FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Celtis occidentalis | Hackberry 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
There is virtually no direct information in the literature to indicate
hackberry's adaptation to disturbance by fire.  A flood tolerant species
[21] with moderately thick bark when mature [31], hackberry will sprout
from the stumps of small trees, but rarely form those of large trees
[21].  However, Krajicek [21] reports that hackberry is highly
susceptible to fire damage which opens the way for wood decay organisms,
and due to its preferrence for reproduction under shade, it is doubtful
that hackberry seedlings would survive under full sunlight conditions
present as a result of burning [11,21,35].  On the Konza prairie of
Kansas, where hackberry is reproducing under the shade of heliophilous
(sun-loving) bur and chinkapin oaks (Quercus macrocarpa and Q.
muehlenbergii), there is evidence that hackberry is able to survive only
where fire is excluded as a natural component of the environment [34].
Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata), a member of the Celtis genus that
morphologically and ecologically is quite similar to hackberry, is
reported to be easily injured by fire.  A light burn kills back
reproduction, and heavier burns may kill even the largest trees and
wound others, subjecting them to serious butt rot which advances rapidly
in this species [27].  This limited information suggests that hackberry
is not well adapted to disturbance by fire.




POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   secondary colonizer species;offsite seed transported to site after year 2

Related categories for Species: Celtis occidentalis | Hackberry