Year: 2016
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This study was conducted from 2012-2013 in a 96 year old longleaf pine at the Lake Thoreau Environmental Center located Lamar County, MS. Measurements of soil CO₂ efflux (i.e., soil respiration or SR) rates (µmol m-2 sec-1) were taken across 8 field plots (4 burned, 4 unburned) before and after a prescribed fire on that occurred in May, 2012. These measurements were taken over diurnal cycles using a LICOR LI-8100A automated soil gas flux system with long term chambers. SR rates and soil temperature measurements were collected during 3 sampling periods in 2012 and 1 sampling period in 2013, which were split into seasonal sampling periods: a pre-burn, spring 2012 period (April & May), a post-burn, summer 2012 period (June, July, & August), a post-burn fall 2012 period (November), and a post-burn spring 2013 period (April & May). Overall, the unburned plots had significantly greater mean SR than the burned plots (2.57 vs. 3.57 µmol m-2 sec-1, p=0.04). After combining SR and soil temperature across seasons, soil temperature explained 59% of the variability in SR on the burned treatment (p <0.0001).
Author: Knox Lemee Flowers
Institution: University of Southern Mississippi
Language: English
Topic: Fire effects on ecosystems
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDGs: Climate action, Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2521259324