FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Danthonia compressa | Mountain Oatgrass 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Mountain oatgrass occurs in oak (Quercus spp.) woods and grassy mountain
meadows which occasionally experience either lightning or human-caused
fire.  Lightning commonly strikes the peaks and ridges of the southern
Appalachian Mountains from April through August [1].  Grassy balds in
the Pisgah National Forest of North Carolina respond favorably to fire,
becoming thick and lush.  The low-severity fires burn very little of the
surface detritus [18].  Mountain oatgrass basal buds and dormant seeds
probably survive low-severity fire.


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Tussock graminoid
   Ground residual colonizer (on-site, initial community)
   Secondary colonizer - off-site seed

Related categories for Species: Danthonia compressa | Mountain Oatgrass