Description
Natural communities in southwest Missouri are often challenged by ecological disturbances of a catastrophic nature. Windthrow, wildfire, flooding, drought, and ice storm events all occur periodically and range in spatial extent from local to regional. Although in this region, local disturbances are common in singularity, it is unusual for several disturbances to affect the same locality within a short time period. Since 2003, however, the Ozark Highlands region has seen widespread events including tornados, fires, floods, and ice storms many occurring in succession on the same piece of land. Understanding the change in vegetation composition and recovery rates resulting from multiple severe disturbances is crucial to natural resource management planning.
