Fire history, related to climate and land use in three southern Appalachian landscapes in the eastern United States

摘要: Fire-maintained ecosystems and associated species are becoming increasingly rare in the southern Appalachian Mountains because of fire suppression policies implemented early 20th century. Restoration these communities through prescribed has been hindered by a lack information on historical regimes. To characterize past regimes, we collected absolutely dated tree rings cross sections from 242 fire-scarred trees at three different sites Tennessee North Carolina. Our objectives were to (1) frequency mixed pine-oak forests, (2) assess impact interannual climatic variability occurrence fire, (3) determine whether changes human culture land use altered fire. Results demonstrate that fires burned frequently all for least two centuries prior implementation prevention mid Composite mean return intervals 2-4 yr, point 9-13 yr. Area-wide across multiple stands occurred 6-13-yr intervals. The majority recorded during dormant season. Fire exhibited little relationship with reconstructed annual drought conditions. Also, activity did not change markedly transition Native American Euro- settlement or period industrial logging start declined significantly, however, period, nearly complete absence recent decades. characterization regimes should provide managers specific targets restoration fire-associated Mountains. chronologies reported here among longest tree-ring reconstructions history compiled eastern United States support hypothesis frequent burning played long important role development forests