Fire adaptation: A reviewFire adaptation: A review
◊ Concept that species have evolved special traits that contribute to ability to survive in fire prone areas
◊ Pyrophytes: “fire loving” plants
◊ Concept that species have evolved special traits that contribute to ability to survive in fire prone areas
◊ Pyrophytes: “fire loving” plants
Adaptations that facilitate survival of the individualAdaptations that facilitate survival of the individual
Trait Function Example
Thick BarkProtects cambial tissues from heat damage
Ponderosa pine, coast redwood
Crown Sprouting
Regrowth from dormant buds protected by bark on branches and stems
True oaks, coast redwood
Basal SproutingRegrowth from subterranean buds located on roots, rhizomes, or lignotubers
Roses, true oaks, coast redwood
Buds protected by dense leaf bases
Protects buds from heat induced mortality
Sword ferns, many grasses
Adaptations that facilitate survival of the SpeciesAdaptations that facilitate survival of the Species
Trait Function Example
Dormant Seed buried in soil
Dormant seeds with capacity to survive many decades until cracked by fire
Manzanita, ceanothus,lupines
Fire stimulated flowering
Increased reproductive effort in years following fire
Many forbes and grasses
Seed storage on plant
Long-term seed storage on parent plant are released by fire
Knobcone pine, lodge pole pine
Windborne seeds
Early deposition on post-fire soils
Fireweed, woodland groundsel
Three Strategies in ChaparralThree Strategies in Chaparral
◊ Obligate resprouters depend on resprouting from underground root systems or bulbs/ tubers to survive
◊ Ex. Toyon (Heteromeles artbutifolia)
◊ Obligate resprouters depend on resprouting from underground root systems or bulbs/ tubers to survive
◊ Ex. Toyon (Heteromeles artbutifolia)
Three Strategies in ChaparralThree Strategies in Chaparral◊ Facultative
seeders both resprout and germinate after fire
◊ Ex. Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum)
◊ Facultative seeders both resprout and germinate after fire
◊ Ex. Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum)
Three Strategies in ChaparralThree Strategies in Chaparral
◊ Obligate seeders are destroyed in flames, depend on seedlings to replace their populations.
◊ Many species require a fire cue to germinate
◊ Ex. Ceanthus and Tecate Cypress (conifer)
◊ Obligate seeders are destroyed in flames, depend on seedlings to replace their populations.
◊ Many species require a fire cue to germinate
◊ Ex. Ceanthus and Tecate Cypress (conifer)
AllelopathyAllelopathy
◊ Terpenes: chemicals resins found in many chaparral plant foliage inhibits germination of wildflower seeds
◊ Fire destroys these chemicals and helps explain the abundance of wildflowers in recently burned areas
◊ Terpenes: chemicals resins found in many chaparral plant foliage inhibits germination of wildflower seeds
◊ Fire destroys these chemicals and helps explain the abundance of wildflowers in recently burned areas