XVI International Botanical Congess

Historical records indicate that most of southwest Missouri's landscape, prior to European settlement, was open and savanna-like due to frequent burning by Native Americans. More recent research on tree ring burn scars supports the claim of a higher fire frequency. The presence of fire in an ecosystem affects not only the tree stand structure, but also the diversity of the herbaceous layer. As a result of fire, the overstory is often opened over time. This allows for a more diverse understory to grow. This study examines the effects of fire management on tree survivability and plant species diversity within a savanna habitat. Herbaceous and overstory plant species diversity will be examined in plots ranging from non-managed to plots which have been managed with fire for approximately a century. Results will be presented and discussed.