Wildlife, Animals, and Plants
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FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Calocedrus decurrens | Incense-Cedar
FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS :
Incense-cedar is highly susceptible to fire [20,24]. Incense-cedar
seedlings have very flammable bark and foliage, and are usually totally
consumed by fire. More mature trees have a thicker basal bark (up to 6
inches [15 cm]) that adequately protects them from ground fires [1].
Incense-cedar shows best seedling germination on fresh mineral soil or
very light litter [13]. Incense-cedar sheds its needles in late August
and produces about 2,000 pounds of litter per acre (4,940/ha) per year.
This deep litter layer provides sufficient fuel for moderate- to
high-severity fires [5].
A study of incense-cedar dry rot furnished the most complete record of
the fire history in the mixed conifer ecosystem. The shortest period
between fires was 3 years, the longest was 11, with high-severity fires
occurring every 8 years on average [13]. In Lava Beds National
Monument, California, historical records show presettlement fire
intervals to have been every 7.3 to 17 years [18].
POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY :
Tree without adventitious-bud root crown
Initial-offsite colonizer (off-site, initial community)
Related categories for Species: Calocedrus decurrens
| Incense-Cedar
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