Flatwoods and Fire Part I

Note the burn marks on the trunks of these slash pines. Under natural conditions, pinelands like this manage themselves through periodic lightning-caused fires that do two things. First, they clear the ground, giving new plants the opportunity to colonize the area. There are species of plants, that in fact require fire for their seeds to germinate. The other thing these periodic clearings do is keep the amount of fuel available to burn at a mininum. That keeps the fires that do occur from becoming overly intense. These slash pines can withstand small fires but a major blaze will kill them. Natural area managers conduct prescribed burns periodically to mimic natural cycles. This tract was done relatively recently. Enough time has passed that grasses and sedges and other quick growing plants have covered the ground but larger understory plants haven't recovered.

NEXT STOP: FLATWOODS AND FIRE PART II

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