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A 53-year record of forest succession following fire in northern lower Michigan

TitleA 53-year record of forest succession following fire in northern lower Michigan
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1981
AuthorsScheiner SM, Teeri JA
JournalMichigan Botanist
Volume20
Pagination3-14
KeywordsSUCCESSION
Abstract

A 53-year record of forest succession following fire was analyzed for five experimentally or naturally burned plots in northern Michigan. After a fire the species diversity increased gradually for 25 years and remained level thereafter. This finding contrasts with studies which have found an early peak in species diversity with a subsequent decrease within the first 10 years of succession. Immediately following fire, Populus grandidentata became the dominant tree species. During the 53-year period Acer rubrum and Pinus strobus replaced Populus grandidentata in abundance. In contrast with other investigations, the importance of annual species did not decrease during the period of succession.