WILDFIRE EFFECTS ON FOREST FLOOR AND SURFACE SOIL IN A TABLE MOUNTAINPINE-PITCH PINE FOREST

Wildfire plays a dominant role in creating die environmental and biolo gical conditions necessary for the natural regeneration of mixed Pinus pungens Lamb. (Table Mountain pine)-Pinus rigida Mill. (pitch pine) f orests. This study of forest floor and surface soil properties followi ng a mid-July wildfire in these forests in the Shenandoah National Par k revealed significant reductions in nutrient contents. Prolific regen eration of the pines occurred following the fire, with over 9,000 seed ling/ha tallied in high severity areas, compared with less than 800 se edlings/ha in unburned areas. It is hypothesized that fire degrades si te quality and sets back the site succession process so that the pines are better able to compete with invasive, xeric-site deciduous specie s like oaks and maples. Adjacent, unburned xeric-site oak forests domi nate on more moist and fertile sites.