FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Acer circinatum | Vine Maple 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Most fires top-kill vine maple; however, plants normally resprout from
the root crown [6,21,51,63].  Successional trends in the western
Cascades of Oregon show that vine maple cover and frequency are
dramatically reduced following fire [14,21].  The amount of this initial
reduction may be related to fire severity.  A study of broadcast-burned
clearcuts in western Oregon found that vine maple was abundant on
lightly burned plots (surface litter charred but not completley removed)
but very scarce on heavily burned plots (surface litter completely
consumed by intense fire) [14,20].  Similarly, observation of fire
effects on Rocky Mountain maple (Acer glabrum) plants in Montana show
that hot fires (those which effectively transfer heat below the mineral
soil surface) damage root crowns and thus prevent sprouting of some
plants [51].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Vine maple produces numerous root crown sprouts the first growing season
following burning [45,51,63].  Frequency and cover of vine maple drop
dramatically following fire.  Preburn levels may be reached as quickly
as 2 to 5 years after fire [14,36] but may take up to 25 years [21,51].

Following wildfire or logging, vine maple/sword fern is a common seral
community during the tall shrub stage of succession [6,18].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Species: Acer circinatum | Vine Maple