FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Chamaecyparis thyoides | Atlantic White-Cedar 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Adult white-cedar trees are readily killed by fire, but successful
seedling establishment is largely dependent on fires of moderate
severity at relatively short intervals [43].  Seeds stored in the peaty
soils often germinate in abundance after fire if the upper peat layers
are not destroyed [4].  Atlantic white-cedar swamp forests in the
Southeast are typically produced by a low-frequency, moderate-severity
fire regime related to "marginally moist soil conditions" [5].  In many
areas, increased fire suppression has led to the decline of Atlantic
white-cedar by promoting the growth of competing hardwoods such as red
maple, white bay, and black gum [11].

Changes in natural fire cycles have contributed to the decline of
Atlantic white-cedar in some areas.  In many southeastern swamps, water
tables have been lowered for silvicultural and agricultural purposes,
which has increased the likelihood of dry season fires [5].  Hardwood
forests of red maple, black gum, or water gum are often favored by
severe, dry season fires [4,19,34].  Atlantic white-cedar may persist
only on small hummocks of peat, near stumps, on moss-covered logs and on
rotten wood located above the general water level [19].  In North
Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, moderate fires which occur
during the dry season, or within a few years of a previous fire, often
generate stands of pond pine [12,19].  Farther south, moderate or
frequent fires often produce stands of slash pine [19,34].  As fire
frequencies increase, Atlantic white-cedar declines and stands may be
replaced by shrub bogs as the fire-sensitive plants are killed and the
seed banks depleted [5].  In the North, frequent fire tends to favor the
development of uniform stands of Atlantic white-cedar, but in the South,
mixed forests of white-cedar and hardwoods often develop [47].

In Florida and the Gulf Coast, wet seepage slopes burn infrequently
[47].  Swamps in which Atlantic white-cedar occurs as a dominant
generally only burn after long droughts which increase the flammability
of peat [11,35].  At other times, these swampy areas serve as natural
fire breaks.  Fires rarely begin in swampy Atlantic white-cedar stands.

Fire is particularly important in the establishment and persistence of
Atlantic white-cedar forests.  Atlantic white-cedar is often capable of
colonizing moist open sites, and wet season fires which occur after
relatively long fire-free intervals tend to produce pure cedar stands
[12].  


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   ground-stored residual colonizer; fire-activated seed on-site in soil
   off-site colonizer; seed carried by animals or water; postfire yr 1&2

Related categories for Species: Chamaecyparis thyoides | Atlantic White-Cedar