Fire in North American Wetland Ecosystems and Fire-Wildlife Relations: An Annotated Bibliography

39. Christensen, N. L. 1977. Fire in southern forest ecosystems. Pages 17-24 in 
         Fire Management, Southern Region, Forest Service, and Cooperative Fire 
         Protection, Southeastern Area, State and Private Forestry, Forest Service, 
         sponsors. Proceedings: fire by prescription symposium. 13-15 October 1976, 
         Atlanta, GA.

The fire cycle in pocosins is considerably longer (10-30 yr) than in longleaf pine ecosystems, and fires typically consume tree crowns. Dense shrub cover makes seedling establishment unlikely in nonfire years. Pond pine is adapted to this regime in that it produces epicormic sprouts and has serotinous cones resulting in seed release primarily after fire. Fire has been a selective force in southern ecosystems to the extent that organisms are not just resistant to fire, they are dependent upon fire. Fire is a stabilizing force necessary for homeostasis in these ecosystems. Whether or not prescribed fire is a disturbing force in a community depends upon the extent to which the natural fire cycle in the ecosystem is mimicked. Although silvicultural management may require use of fire to diminish diversity and complexity, ecosystem preservation requires understanding the characteristics of fire for that system. [K-L-S]

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