Oak at the Edge: Investigating the Importance of Fire as a Tool in Oak Range Expansion
Northern red oak is one of the most valuable tree species for wildlife and timber in the Northeast. Forest managers need to better understand regeneration ecology of oak as climate change expands its potential range into the Northern Forest and beyond. Even where it is currently abundant, red oak regeneration has proven challenging to forest managers seeking to maintain its dominance. NSRC researchers will investigate whether fire plays a unique role in promoting oak establishment and recruitment near its northern range limit and provide critical silvicultural information specific to its management in the Northern Forest.
Through a combination of tree-ring analysis, regeneration studies in silvicultural prescribed burns, and controlled mesocosm (potted seedling) experiments, researchers will expand our understanding of how fire influences oak regeneration and how it can best be used silviculturally to meet this goal. The lack of previous studies on fire’s role in oak regeneration specifically in the Northeast makes this project scientifically novel and necessary to inform future management.
Researchers will also investigate how soil is transformed by fire and may benefit oak regeneration. Researchers will reach out to stakeholders at many stages of the project with immediate educational benefits through field work with community scientists, prescribed fire demonstration, and active collaborations with local forest groups. The project will provide fundamental information on oak regeneration and the use of prescribed fire as a tool to help create more resilient and climate-ready forests and will help others to adopt and accept this approach in ways that are supported by data.