FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Artemisia arbuscula ssp. thermopola | Hotsprings Sagebrush 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Evidence suggests that hotsprings sagebrush is readily killed by fire.
It is not known to sprout, but reestablishes through light, off-site,
wind-dispersed seed from surviving plants adjacent to the burn.

Low sagebrush communities are characterized by a depauperate understory
with much exposed soil and surface rock.  Many stands lack sufficient
fuels to carry a fire [1,5,7].  Consequently, fires in hotsprings
sagebrush communities are probably rare.  The probability of fire
increases as herbaceous growth increases as a result of above-average
precipitation or increased protection from grazing [7].  Weedy species
such as medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) and cheatgrass (Bromus
tectorum) will increase flammability of low sagebrush stands [7,33].


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Secondary colonizer - off-site seed

Related categories for Species: Artemisia arbuscula ssp. thermopola | Hotsprings Sagebrush