FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Vaccinium alaskensis | Alaska Blueberry 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Alaska blueberry sprouts from rhizomes after burning [49].  It may also
sprout from roots and underground stems like other Vacciniums
[25,41,45].  Seedling establishment in most western Vacciniums is not
common but may occur as birds and animals disperse seeds from off-site
sources [39].  Seral blueberry fields in Oregon and Washington are most
likely the result of wildfires [40].  These fields are dwindling in size
as a result of decades of fire suppresion.  Fire has apparently been
used in the past by Native Americans of the Northwest to enhance or
maintain Vaccinium fruit production [36,40].  Alaska blueberry primarily
occurs in cool-moist forests that have very long fire intervals (perhaps
400-500 years).


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   survivor species; on-site surviving root crown or caudex
   survivor species; on-site surviving rhizomes
   off-site colonizer; seed carried by animals or water; postfire yr 1&2

Related categories for Species: Vaccinium alaskensis | Alaska Blueberry