FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Vaccinium caespitosum | Dwarf Huckleberry 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Underground portions of dwarf huckleberry can survive most light to
moderate fires.  However, rhizomes are relatively shallow and may be
killed by hot duff-reducing fires [37].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Seedling establishment:  Seedbanking does not appear to be an important
postfire regenerative strategy of dwarf huckleberry.  Although seeds
were observed within the top 1.2 inches (3 cm) of soil in paper
birch-balsam fir-white spruce forests of Quebec, viability was low and
few seedlings could be expected to develop from seed stored on-site
[53].  Seeds of dwarf huckleberry are dispersed considerable distances
by birds and mammals [37,72].  Seeds are generally unharmed by digestive
processes and can germinate on favorable sites during moist years.

Vegetative regeneration:  Shallow rhizomes may enable dwarf huckleberry
to sprout and quickly reoccupy a site after most light to moderate fires
[37].  After severe treatments in which rhizomes are eliminated,
reestablishment most likely proceeds slowly through seedling
establishment or clonal expansion at the burn's periphery.  Following
small, patchy fires, such as those occurring after lighting strikes on
high elevation sites with discontinous fuels, reestablishment would
presumably occur through rhizomatous spreading from the perimeter of the
burn.

Postfire reestablishment:  Light fires may favor dwarf huckleberry by
reducing competitors, increasing nutrient availability, and opening the
canopy so that greater amounts of light reaches low shrubs.
Reestablishment is rapid where rhizomes are capable of resprouting.
Postfire cover can greatly exceed preburn levels [20].  In parts of the
central Rockies, light fires in high elevation spruce-fir forests create
a ground cover made up primarily of dwarf huckleberry and a "few hardy
herbaceous ... relics" [46].  

Postfire increases in dwarf huckleberry have also been reported in
eastern North America.  After fire in a black spruce community in
Labrador, frequency of dwarf huckleberry was 44.4 percent in unburned
stands compared with 63.1 percent in burned stands [20].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Postharvest treatment:  Dwarf huckleberry can often survive broadcast
burns which follow timber harvest [37].  However, shallow rhizomes can
be seriously damaged by hot burns which occur in piled slash or where
fuel loading is heavy.

Wildlife:  Evidence suggests that fire suppression may have an adverse
impact on bear habitat [78,88].  Once productive seral berry fields are
currently being invaded by conifers.  Logging treatments which include
severe soil scarification or slash fires may also result in decreased
berry availability.  Even where timber harvest favors berry production,
lack of cover in early years can limit bear use.  However, wildfires
often create diverse habitat mosaics which include elements of hiding
cover which favors bear use.  Succession proceeds slowly on high
elevation berry fields, particularly on south slopes, and fires often
generate shrubfields that remain productive for long periods of time
[88].

Prescribed fire:  Prescribed fires, particularly those carried out
during the spring, may increase berry production for bears and other
animals.  Little research has been conducted on dwarf huckleberry,
although the use of prescribed fire has been evaluated with respect to
blue huckleberries (Vaccinium globulare, Vaccinium membranaceum).  [see
VACGLO].  Light or moderate burns, conducted when the soil is somewhat
moist, may be most effective in promoting western huckleberries [50].

Related categories for Species: Vaccinium caespitosum | Dwarf Huckleberry