Title:

Fire-adapted witness trees across the northeastern United States including four National Forests

Author(s):

Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa A.; Nowacki, Gregory J.; Cogbill, Charles V.

Publication Year:

2022

How to Cite:

These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa A.; Nowacki, Gregory J.; Cogbill, Charles V. 2022. Fire-adapted witness trees across the northeastern United States including four National Forests. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2022-0017

Abstract:

Witness trees can shed light on past disturbance regimes. An interpolation technique was applied to witness-tree point data to form a contiguous surface of pyrophilic percentage for four national forests in the northeastern United States. This method was also applied to town-level witness-tree data for the entire northeastern United States. Through this, a distinct east-west line dividing area of high (south) and low (north) pyrophilic percentage was found. Known as the tension zone, the undulating character of this boundary, penetrating northward along major river valleys, underscores the importance of Native Americans as a disturbance agent on the presettlement landscape. The interpolated coverages of the percent of pyrophilic witness trees for the Allegheny, Finger Lakes, Green Mountain, and White Mountain National Forests and the town-level interpolated surface for the broader New England area are included in this data publication. The tension zone line is also included as a separate file.

Keywords:

environment; Ecology, Ecosystems, & Environment; Landscape ecology; Fire; presettlement disturbance regimes; Native Americans; northeastern United States; Pennsylvania; New York; Massachusetts; Vermont; New Hampshire; Rhode Island; Maine; Connecticut

Related publications:

• Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa A.; Nowacki, Gregory J.; Cogbill, Charles V. 2015. Mapping pyrophilic percentages across the northeastern United States using witness trees, with focus on four national forests. General Technical Report. NRS-145. Newtown Square, PA: USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 26 p. https://doi.org/10.2737/NRS-GTR-145

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