FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Shepherdia canadensis | Russet Buffaloberry 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Severe fires will consume all aboveground leaves and stems of russet
buffaloberry, while light to moderate fires will leave some stems
standing [37].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Russet buffaloberry is normally fire resistant but can be eliminated by
fire [34].  As a result it is classified as moderately resistant to
burning [34,38].  Following a Montana wildfire, regrowth of buffaloberry
was slow; 4 to 5 years were required for 25 percent of the eventual
crown size to be obtained [30].  Recurrent, low-intensity ground fires
are closely linked to maintaining russet buffaloberry density and vigor
in stands with lodgepole pine and quaking aspen overstories, and dry
upland meadows where it dominates the shrub layer [37].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
Following an intense wildfire in Colorado, essentially all aboveground
vegetation in the perimeter died.  The fire was the most intense where
dominated by lodgepole pine, with lower intensities in areas dominated
by subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce.  Russet buffaloberry increased
rapidly following this fire due to sprouting from surviving roots. A
combination of delayed sprouting and seeds originating from outside the
burn was hypothesized to be responsible for an increase in frequency
over the study period.  Three years after the fire, russet buffaloberry
was mainly found on sites with a somewhat lower slope, a higher prefire
tree basal area, and a higher number of prefire tree stems per acre.
These factors appear to be conducive to russet buffaloberry
establishment and growth [3].


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Low- to moderate-intensity fires may increase vigor and density of
russet buffaloberry in old-growth stands.  Berry production may also be
increased for several years after fire [3,37].

Related categories for Species: Shepherdia canadensis | Russet Buffaloberry