Forests 2012, 3(4), 1034-1070; doi:10.3390/f3041034
Review

Fire Effects on Soils in Lake States Forests: A Compilation of Published Research to Facilitate Long-Term Investigations

Jessica R. Miesel 1,2,* email, P. Charles Goebel 1,2 email, R. Gregory Corace III 1,3 email, David M. Hix 1,4 email, Randall Kolka 1,5 email, Brian Palik 1,5 email and David Mladenoff 6 email
1 Lake States Fire Science Consortium, Ohio Agricultural and Research Development Center, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691, USA 2 Ohio Agricultural and Research Development Center, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691, USA 3 Fish and Wildlife Service, Seney National Wildlife Refuge, 1674 Refuge Entrance Rd., Seney, MI 49883, USA 4 School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA 5 Forest Service Northern Research Station, Center for Research on Ecosystem Change, 1831 Hwy. 169 E., Grand Rapids, MN 55744, USA 6 Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 12 October 2012; in revised form: 31 October 2012 / Accepted: 2 November 2012 / Published: 19 November 2012
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Long-Term Effects of Fire on Forest Soils)
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Abstract: Fire-adapted forests of the Lake States region are poorly studied relative to those of the western and southeastern United States and our knowledge base of regional short- and long-term fire effects on soils is limited. We compiled and assessed the body of literature addressing fire effects on soils in Lake States forests to facilitate the re-measurement of previous studies for the development of new long-term datasets, and to identify existing gaps in the regional knowledge of fire effects on forest soils. Most studies reviewed addressed fire effects on chemical properties in pine-dominated forests, and long-term (>10 years) studies were limited. The major gaps in knowledge we identified include: (1) information on fire temperature and behavior information that would enhance interpretation of fire effects; (2) underrepresentation of the variety of forest types in the Lake States region; (3) information on nutrient fluxes and ecosystem processes; and (4) fire effects on soil organisms. Resolving these knowledge gaps via future research will provide for a more comprehensive understanding of fire effects in Lake States forest soils. Advancing the understanding of fire effects on soil processes and patterns in Lake States forests is critical for designing regionally appropriate long-term forest planning and management activities.
Keywords: Lake States; fire effects; soil; forest; Michigan; Minnesota; Wisconsin; New York; Ontario; Manitoba

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Miesel, J.R.; Goebel, P.C.; Corace, R.G., III; Hix, D.M.; Kolka, R.; Palik, B.; Mladenoff, D. Fire Effects on Soils in Lake States Forests: A Compilation of Published Research to Facilitate Long-Term Investigations. Forests 2012, 3, 1034-1070.

AMA Style

Miesel JR, Goebel PC, Corace RG, III, Hix DM, Kolka R, Palik B, Mladenoff D. Fire Effects on Soils in Lake States Forests: A Compilation of Published Research to Facilitate Long-Term Investigations. Forests. 2012; 3(4):1034-1070.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Miesel, Jessica R.; Goebel, P. C.; Corace, R. G., III; Hix, David M.; Kolka, Randall; Palik, Brian; Mladenoff, David. 2012. "Fire Effects on Soils in Lake States Forests: A Compilation of Published Research to Facilitate Long-Term Investigations." Forests 3, no. 4: 1034-1070.

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