FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Lycium andersonii | Anderson Wolfberry 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Fire typically destroys aboveground parts of Anderson wolfberry, but the
degree of damage to the plant depends on fire severity.  Following a
high-severity fire in a creosotebush community, most plants were reduced
to ash and mortality was almost inevitable [4].  Following moderate
severity fires, however, intermittent sprouting occurred [4].
  
Lycium species were sampled following two June Sonoran Desert fires
[25].  No information of the fire's severity or intensity was provided.
Results are as follows [25]:

                             Burned plots and transects*
                         N        RS       %Kill     %Comsumption
                        -----------------------------------------   
Deadman wash site:       9         0          50          10
Saguaro site:           33         9         100          51


* N=Number of plants RS=number of plants sprouting %Kill=Mean value of
proportion of photosynthetic surface scorched or consumed by fire.
%Consumption= Mean reduction of total biomass. 


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Anderson wolfberry sprouts from the root crown or roots after
disturbance, and will presumably do so after fire [33,34].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
In some desert communities, such as cresotebush, where Anderson
wolfberry occurs, fires tend to be infrequent due to limited fuel, wide
spacing between shrubs, and sparse ground cover [4].  Many desert
perennials are poorly adapted to burning.  Recurrent fires appear to
select for short-lived desert shrubs at the expense of long-lived
species [4] such as Anderson wolfberry.  Postdisturbance recolonization
by long-lived species is very slow initially and may require hundreds of
years [4,25].  A conservative approach toward desert fire management is
recommended [25].

Related categories for Species: Lycium andersonii | Anderson Wolfberry