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ABOUT EVENTS News PROGRAMS & SERVICES FACT SHEETS TOPICS COUNTY OFFICES
ABOUT EVENTS News PROGRAMS & SERVICES FACT SHEETS TOPICS COUNTY OFFICES
Ferguson College of AgAg Research
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Fire Effects Research

OSU Extension uses six demonstration sites to research the effects of practicing controlled burns.
FIre Ecology of the Southern Great Plains

Much of a plant’s adaptation to fire is determined by its growth form, bud location, or bark thickness. Another affect is related to the timing of the fire relative to the plant’s growth cycle. These affects are further confounded by the interaction of previous management, previous climatic patterns (e.g. drought), and previous intensity and duration of herbivory. For example, bunchgrasses like little bluestem accumulate dead material above the root crown and the center of the plant dies over time. After a fire, it sometimes appears that the plant was killed when in fact the center of the plant was already dead. This can be observed by examining burned and unburned plants in the same area. In contrast, rhizomatous grasses, such as big bluestem, have growing points below the soil surface and do not accumulated fuel next to the root crown.

 

Woody plants are adapted to fire by location of buds or protective bark. Most woody plants resprout if top growth or apical buds are killed. Once apical dominance is lost, dormant basal buds below the soil surface begin growth. Some woody plants such as eastern redcedar lack basal buds and do not resprout. The absence of the resprouting adaptation suggests that eastern redcedar did not develop an evolutionary adaptation to fire. Many woody plants have thick bark and are adapted to intense fire. Eastern cottonwood, post oak, and shortleaf pine are examples of fire tolerant woody plants. Shortleaf pine is one of the most fire adapted coniferous plants and one of the few conifer species that resprout after being top-killed. Woody plants greater than 8 inches in diameter at 4.5 feet above the ground generally do not resprout. Some woody plants like sumac (Rhus spp.) have rhizomes and basal buds that are an adaptation to fire and herbivory.

 

The frequency, intensity, and season of the year when a fire occurs is second only to precipitation’s influence on vegetation. Fire frequency in Oklahoma, prior to settlement, ranged from once per year to once in 30 years. The return interval of fire depended primarily on fuel load (a function of precipitation, soil type, and herbivory), topography, and the location of fuel breaks such as rivers, streams, and rock outcrops. Fuel breaks were also created by bison grazing patterns, prairie dog towns, and previous fire set by Native Americans. Fire frequency increases when continuous herbaceous fuels and unbroken landscapes allow fire to cover large areas. Frequent fires generally favor herbaceous over woody plants for a variety of reasons including growth form and location of meristematic tissue. Fire intensity affects plant response to fire and is often used in the management of woody species. The bark of older trees and shrubs commonly insulates the plant from the heat of low-intensity fires, but smaller stems and seedlings are killed. High intensity fire, however, can top-kill the larger trees. Woody plants that are capable of resprouting usually do so vigorously following fire. Low-intensity fires in wooded areas will cause the vegetation to begin to shift toward a savanna appearance. Higher intensity fires in wooded areas may shift the vegetation toward a sprout thicket if mature trees are top killed. The response of woody plants to fire is primarily a function of species, size class, topographical position on the landscape, and fire history.

A green map of Oklahoma with six counties colored dark green and orange boxes labeleing the counties 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

 

Fire Frequency in Oak-Pine Forest (1)

The demonstration site for this focus of research is located 2 miles east and 3 miles south of Clayton, OK.

 

Fire Frequency in Oak-Pine Forest

Fire Frequency in Sand Shinnery Oak Grassland (2)

The demonstration site for this focus of research is located in Roger Mills county.

 

Fire Frequency in Sand Shinnery Oak Grassland

Fire Frequency in Post Oak Oak-Blackjack Oak Forest (3)

The demonstration site for this focus of research is located 8 miles north of Pawhuska, OK.

 

Fire Frequency in Post Oak Oak-Blackjack Oak Forest

Season of Burn in Tallgrass Prairie (4)

The demonstration site for this focus of research is located 7 miles west and 2.5 miles south of Stillwater, OK.

 

Season of Burn in Tallgrass Prairie

Fire Frequency in Post Oak-Blackjack Oak Forest (5)

The demonstration site for this focus of research is located 6.5 miles west and .25 miles north of Stillwater.

 

Fire Frequency in Post Oak-Blackjack Oak Forest

Season of Burn in Sand Sagebrush Grassland (6)

The demonstration site for this focus of research is located 3 miles south of Ft. Supply, OK.

 

Season of Burn in Sand Sagebrush Grassland

Tall Timbers Research Station

This research station is located in Tallahassee, FL.

 

Tall Timber Research Station

Resources

  • Journal Articles
    • Bidwell, T.G., and D.M. Engle. 1992. Relationship of fire behavior to tallgrass prairie herbage production. J. Range Manage. 45:579-584.
    • Bidwell, T.G. and D.M. Engle. 1991. Behavior of headfires and backfires on tallgrass prairie. p. 344 350. In: S. C. Nodvin and T. A. Waldrop (eds.), Fire and the environment: ecological and cultural perspectives: Proceedings of an international symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. SE-69. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station.
    • Bidwell, T.G., D.M. Engle, and P.L. Claypool. 1990. Effects of spring headfires and backfires on tallgrass prairie. J. Range Manage. 43:209-212.
    • Bodine, T.N., H.T. Purvis II, and D.M. Engle. 2001. Response of Old World and Little Bluestem to a spring prescribed fire. Animal Science Research Report P-986, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University. No page numbers.
    • Boyd, C.S. and T.G. Bidwell. 2002. Effects of prescribed fire on shinnery oak (Quercus havardii) plant communities in western Oklahoma. Restoration Ecology 10(2):324-333.
    • Boyd, C.S., and T.G. Bidwell. 2001. Influence of prescribed fire on lesser prairie-chicken habitat in shinnery oak communities in Western Oklahoma. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 29(3): 938-947.
    • Boyd, C.S., L.T. Vermeire, T.G. Bidwell, and R.L. Lochmiller. 2001. Nutritional quality of shinnery oak buds and catkins in response to burning or herbivory. The Southwestern Naturalist 46(3): 295-301.
    • Engle, D.M., T.N. Bodine, and J.F. Stritzke. 2006. Woody plant community in the cross timbers over two decades of brush treatments. Rangeland Ecology & Management 59:153-162.
    • Engle, D.M. and T.G. Bidwell. 2001. Viewpoint: The response of central North American prairies to seasonal fire. J. Range Manage. 54:2-10.
    • Engle, D.M. and J.R. Weir. 2000. Grassland fire effects on corroded barbed wire. Journal of Range Management 53:611-613.
    • Engle, D.M., R.L. Mitchell, and R.L. Stevens. 1998. Late growing-season fire effects in mid successional tallgrass prairies. Journal Range Manage. 51:115-121.
    • Engle, D.M., J.R. Weir, D.L. Gay, and B.P. Dugan. 1998. Grassland fire effects on barbed wire. Journal of Range Management 51:621-624.
    • Engle, D.M., T.G. Bidwell, and R.A. Masters. 1996. Restoring cross timbers ecosystems with fire. Pages 190-199. In: Transactions of the 61st North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference.
    • Engle, D.M., and J.F. Stritzke. 1995. Fire behavior and fire effects on eastern redcedar in hardwood leaf litter fires. International Journal of Wildland Fire 5:135-141.
    • Engle, D.M., J.F. Stritzke, T.G. Bidwell, and P.L. Claypool. 1993. Late-summer fire and follow-up herbicide treatments in tallgrass prairie. J. Range Manage. 46:542-547.
    • Engle, D.M., J.F. Stritzke, and F.T. McCollum. 1987. Brush management on the Cross Timbers Experimental Range. II. Herbaceous plant responses. Miscellaneous publication -119, Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University. p. 103-109.
    • Ewing, A.L., and D.M. Engle. 1988. Effects of late summer fire on tallgrass prairie microclimate and community composition. American Midland Naturalist 120:212-223.
    • Gillen, R.L., D. Rollins, and J.F. Stritzke. 1987. Atrazine, spring burning, and nitrogen for improvement of tallgrass prairie. Journal of Range Management 40:444-447.
    • Harrel, W.C., S.D. Fuhlendorf, and T.G. Bidwell. 2001. Effects of prescribed fire on sand shinnery oak communities. J. Range Manage. 54:685-690
    • Jones, B., S.F. Fox, D.M. Leslie, Jr., D.M. Engle, and R.L. Lochmiller. 2000. Herpetofaunal responses to brush management with herbicide and fire. Journal of Range Management 53:154-158.
    • Leslie, D.M., Jr., R.B. Soper, R.L. Lochmiller, and D.M. Engle. 1996. Habitat use by white-tailed deer on cross timbers rangeland following brush management. Journal of Range Management 49:401-406.
    • Lochmiller, R.L., J.F. Boggs, S.T. McMurry, D.M. Leslie, Jr., and D.M. Engle.  1991. Response of cottontail rabbit populations to herbicide and fire applications on cross timbers rangeland. Journal of Range Management 44:150-155.
    • Lochmiller, R.L., D.G. Pietz, S.T. McMurry, D.M. Leslie, Jr., and D.M. Engle. 1995. Alterations in condition of cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) on rangelands following brush management. Journal of Range Management 48:232-239.
    • McMurry, S.T, R.L. Lochmiller, J.F. Boggs, D.M. Leslie, Jr., and D.M. Engle. 1993. Woodrat population dynamics following modification of resource availability. American Midland Naturalist 129:248-256.
    • McMurry, S.T., R.L. Lochmiller, J.F. Boggs, D.M. Leslie, and D.M. Engle.  1993. Opportunistic foraging of eastern woodrats (Neotoma floridana) in manipulated habitats. American Midland Naturalist 130:325-337.
    • McMurry, S.T., R.L. Lochmiller, J.F. Boggs, D.M. Leslie, Jr., and D.M. Engle.  1994. Demographic profiles of populations of cotton rats in a continuum of habitat types. Journal of Mammalogy 75:50-59.
    • McMurry, S. T., R. L. Lochmiller, J. F. Boggs, D. M. Leslie, Jr., and D. M. Engle. 1996. Demography and condition of populations of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) in late and early successional habitats. Journal of Mammalogy 77:335-345.
    • Peitz, D.G., R.L. Lochmiller, D.M. Leslie, Jr., and D.M. Engle. 1997. Protein quality of cottontail rabbit forages following rangeland disturbance. Journal of Range Management 50:450-458.
    • Roberts, K. W., D. M. Engle, and J.R. Weir. 1999. Weather constraints to scheduling prescribed burns. Rangelands 21:6-7.
    • Soper, R.B., R.L. Lochmiller, D.M. Leslie, and D.M. Engle. 1993. Condition and diet quality of white tailed deer in response to vegetation management in central Oklahoma. Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science 73:53-61.
    • Sparks, J.C., R.E. Masters, D.M. Engle, and G.A. Bukenhofer. 2002. Season of burn influences fire behavior and fuel consumption in restored shortleaf pine-grassland communities. Restoration Ecology 10:714-722.
    • Stritzke, J.F., D.M. Engle, and F.T. McCollum. 1991 Vegetation management in the cross timbers: Response of woody species to herbicides and burning. Weed Technology 5:400-405.
  • Thesis/Dissertations
    • Bidwell, Terrence G.  1988.  Fire behavior and fire effects on tallgrass prairie.  Ph.D. Dissertation, Oklahoma State University.  57 p.
    • Masters, R.E. 1991. Effects of timber harvest and prescribed fire on wildlife habitat and use in the Ouachita Mountains of eastern Oklahoma. Ph.D. Thesis. Oklahoma State University. Stillwater, Oklahoma. 351 p.
    • Boyd, C.S. 1999. The effects of burning season and frequency on the vegetative characteristics and insect abundance of Sand Shinnery Oak range in western Oklahoma. PhD. Dissertation. Oklahoma State University. Stillwater, OK.
    • Harrell, Wade C. 2000. Effects of prescribed fire on habitat structure of sand shinnery communities. M.S. Thesis. Oklahoma State University. Stillwater, Oklahoma. 73 p.
    • Woodward, Alan J.W. A landscape-level evaluation of the Lesser Prairie chicken. M.S. Thesis. Oklahoma State University. Stillwater, Oklahoma. 68 p.
    • Twidwell, Dirac. 2006. Extreme fire and fuel limitations drive fire effects in Juniperus woodland. M.S. Thesis. Oklahoma State University. Stillwater, Oklahoma. 72 p. 
    • Nelson, Ken D. 2006. Effects of fire, herbicides and grazing on Cross Timbers. M.S. Thesis. Oklahoma State University. Stillwater, Oklahoma. 34 p.
    • Allred, Brady W. 2008. Plants, grazing, and fire in Tallgrass Prairie. M.S. Thesis. Oklahoma State University. Stillwater, Oklahoma. 75 p.
  • Extension Publications
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