpa and Q. muehlenbergii in relation to soil and topographic factors in 18 gallery forest stands in northeast Kansas. Tree diameter was significantly correlated with age (r2=0.33- 0.96,P< 0.05) for Q. macrocarpa and Q. muehlenbergii in 81% and 85% of the stands, respectively, when seven or more individuals of either species were surveyed, indicating that variation in growth rates of these species was low within most of the stands. However, considerable variation in growth rates of these species was evident between stands, which was not explained by differences in stand density. High growth rates for Q. macrocarpa were correlated (P< 0.05) with low topographic slope (r=0.54), and low available soil NH4 (r=0.73) and NO3 (r=0.72, whereas high growth rates for Q. muehlenbergii were correlated with high K (r=0.62), suggesting that edaphic factors influence growth rates of these species
1 aAbrams, M.D. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/age-diameter-relationships-quercus-species-relation-edaphic-factors-gallery-forests01638nas a2200157 4500008004100000245009600041210006900137300001300206490000700219520106200226653002201288100002001310700001701330700001801347856011501365 1985 eng d00aAn evaluation of beta attenuation for estimating aboveground biomass in a tallgrass prairie0 aevaluation of beta attenuation for estimating aboveground biomas a556 -5580 v383 aThe attenuation of beta particles by vegetation was evaluated as a nondestructive method for estimating aboveground biomass in tallgrass prairie in northeast Kansas. Regression equations using the sum of beta attenuation measurements for each of 5 height classes within the vegetation and mean midday leaf water potential as the independent variables were used to predict live and total biomass. Live and total biomass were better predicted on burned (r2=.91 and .88, respectively) and unburned sites (r2=.71 and .70, respectively). Greater variability in the relationship between beta attentuation and biomass in unburned prairie was a result of the large and variable amount of dead biomass on unburned sites. Dead biomass was poorly predicted by beta attentuation (r2=.24- .49). Beta attentuation predicted biomass in burned tallgrass prairie within +/- 5% of harvest values until late season vegetative senescence. In unburned prairie, predictions were poorer, but the technique could still be useful if the required accuracy need be only +/- 25%
10atallgrass prairie1 aKnapp, Alan, K.1 aAbrams, M.D.1 aHulbert, L.C. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/evaluation-beta-attenuation-estimating-aboveground-biomass-tallgrass-prairie01092nas a2200133 4500008004100000245008000041210006900121300001300190490000800203520060200211653002200813100001700835856010600852 1985 eng d00aFire history of oak gallery forests in a northeast Kansas tallgrass prairie0 aFire history of oak gallery forests in a northeast Kansas tallgr a188 -1910 v1143 aBur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) and chinquapin oak (Q. muehlenbergii) were repeatedly scarred from recurring fire in gallery forests on Konza Prairie in NE Kansas, and were therefore suitable for fire history evaluation. Fire scars were recorded in 23 different years, ranging from 1862 to 1983, on 19 sample trees taken from three noncontiguous gallery forest stands. The mean fire interval (MFI) calculated for these forests ranged from 11.2-19.7 years. The actual MFI, however, probably lies somewhere between that range and the historical interval for Flint Hills prairie fire of 2-3 years
10atallgrass prairie1 aAbrams, M.D. uhttp://lter.konza.ksu.edu/content/fire-history-oak-gallery-forests-northeast-kansas-tallgrass-prairie