FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Juniperus horizontalis | Creeping Juniper 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Death occurs when the crown is totally consumed by fire [28].  Fires
which consume most of the aboveground foliage usually produce serious
damage to the root system as well [28].  Plants subjected to varying
degrees of partial defoliation often survive, however.  Where large
extensive mats occur, fires may not carry across the entire plant, and
survival is fairly common [28].  Smaller plants are believed to be more
susceptible to fire.

Little is known about the specific effects of fire according to fire
intensity or season of burn.  Under some circumstances fires of even low
intensity can produce serious damage.  Miller [28] observed that
temperatures less than 450 degrees Fahrenheit (267 deg C) are sometimes
sufficient to kill creeping juniper.  Creeping junipers survived
temperatures of 109 degrees Fahrenheit (78 deg C) to 450 degrees
Fahrenheit (267 deg C) during a fire in central Montana [28].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Creeping junipers which survived a fire in central Montana generally
produced new leaves and exhibited good growth during the first postfire
growing season [28].  Regrowth during the first growing season ranged
from .005 to .14 ounce (0.14-3.95 g) per plant and averaged .05 ounce
(1.4 g) per plant [28].

Reestablishment is through seed on sites where creeping juniper has been
killed by fire.  Germination of juniper seed is often poor [30], and
regeneration is likely to be slow.  The seed of most junipers can remain
viable for a relatively long period of time.  Some seed can presumably
survive the damaging effects of fire if protected from heat by overlying
layers of soil.  Germination of these on-site seeds may occur when
favorable conditions are encountered.  Birds and mammals consume
creeping juniper seed and can bring seed onto burned sites from unburned
areas.  The length of time required for postfire reestablishment of
creeping juniper has not been documented.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Fire management potential appears to be somewhat limited because many
creeping juniper sites are much too rocky for fires to carry.  Potential
benefits may be slight.

Related categories for Species: Juniperus horizontalis | Creeping Juniper