Longleaf pine ecosystems thrive with regular fire. Today, that fire is usually started and controlled by humans. But fire predates humans in the Florida landscape, leaving humans to try and mimic how fires had once burned naturally. But what are they mimicking? Humans didn't record the frequency or seasonality of fire before the early 1900s. It turns out that trees did.
Dr. Jean Huffman is a denrochronologist at Tall Timbers Research Station. Using tree stumps dating back to the 1500s, she has extracted surprising information from the tree-ring record, some of which contradicts established practices regarding prescribed fire. Her research is expanding beyond Florida, and into wetland areas, where cypress trees can live for over a thousand years.
Also on this episode of Coast to Canopy, we meet Rob's friend, Ikam Acosta. When Rob needed a name for WFSU's new ecology podcast, she stepped up. Ikam talks about geocaching in south Florida, and nature excursions around Gainesville while attending the University of Florida.
