FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Eleocharis palustris | Common Spikerush 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Common spikerush is usually top-killed by fire [34].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
Prescribed burns will reduce the litter layer in wetlands but often do
not affect plant species composition unless the organic layer is burned
[19].


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Common spikerush usually sprouts from rhizomes following fire [24,34].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
Common spikerush sprouted following prescribed burning in Saskatchewan
[24].  Following prescribed burning in October in Oregon, common
spikerush's aboveground standing crop was nearly twice that of unburned
plots [34].  One hundred percent of the shoots produced flowers in both
the fall-burned and unburned plots.


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Young [34] cautions that wetlands and their respective upland
communities should not be managed separately because of the combined
importance of both for wildlife habitat.  Thus, the effects of fire on
one community should be considered in conjunction with the effects on
the other community.  He also recommends defining the soil-peat moisture
conditions before burning wetlands.  

Related categories for Species: Eleocharis palustris | Common Spikerush