Effects of Burns Conducted in Summer and Winter on Vegetation of Matagorda Island, Texas (Report‪)‬

Fire has played an important role in development and maintenance of the coastal prairie in Texas (Drawe, 1980; Hanselka, 1980). Schmidt et al. (2002) placed coastal prairie in class ii: 0-35-year frequency and stand-replacement severity in their classification system of historical fire regimes. It is logical to assume that fire, both lightning and human caused, played a role in development and maintenance of communities of plants on barrier islands along the Texas Gulf Coast. History of fire is fairly well documented on the coastal plains of Texas. Many reports of natural and human-caused fire were recorded by Hanselka (1980). Hanselka (1980) also reported that a trend of vegetational change from grassland to shrubland over time was recorded by explorers, soldiers, and settlers in plains of the Rio Grande. some earlier records depict the region as pastureland with areas of dense brush mottes.