FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Quercus chrysolepis | Canyon Live Oak 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Canyon live oak typically sprouts prolifically from the stump or
rootcrown after the trunk or crown is marginally damaged by fire [70].
Because of its proclivity for resprouting, stand turnover is generally
minimal [59].  Frequent fires tend to promote multistemmed shrublike
growth forms.  Open woodlands dominated by canyon live oak are
transformed into live oak chaparral by repeated fires, but once
protected from fire, chaparral reverts to woodlands as the oaks grow
tall enough during fire-free intervals to shade-out competing vegetation
and intra-clump stem density declines [49, P. McDonald pers. comm. 1990].
Where canyon live oak occurs in fireprone chaparral, its growth form is
typically shrublike [59].  Stems of canyon live oak are sensitive to
fire, and larger treelike individuals are generally found only in areas
which have not burned within 50 years or more [57].  Many sites dominated
by this oak are xeric and rocky, with little understory vegetation, and
probably carry fire only under unusual circumstances [57,73].  Disjunct
mesic areas in canyon bottoms or open higher elevation stands which burn
at locally reduced fire intensity are generally somewhat protected from
fire [59].

The presence of evergreen leaves, the ability to sprout prolifically,
and the ability to assume a shrublike growth form enhance the postfire
survival of canyon live oak.  The shrublike growth forms of other live
oaks reach maturity sooner than treelike growth forms of the same
species [54].  Evergreen leaves permit greater allocation of energy to
regeneration than to vegetative growth and also help to conserve
potentially scarce nutrients [49].  Canyon live oak can readily
reestablish a site through prolific sprouting, but establishment through
seed can also supplement sprout production during years with adequate
precipitation [49].  The ability to sprout generally reduces the
importance of a seed reservoir in chaparral plants and minimizes the
necessity of long-lived seed for postfire regeneration [62].  It should
be noted that fire plays no role in stimulating the germination of the
heat-sensitive canyon live oak acorns [40,42].  The long-lived canyon live
oak can persist with or without fire.


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Tree with adventitious-bud root crown/soboliferous species root sucker
   Initial-offsite colonizer (off-site, initial community)

Related categories for Species: Quercus chrysolepis | Canyon Live Oak