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You are here >1Up Info > Wildlife, Animals, and Plants > Plant Species > Shrub > Species: Juniperus horizontalis | Creeping Juniper
 

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FIRE CASE STUDIES

SPECIES: Juniperus horizontalis | Creeping Juniper
CASE NAME : Stanford Burn SEASON/SEVERITY CLASSIFICATION : Not reported. STUDY LOCATION : The burn site was located in the Blacktail Hills of central Montana approximately 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Stanford. PREFIRE VEGETATIVE COMMUNITY : The preburn overstory was made up of scattered Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesia) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta). Shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa) dominated the understory, although numerous grasses and forbs were also present. Creeping juniper grew beneath the shrubby cinquefoil at an average density of 0.034 plants per meter square. TARGET SPECIES PHENOLOGICAL STATE : Not recorded. The crown area of individual junipers averaged 0.08 meter square and height averaged only 3.1 inches (7.8 cm). SITE DESCRIPTION : Topography was slightly rolling; elevation averaged 5,890 feet (1,785 m). The area had a history of heavy grazing use. FIRE DESCRIPTION : soil moisture beneath plants - average = 49.6% - range = 45-65% fuel moisture content - average = 15.0% - range = 4.0-23.0% temperature of tagged plants - 78 degrees C (109 degrees F) to 406.9 degrees C (700 degrees F) - mean 205 degrees C (337.6 degrees F) FIRE EFFECTS ON TARGET SPECIES : Approximately 48 percent of creeping juniper canopy coverage was totally consumed by fire; 41 percent was only partially burned; and 11 percent was unharmed. Individual crown area burned averaged approximately 85 percent. All creeping junipers with 100 percent foliage damage died, although many partially damaged plants survived. Of the creeping junipers tagged prior to the burn, 53 percent were killed when the foliage was totally consumed; 43 percent were partially burned but recovered; and 4 percent were totally undamaged by fire. Partially damaged plants typically showed good recovery. Regrowth during the first growing season averaged 1.4 grams per plant with a range of 0.14 to 3.95 grams per plant. Temperatures tolerated by surviving plants ranged from 109 degrees Fahrenheit (78 deg C) to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (267 deg C). However, several plants were killed by temperatures below 450 degrees Fahrenheit (267 deg C). Pertinent data on tagged creeping junipers are summarized below: Plant Crown Height Crown Regrowth # Area (cm) Area (grams/ m sq. Burned % plant) 1 .08 11.0 100 -- 2 .09 7.5 37.5 -- 3 .15 8.0 97.5 1.32 4 .01 6.5 100 -- 5 .10 3.0 100 -- 6 .06 12.0 62.5 1.35 7 .09 11.0 100 -- 8 .11 5.0 100 -- 9 .16 4.5 100 -- 10 .13 8.0 100 -- 11 .23 7.0 97.5 3.95 12 .05 8.5 85.0 2.10 13 .04 3.5 97.5 2.00 14 .02 4.0 85.0 0.21 15 .06 9.0 0.0 -- 16 .05 6.0 100 -- 17 .03 11.0 100 -- 18 .10 9.0 100 -- 19 .02 7.0 62.5 0.86 20 .04 8.0 62.5 0.37 21 .05 5.0 97.5 0.14 average .08 7.8 85.0 1.40 FIRE MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS : The foliage of creeping juniper must be completely consumed for high levels of mortality to occur. Many partially burned individuals can recover relatively rapidly. Results of this study also indicate that temperature alone does not determine the way in which fire affects creeping juniper. Other factors also influence fire effects and the subsequent response of this species.

FIRE CASE STUDIES

SPECIES: Juniperus horizontalis | Creeping Juniper
CASE NAME : Sun River Burn SEASON/SEVERITY CLASSIFICATION : Season not reported/ low severity STUDY LOCATION : The study site was located in west-central Montana approximately 22 miles (35 km) west of Augusta on the Sun River Game Range. PREFIRE VEGETATIVE COMMUNITY : Preburn vegetation was dominated by creeping juniper, bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), rough fescue (Festuca scabrella), and various forbs. Prairie thermopsis (Thermopsis rhombifolia), silky lupine (Lupinus sericeus), and milkvetch (Astragalus spp.) were the most abundant forbs. Creeping juniper grew in large, dense mats at this site. TARGET SPECIES PHENOLOGICAL STATE : Not reported. SITE DESCRIPTION : elevation - 4,950 feet (1,500 m) topography - 5% slope - northeast exposure FIRE DESCRIPTION : The fire was of low intensity. rate of spread - 2 feet (0.61 m) per minute flame height - 3 feet (1 m) or less flame movement - 60 - 90 degrees from horizontal average fire temperature - 132.3 degrees F (91 degrees C) average soil moisture - 11% average fine fuel moisture - 32% FIRE EFFECTS ON TARGET SPECIES : An estimated 31 percent of the total canopy coverage of creeping juniper was consumed by fire; 29 percent was partially burned; and 40 percent was unharmed. None of the 10 tagged plants was killed by fire. Regrowth was noted on all tagged leaders during the first growing season after the burn. FIRE MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS : Creeping juniper can be killed by fire, although recovery appears likely where only a portion of the foliage is damaged. Often fire does not carry well where creeping juniper grows in large, dense mats.

Related categories for Species: Juniperus horizontalis | Creeping Juniper

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Information Courtesy: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Fire Effects Information System

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