FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Quercus dumosa | Nuttall's Scrub Oak 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Nuttall's scrub oak is well adapted to survive periodic fires.  However,
unlike many other shrubs common to chaparral, this oak is well able to
persist either with or without fire [40].  Nuttall's scrub oak sprouts
vigorously as soon as 10 days after fire but can continue to sprout for
up to 2 years [25,27].  This trait promotes survival by increasing the
possibility that at least some sprouts will encounter favorable weather
for good early growth.  Both stump sprouting and root crown sprouting
have been well documented [9,10,39,40].  Nuttall's scrub oak's prolific
sprouting ability contributes greatly to its persistence and stability
within various communities [29].  Plants probably establish from seed
only in unusually moist years [74].

Nuttall's scrub oak communities often occupy relatively mesic,
north-facing slopes.  This oak has little dead wood and tends to be
somewhat less flammable than many other chaparral species [40].


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Tall shrub, adventitious-bud root crown
   Initial-offsite colonizer (off-site, initial community)

Related categories for Species: Quercus dumosa | Nuttall's Scrub Oak