Historically, naturally occurring fires in south Texas were probably during the hot dry summers and during late winter/early spring. Summer fires would shape the composition of the plant community by favoring dormant cool-season grasses while winter/spring fires would favor dormant warm-season species. The goal of this project is to develop viable management strategies for Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei) communities using summer fires which will reduce Ashe juniper populations while not adversely affecting grass and forb diversity. We are addressing this goal by determining the effect of summer and winter/spring fires conducted under different environmental conditions on the population structure of dominant trees and grasses. The development of a fire prescription will benefit land owners and managers by providing an ecologically sensitive management technique.
The frequency and intensity of fires can also affect sites in the south Texas Plains. Most of the woody species here resprout when disturbed, so most plants are not killed by prescribed fires. We have been conducting research on the effects of annual and biennial fires conducted in either the summer or winter on the population dynamics of grasses and forbs, and on the cover of woody plants.