Prescribed fire and cutting as tools for reducing woody plant succession in a created salt marsh

Authors: Owens, Alaina¹; Proffitt, C.; Grace, James

Source: Wetlands Ecology and Management, Volume 15, Number 5, October 2007 , pp. 405-416(12)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

This paper reports on efforts to reduce woody successional growth by the native shrub Iva frutescens L. in a created salt marsh by using prescribed fire and cutting. Experimental treatments included a winter burn, cutting plants at ground level, and a combination burn-and-cut treatment, with replicate plots of each. Iva frutescens proved to be extremely hardy, with zero mortality following the cutting, burning, or combination treatment; similar levels of regrowth were observed for all treatments. Individual shrub response, however, was found to be related to initial plant size, ground water level and salinity, and two fire characteristics (total heating >60°C and total heat index >60°C). Fire severity, sediment nutrient concentrations, and other abiotic factors had no observable effects.

Keywords: Cutting; Fire effects; Iva frutescens; Marsh creation; Salt marsh; Shrub establishment

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1007/s11273-007-9039-5

Affiliations: 1: Email: aowens@lsu.edu

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