FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Rubus spectabilis | Salmonberry 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Salmonberry is extremely resistant to fire [5,67].  Underground
regenerative structures generally survive when aboveground foliage is
totally destroyed.  Actual postfire plant mortality is presumably low.
Most seed stored on-site in the soil or duff is probably unharmed by
fire.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Salmonberry has the ability to recover rapidly after fire through
sprouting and seedling establishment.  Dense stands can develop within 2
to 3 years after disturbance [61].  In most communities, salmonberry
generally remains abundant until the canopy closes [61].

Vegetative response:  Salmonberry possesses a vast bud bank which is
capable of vigorous sprouting after fire [70].  The specific type of
vegetative response exhibited by this shrub depends on such factors as
the intensity of the fire, age and density of the plant, and site
characteristics.  Where portions of the stump survive intact,
stump-sprouting is the predominant mode of postfire regeneration [70].
Apical dominance suppresses sprouting from other lower regenerative
structures, such as rootcrowns and rhizomes [70].  Where portions of the
aboveground foliage is undamaged, downward-arching aerial canes buried
by litter occasionally root and produce shoots [5].  The stem base or
root crown, located at or below the soil surface, is afforded some
protection from the direct effects of fire.  These structures sprout if
the aboveground foliage has been consumed by fire [70].  Buds located on
the root crown are generally eliminated only by extreme soil disturbance
[70].  If the root crown is destroyed, underground rhizomes typically
sprout prolifically [70].  Rhizomes are protected from fire by the depth
of overlying soil and by their extensiveness.  The probability that even
an extremely hot fire will eliminate the entire network of
well-protected rhizomes is low [70].
 
Seedling establishment:  Salmonberry is noted for seed which can retain
good viability for years while buried in the soil or duff [5].
Seedlings require mineral soil for best establishment and growth, and
seedbanking represents an important mode of postfire reestablishment.
Some seedling establishment can also occur through seed transported from
off-site.  Small groups of seedlings have been observed to germinate
from fairly well-protected rodent caches [47].  Although small mammals
generally play only a local role in dispersal [47], birds and larger
mammals occasionally carry seeds for longer distances.
 


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
Fire intensity and severity can significantly influence the speed of
postfire recovery.  Plants frequently sprout from aerial stems, stumps,
or root crowns following fires of low to moderate intensity.  However,
sprouting most commonly occurs from underground rhizomes following high
intensity fires.  Recovery through rhizomes tends to be somewhat slower
because of the cool underground environment in which these sprouts
develop [70].
 
Younger rhizomes tend to grow more actively and sprout more vigorously
than larger, older rhizomes which typically have lower bud densities
[70].  Rhizomes tend to be better developed on relatively mesic sites
with deep soils [61].  Rhizomes may be poorly developed or even lacking
on dry, rocky sites [61].  Postfire sprouting could presumably be
reduced on sites with shallow or rocky soils, or where the preburn stand
was primarily made up of older plants lacking vigor.


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Wildlife:  Fire generally benefits animals that consume the fruits of
Rubus spp. [41].
 
Competition:  Slash burning in coastal Douglas-fir forests can sometimes
reduce the rate of salmonberry invasion for a period of several years.
However, response is variable and depends on such factors as fire
intensity and severity, and the density and vigor of salmonberry prior
to treatment [70].  In some instances, particularly where extremely
abundant in preburn communities, salmonberry grows rapidly and soon
retards the development of conifers despite hot slash burns [70].  Hot
slash fires often damage only a small portion of the extensive rhizome
network [70].  Salmonberry responded as follows after broadcast burning
in a coastal Oregon clearcut [59]:
                      
                   # per acre 
               before burn                      1 yr. after burn 
aspect    orig. stems   seedlings      orig. stems + sprouts    seedlings    
north     10,700        6,150                 7,880             5,680 
south     10,920        2,120                10,520             3,920 
 
On logged and burned sites, stem growth of salmonberry was rapid and
pretreatment height was reached by mid to late summer following
mechanical removal of foliage in February, March, and April [70].  On
logged, unburned plots, pretreatment height was not reached until the
end of the growing season [70].  Treatment of salmonberry prior to
timber harvest may reduce subsequent cover and favor the establishment
of conifer seedlings [70].

Related categories for Species: Rubus spectabilis | Salmonberry