FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Vaccinium ovalifolium | Ovalleaf Huckleberry 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Basal portions of the stem sometimes survive after aboveground
vegetation is damaged by fire.  Underground rhizomes [26] are presumably
afforded some protection by overlying soil and may survive fires which
consume the crown.  As with many other species of huckleberry (Vaccinium
spp.), plants are most likely to be killed by hot, duff-consuming fires
[44].  Seeds of most huckleberries are susceptible to heat and onsite
seed is typically eliminated by fire [44].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Vegetative response:  Ovalleaf huckleberry often sprouts from the stem
base [31] after aboveground vegetation is consumed by fire.  Rhizome
sprouting may occur after fires remove or damage all aboveground
vegetation, including the stem base [26].  In related species of
Vaccinium, sprouting is much less likely after hot, duff-consuming fires
[44].

Seedling establishment:  Limited postfire seedling establishment may
occur on some sites.  Seedbanking does not appear to be an important
regenerative strategy in ovalleaf huckleberry [26].  Seeds of most
huckleberries appear to be of short viability and are readily killed by
heat [44].  Birds and mammals may transport some seed from offsite [29].

Rate of postfire recovery:  The postfire recovery rate of ovalleaf
huckleberry appears variable.  In many areas recovery is very slow [79].
Ovalleaf huckleberry was absent during the first growing season after a
moderate fire in southwestern British Columbia, and plants had not
regained preburn vigor by the third growing season [26].  However, in
parts of the Cascades, this shrub may be common on recently burned sites
[50].  Recovery has been documented as follows on two burned sites in
coastal British Columbia [42]:

                      1969          1970          1971
                    (preburn)     (postburn)   (postburn)   

   % frequency        10.0          10.0          1.7
   % cover             0.1           0.2          0.1

                      1968          1969         1970         1971
                    (preburn)     (postburn)   (postburn)  (postburn)

   % frequency        47.0           8.0          23.9        20.5
   % cover            2.8            0.1           0.5         0.2   


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Wildlife:  Evidence suggests that fire suppression may be having an
adverse impact on bear habitat in some areas [64,68].  Once productive
seral berry fields are being invaded by conifers.  Since plants beneath
a forest canopy generally produce few berries, fruit production has been
steadily declining [47].  Logging treatments which include severe soil
scarification or slash burns may also reduce berry production.  Even
where timber harvest favors berry production, lack of cover in early
years can limit bear use.  Wildfires often create diverse habitat
mosaics which incorporate elements of hiding cover and favor bear use
[68].

Prescribed fire:  Prescribed fire has long been used to increase yields
in commerical low sweet blueberry (V. angustifolium) fields of the East
by naturally pruning decadent shoots [47,77].  Flower buds generally
tend to be more numerous on new shoots and periodic removal of old
shoots can increase fruit yield as well as enhance overall vigor [47].
Spring burns, conducted when the soil is moist, tend to be most
effective in promoting fruit production [77].  In the Great Lakes
Region, where disjunct populations of ovalleaf huckleberry occur, Krautz
[77] recommends burning huckleberry (Vaccinium spp.) stands with 4 to 5
years fuel accumulation during the early afternoon on warm, clear, sunny
days with average windspeeds of 5 to 10 miles per hour (6-8 km/hour).
Fast-moving fire fronts which burn aboveground parts but leave
underground regenerative structures intact generally produce best
results.  Therefore, when increased huckleberry fruit production is a
primary management objective, head fires are preferable to backing
fires.  Supportive ignition (repeated ignitions) is generally required
when burning huckleberry stands in the East.  In the Great Lakes Region,
areas to be burned should be rotated over a 4- to 5-year interval to
maintain adequate berry production for recreationists and wildlife [77].
Minore [47] has considered the effects of prescribed fire on the blue
huckleberry (V. membranaceum) in the Northwest [see VACMEM], but little
is known about the specific effects of prescribed fire on fruit
production in ovalleaf huckleberry.

Berry production:  Berry production in most western huckleberries is
generally reduced for at least 5 years after fire [44].  On some sites,
berry production may be significantly reduced for 20 to 30 years or more
[44].  Reduced initial berry production is probable after fires in
ovalleaf huckleberry fields of western North America.  Abundance is
often reduced after fires used for site preparation in British Columbia
[79].

Related categories for Species: Vaccinium ovalifolium | Ovalleaf Huckleberry