FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Artemisia filifolia | Sand Sagebrush 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Specific fire adaptations of sand sagebrush are not documented.  Many
sand sagebrush stands are characterized by an abundance of exposed sand
and sparse understory vegetation.  Fires are probably infrequent on such
sites.  Fires, however, have been historically important in many
grasssland or shrubland communities of the Great Plains and Southwest
which support the growth of sand sagebrush [21].  Fires presumably carry
well in sand sagebrush stands with a dried herbaceous understory of
forbs and grasses.

Sand sagebrush quickly reoccupies burned sites with an abundance of
seedlings [21].  It is not known if sand sagebrush typically resprouts,
or if reestablishment is more often through seed.  Sand sagebrush
produces an abundance of light, wind-dispersed seed, and relatively
rapid reestablishment through off-site sources is frequently possible.
In the northern Texas panhandle, sand sagebrush is considered a
"nonsprouter' [47]; it is often severely damaged or even killed by fire
[41,47].  Conversely, it is described as a fire-tolerant species capable
of resprouting after fire in the southern Great Plains [48,49].
Relatively little is reported about the ecology of sand sagebrush, and
ecotypic differences in sprouting capabilities may exist.  Similarly,
differences in season of burn, soil characteristics, fire intensity and
severity, and climatic factors may also influence the sprouting ability
of sand sagebrush.

Some attempts have been made to burn sand sagebrush sites to reduce
shrub growth and increase forage production or to create more diverse
wildlife habitat [21].  However, no specific prescriptions have been
reported for use in sand sagebrush communities.


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Ground residual colonizer (on-site, initial community)
   Initial-offsite colonizer (off-site, initial community)

Related categories for Species: Artemisia filifolia | Sand Sagebrush