FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Cupressus bakeri | Baker Cypress 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Baker cypress is a fire-adapted, fire-dependent species.  Reproduction
is usually restricted to burned sites [27].  The serotinous cones of
Baker cypress persist on the trees for years.  Cone-opening is erratic,
slow, and almost negligible except when cones are exposed to extreme
heat; then it is rapid and uniform [32].  When opened by the heat of a
fire, the seeds fall on exposed mineral soil, and produce thickets of
seedlings [16,31].  Most seed falls in the first few months following
fire [32].  Fires that occur in late summer and fall, followed by winter
rains, ensure seed dissemination on bare mineral substrates [27,29].  No
information was available on fire-free intervals for communities
dominated by Baker cypress.  However, Tecate cypress (Cupressus
guadalupenis var. forbesii), has an average interval between fires of 25
years, ranging from 15 to 63 years [1].


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Tree without adventitious-bud root crown
   Crown residual colonizer (on-site, initial community)
   Initial-offsite colonizer (off-site, initial community)

Related categories for Species: Cupressus bakeri | Baker Cypress