Fire AdaptationsFire Adaptations

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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