FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Dasylirion wheeleri | Wheeler Sotol 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
The ability of Wheeler sotol to survive fire is dependent upon the
frequency and intensity of fire.  Severe fires can greatly reduce
Wheeler sotol.  On burnt sites in the desert grasslands of Arizona,
White [22] reported that all of the moderately or lightly fire damaged
plants survived the fire while only 3 percent of the severely damaged
plants survived.  Eleven and a half months after a fire in a semidesert
grassland near the Sierrita Mountains, Arizona, mortality of Wheeler
sotol was 47 percent on burnt sites and 0 percent on the control site
[19].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Wheeler sotol populations may suffer high mortality after a severe fire.
However, if the plant survives, it may sprout from a short aboveground
caudex [19,22].  After a semidesert grassland fire in southern Arizona,
the 71 Wheeler sotol plants that survived had apical regrowth.  No
seedlings were found even after 11 postfire months [19].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Wheeler sotol occurs in desert grasslands which are being increasingly
managed by using fire [19].  In these areas, fire is primarily used to
reverse dense scrub invasion and stimulate grass production.  Control of
Wheeler sotol would vary with the conditions and type of burn [22].

Related categories for Species: Dasylirion wheeleri | Wheeler Sotol