FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Juniperus virginiana | Eastern Redcedar 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Eastern redcedar was historically restricted to sites which were
protected from fire by topoedaphic factors and insufficient fuels
[27,100].  During the 1800's, eastern redcedar was largely restricted to
refugia such as clifftops, river bluffs, and bottoms [11,14].  As a
result of overgrazing and subsequent reduction in fuels, and increased
fire suppression, eastern redcedar began spreading onto rolling uplands
and prairie slopes [1,14,45].  In many areas it has been vigorously
encroaching into grasslands since the 1920's [92].

Eastern redcedar is unable to persist on frequently burned sites [6].
Fire intervals of less than 20 years would probably eliminate this
species [41].  Presettlement fire intervals have been estimated at 3.2
years in portions of the Missouri glades which now support eastern
redcedar [41].  Many of the harsh, rocky sites occupied by eastern
redcedar lack sufficient fuels to carry fire [6,91]; the moist sites
occupied by this species, such as marshes and swamps, also burn
infrequently [100].

Eastern redcedar reestablishes through seed transported by various birds
and mammals.


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Secondary colonizer - off-site seed

Related categories for Species: Juniperus virginiana | Eastern Redcedar