FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Sisymbrium altissimum | Tumblemustard 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Tumblemustard is readily killed by fire [19].  Plants are able to
rapidly invade burns due to an abundance of seed that is
characteristically dispersed in a tumbleweedlike fashion over widespread
areas [6,20,21].  This species is an important component of early
successional stages on burns in both sagebrush-grassland and
pinyon-juniper communities [15,27].  Germination is greatly enhanced on
bare soil [29], and tumblemustard can potentially dominate in early
postburn succession on sites where litter reduction is extensive.
Degree of dominance, however, varies widely depending on the habitat
type and condition of the site [4].  In general, plant densities
increase dramatically during postfire years 2 and 3 and then rapidly
decline to preburn levels as overcrowding reduces mustard survival and
seed production.


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Off-site colonizer species, seed transported by wind, postfire yrs 1-2

Related categories for Species: Sisymbrium altissimum | Tumblemustard