FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Ilex ambigua | Carolina Holly 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Carolina holly occurs in Florida sand pine scrub communities which
usually experience fire at least once during the lifetime of the sand
pine trees [16].  These communities are maintained by fires that recur
once every 10 to 100 years; fire suppression allows succession to
hammock (hardwood) communities in which Carolina holly is present in
early stages [23].  Carolina holly was reported in the understory of
longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) communities in the Alabama piedmont, but
the fire history of those particular stands was not detailed.  Longleaf
pine under natural conditions experienced frequent low-intensity surface
fires [26]; however, the stands containing Carolina holly may not have
burned recently since shrub cover was reported as 27 percent (SD 19 %)
[8].  Currently, prescribed fires are used to maintain longleaf pine in
an open condition [25].


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Secondary colonizer - off-site seed

Related categories for Species: Ilex ambigua | Carolina Holly