Survival and sprouting responses of Chihuahua pine after the Rodeo-Chediski fire on the Mogollon Rim, Arizona
This article assessed the ability of Chihuahua pine (Pinus leiophylla) to survive fire or resprout after fire based on tree age and fire intensity.
Chihuahua pine is one of the few pine species that can resprout from its base after a disturbance. In the Rodeo-Chediski fire, Chihuahua pine resprouted post-fire, but the ability to resprout was negatively influenced by increasing fire intensity. Smaller trees had greater mortality due to fire, however, of the survivors at any age class, these younger trees were more likely to resprout from their base. The authors suggest that repeated higher severity fires may advantage sprouting species such as the Chihuahua pine over non-sprouting species such as ponderosa pine.
Fire and Ecosystem Effects Linkages
Chihuahua pine is one of the few pine species that can resprout from its base after a disturbance. Smaller trees had greater mortality due to fire, however, of the survivors at any age class, these younger trees were more likely to resprout from their base.
Chihuahua pine is one of the few pine species that can resprout from its base after a disturbance. In the Rodeo-Chediski fire, Chihuahua pine resprouted post-fire, but the ability to resprout was negatively influenced by increasing fire intensity. Smaller trees had greater mortality due to fire, however, of the survivors at any age class, these younger trees were more likely to resprout from their base.
The authors suggest that repeated higher severity fires may advantage sprouting species such as the Chihuahua pine over non-sprouting species such as ponderosa pine.