Understory revegetation enhances efficacy of prescribed burning after common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) management
Data files
Aug 18, 2025 version files 3.65 KB
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Burndata.csv
1.29 KB
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README.md
2.36 KB
Abstract
Data collected as part of a field experiment testing whether revegetating forest understories after invasive buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) removal can improve the efficacy of controlled burns. Two semi-open oak woodlands in Minnesota, USA were cleared of buckthorn and seeded with a mix of C3 grasses (primarily Elymus spp.) and wildflowers. Subplots (4 m x 4 m) in seeded and adjacent unseeded areas were burned in spring. Data include estimates of fuel cover recorded prior to burning, the visual estimates of fire spread following burning, and impacts of fire on wooden pyrometers placed within subplots.
Citation: Schuster MJ, Wragg PD, Roth A, Reich PB (2024) Understory Revegetation Enhances Efficacy of Prescribed Burning after Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) Management. Nat Areas J 44:206–214. https://doi.org/10.3375/2162-4399-44.4.206
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.q573n5tsf
Description of the data and file structure
Files and variables
File: Burndata.csv
Description: Data describing fuel loading and burn severity in experimental plots used to evaluate the relationship between restoration seeding and buring efficacy in buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica L.) management. Experimenta plots (4 m x 4 m) that had previously either recieved restoration seeding (primarily native C3* Elymus* grasses) or been left as ambient controls were burned at two sites in Minnesoa, USA. Surveys were conducted prior to burn to quantify fuel availability and composition. Extant buckthorn seedlings were marked and followed through the burn to observe burn impacts on living stems, and analog pyrometers were used to systematically quantify fire spread and severity.
Citation: Schuster MJ, Wragg PD, Roth A, Reich PB (2024) Understory Revegetation Enhances Efficacy of Prescribed Burning after Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) Management. Nat Areas J 44:206–214. https://doi.org/10.3375/2162-4399-44.4.206
Variables
- Site: Study location (Elk = Elk River; SCWRS = Marine on St Croix)
- Block: Block ID
- Plot: Plot ID
- Seeding: 0 = unseeded 1 = seeded
- bare ground: cover (%) bare ground prior to ignition
- tree litter: cover (%) of tree leaf litter prior to ignition
- grass litter: cover (%) of graminoid litter prior to ignition
- grass green: cover (%) of living (green) graminoid tissue prior to ignition
- woody green: cover (%) of living (green) woody tissue prior to ignition
- woody dead: cover (%) of dead woody tissue prior to ignition
- Rc_count: number of buckthorn counted within the plot. "NA" indicates that buckthorn survey was not completed in that plot.
- Burn_%: vistual estimate of fire spread (%)
- Skewers Consumed: number of skewer pyrometers fully consumed by fire
- Picks Consumed: number of toothpick pyrometers fully consumed by fire
- picks affected: number of toothpick pyrometers affected (positive burn score)
- skewer mean: mean burn score of skewers within plot
- pick mean: mean burn score of tootpicks within plot