Successful Establishment of LongleafSuccessful Establishment of LongleafRegeneration in Red Hills of GA & FLRegeneration in Red Hills of GA & FL

The country around Tallahassee and The country around Tallahassee and Thomasville is to quail hunting what the Thomasville is to quail hunting what the bluegrass of Kentucky is to thoroughbreds bluegrass of Kentucky is to thoroughbreds and Bordeaux is to wine.and Bordeaux is to wine.

--- Forbes Magazine--- Forbes Magazine

The Red Hills The Red Hills has been one of has been one of the few places in the few places in the southeast the southeast where fire has where fire has persisted in the persisted in the culture at the culture at the landscape level landscape level for a long period for a long period of timeof time. .

The density of timber stands should The density of timber stands should receive constant attention on the receive constant attention on the well-managed quail preserve.well-managed quail preserve.

— — Herbert L. Stoddard, Herbert L. Stoddard, The Bobwhite The Bobwhite Quail, It’s Habits, Preservation and Quail, It’s Habits, Preservation and IncreaseIncrease

Relationship between timber basal area and bobwhiteabundance

TT

SH

SH

SH

TT TT

TT

TT

LL

LL

LL

PH

PH

PH

PH

DEDE

DE

DE

SWSW

LL

SW

4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22

Basal Area (m 2 / hectare)

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Bob

whi

te C

ovey

Cou

nt

r = -0.6118, p = 0.0019

Herbert L. Stoddard, Sr., Pioneering Wildlife Ecologist and Founder of Tall Timbers Research Station

Herbert L. Stoddard, Sr.Wade Tract - circa 1950

Developed the Developed the Stoddard-Neel MethodStoddard-Neel Methodof Forest Managementof Forest Management

Leon NeelGreenwood - circa 2001

Traditional UEM

Stoddard-Neel UEMStoddard-Neel UEM

Natural Disturbance Regime(s) of the Coastal Plain

• Fire (natural and anthropogenic origin)– Lightning strikes kill individual trees– Frequent low intensity (1-5 yr interval)– Fire intensity can intensify during drought,

mortality resulting• Wind

– Significant player in coastal regions– Less frequent but larger scale events (Hurricanes)

• Insects/pathogens– Southern pine beetle (LL is fairly resistant) – Brown spot

Partial Disturbance

Patterns of Canopy DisturbanceMature Forest

Gap Creating

Stand Replacing

Silvicultural Practices For EAM

Two-aged Potentia

l

Silvicultural Practices For UEAMBalanced

Unbalanced

Longleaf PinePopulation Dynamics

(Platt et al. 1988)

Actual Diameter Distributions

Dormant Season

GrowingSeason

Establishment Establishment With FireWith Fire

Frequency of Fire:Frequency of Fire:Fire frequency is one of the most if Fire frequency is one of the most if

not the most important of all the not the most important of all the fire variables fire variables

• 3 years is a ecological threshold3 years is a ecological threshold• Shift from woody to herbaceous Shift from woody to herbaceous

dominancedominance

Is important because it is a system driver

Fire Scars (Huffman, 2007)

72% of the sample

Brockway and Boyer

5-7+ yr interval

Morriss and Mills 1948

VG G PF0 1 2 0 1 2 0 1 2 0 1Age of rough

Seed source

Old-growth longleaf pine, had Old-growth longleaf pine, had been burned annually in the been burned annually in the dormant season for over 100 dormant season for over 100 yearsyears . .

No regeneration, canopy No regeneration, canopy breakdown, bracken fern breakdown, bracken fern understoryunderstory

Wade Tract ExampleWade Tract Example

In 1982 moved to growing In 1982 moved to growing season (May-June) burns on a season (May-June) burns on a 2-year cycle2-year cycle . .

Regeneration, sti l l open Regeneration, sti l l open canopy, wiregrass understorycanopy, wiregrass understory

No Soil Disturbance to No Soil Disturbance to Capture LLPCapture LLP

0 15 30 45 60 75 90Size Class (cm)

0

40

80

120

160

PIP

A S

tem

s/4

ha

HA4_96HA4_76

1979

1996

High Density Quail PropertyHigh Density Quail Property2-year Fire FrequencyMarch-April FiresSelecting for LLP- Mowers

Conversion of Old Field PinesUnder Planting and Gap

Planting

UNDER PLANTING LLP UNDER PLANTING LLP

Basal Areas < 60 ft^2/acreBasal Areas < 60 ft^2/acreBurn Late Spring or SummerBurn Late Spring or SummerPlant that FallPlant that FallWe use a 4x4’ spacingWe use a 4x4’ spacing¼ acre plots or 90-120’ wide strips¼ acre plots or 90-120’ wide strips

UNDER PLANTING LLP ContUNDER PLANTING LLP Cont

Herbicides (Garlon) can be used to improve Ground coverHerbicides (Garlon) can be used to improve Ground coverSpray summer prior to plantingSpray summer prior to plantingShift from forb/hardwoods to grassesShift from forb/hardwoods to grasses

First Burn 18 months post plantingTwo Year Fire Return Interval naturally pruning and quality trees

Planting Forest Openings

Planting Density and Fire

Pruned LL Pines

Conversion of Crop Fields

Poorly Formed Trees – higher fertility sites?Generally Higher Stocking Rate - 605 TPAPruning will be needed at lower TPAGround cover to permit burning – first MAY avoid issues

Establish Ground Cover – BurningEstablish Ground Cover – BurningClump planting versus row plantingClump planting versus row planting

In a Nutshell• Stoddard-Neel System is a form of

UEA Management• Bimodal Distribution versus Reverse J• Existing LLP – Fire and Gaps• Works well with wildlife Values• Retains significant old growth portion

• Under-planting with frequent fire– May require herbicide as site prep

• Field systems require heavier stocking– Establish burnable ground cover