Understory Changes Following a Prescribed Burn in a Central Illinois Oak-Hickory Forest

The understory of Baber Woods, Edgar County, Illinois, was surveyed from April to September, 1988, following a low intensity fall burn in November, 1987. From plots sampled in the spring, summer and fall, differences in the composition of the herbaceous and woody components between the burn and control areas were determined. The herbaceous component of the burn area was found to compose a significantly higher percentage (X2 . 05 , 2 =12.49) of the importance values (IV) over all the sampling periods. Acer saccharum was found in significantly lower frequency (X2 . 05 , 2 =24.8) in the burn area over all sampling periods. Sampling of seedlings and saplings in the burn area showed Acer saccharum seedlings had an IV of 4.3, while saplings had an IV of 113.8. It was determined that the burn was effective in enhancing herbaceous growth while retarding Acer saccharum seedling density, but the need for measures to open the canopy to stimulate oak regeneration was also noted