FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Artemisia frigida | Fringed Sagebrush 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Fringed sagebrush produces an abundance of small, wind-dispersed seed
[14] which can readily reoccupy a burned site.  Seed can reportedly
remain viable in the soil for many years [14], and presumably, seed
stored on-site in the soil can germinate quickly if not killed or
damaged by fire.

Fringed sagebrush is able to resprout after fire and quickly reoccupy a
site.  Cawker [13] reported that fringed sagebrush is capable of stump
sprouting after fire in southern British Columbia.  Vegetative
regeneration from suckers has also been noted after fire in Alberta [1].
Fringed sagebrush has frequently been described as a "weak sprouter"
after fire [79].

Although research is lacking, it is probable that fringed sagebrush can
quickly reestablish a site through vegetative means following fires of
low intensity or severity.  More research is needed on the precise
influence of certain site characteristics, the effects of drought, and
differential response by season of burn.  Some evidence suggests that
fringed sagebrush may be reduced by spring burns in the mixed-grass
prairies of the northern Great Plains [79].


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Small shrub, adventitious-bud root crown
   Ground residual colonizer (on-site, initial community)
   Initial-offsite colonizer (off-site, initial community)

Related categories for Species: Artemisia frigida | Fringed Sagebrush