Modern forestry research and management emphasize infusing management practices with an understanding of natural disturbance regimes -- often called ecological forestry. Forestry practices emulating aspects of natural disturbance regimes are considered an effective tool to balance silvicultural and ecological objectives. Size, shape, and spatial distribution of canopy gaps formed by Hurricane Michael were studied across multiple site factors in a longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) woodland in southwest Georgia. No significant differences were observed in gap size or shape among landscape factors, but spatial distribution of gaps differed among landscape factors. The results observed highlight the ecological importance of the event and provide some insight into interactions at the landscape level. The implementation of a large, rapid, single disturbance event as a model for ecological silviculture may be more practically applied than disturbances such as lightning or insects which occur over longer timeframes.

Effective conservation requires reliable knowledge of habitat selection and data describing the target species’ response to prominent management techniques. Herein, I describe northern bobwhite breeding season resource selection in an intensively managed longleaf pine ecosystem and investigate the influence of post-fire succession and days-since-fire on bobwhite use of recently burned areas. I recorded bobwhite locations three times per week and surveyed recently burned areas twice daily. I found that bobwhite prefer natural pine woodlands burned the current year and pine plantations, hardwood pine forest, and shrub/scrub communities burned 1-2 years ago. Bobwhite avoided natural pine woodlands burned 1-2 years ago, recently burned (<1 year) shrub/scrub and hardwood-pine communities, urban/mowed areas, and hardwood forests. Few bobwhite used burned areas immediately following fire, but use of burned areas increased as post-fire green-up progressed. Days-since-fire was the best competing model to explain bobwhite use of recently burned areas.