• IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT
• DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT
• PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE
• DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE
• FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT:

Unlike many low-stature sagebrush communities, threetip sagebrush communities can support fire spread [12]. Fires often kill aerial plant parts. Threetip sagebrush is described as "severely damaged" by fire in parts of the Intermountain Region [13]. In Wyoming, threetip sagebrush is "moderately damaged" by fire [57] and in Idaho, plants are generally "harmed" by fire [45]. A fairly high percentage of threetip sagebrush is commonly killed by fire in southern Idaho; a small percentage may resprout [47,48].

DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT:

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PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE:

Threetip sagebrush may sprout from the root crown after fire in British Columbia or in the Intermountain West [19,38,48]. Resprouting from lateral roots has also been reported [15,68]. Beetle [3] observed that tall threetip sagebrush sometimes sprouts vigorously from the root crown following fire. Wyoming threetip sagebrush can also sprout from the root crown following fire [3,5]. Layering may also occur after tall threetip sagebrush is burned and after "control" of Wyoming threetip sagebrush [6].

However, sprouting ability varies considerably with geographic location which suggests that several ecotypes may exist [3,14,16]. Sprouting is also most likely when threetip sagebrush is burned while soils are most [73].  

DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE:

In general, populations in eastern Idaho seem to have the greatest potential for resprouting after fire. Populations in southern Idaho's Snake River Plain seem to have low resprouting potential and those in eastern Oregon have a moderate potential for resprouting after fire [16]. However, Young [73] reported a strong sprouting response following fire in parts of eastern Oregon. Overall reprouting potential in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon can range from "high" to "nearly zero" [15]. In southwestern Montana, populations tend to sprout readily after fire [16].

In a southeastern Idaho study, Akinsoji [1] observed no sprouting 1 year after fire. Lack of sprouting could have been due to the "intensity of the burn." Similarly, Pechanic and others [47] reported that only approximately 6% of threetip sagebrush resprouted in the 1st year or 2 after fire in a southeastern Idaho study. At Craters of the Moon National Monument in southeastern Idaho, only "moderate resprouting potential" was observed, and reductions in cover and density usually occur after fire [2]. Only a "small percentage of plants" resprouted after fire in a northern Great Basin study [17].

FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS:

Because threetip sagebrush can sometimes sprout prolifically after fire, special management considerations may be required if reductions in sagebrush are desired management goals [71].

Related categories for SPECIES: Artemisia tripartita | Threetip Sagebrush