FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Pinus albicaulis | Whitebark Pine 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
The moderately fire-resistant whitebark pine is favored by both creeping
surface or ground fires and severe fires.  Both types of fire kill more
shade-tolerant and fire-sensitive asssociate species of whitebark pine,
such as subalpine fir.  Hot surface fires that heat the cambium cause
fire injury or death to these thin-barked trees.  Fires of low to
moderate severity can climb into trees if fuel ladders and downfall are
present, thus increasing the potential of torching.  Most fires
occurring where whitebark pines grow are ignited by lightning and do not
spread very rapidly or cause severe tree injury [1,2].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
The regeneration of whitebark pine in small openings is probably the
result of surface fires.  In contrast, the perpetuation of whitebark
pine on moist sites where succession to shade-tolerant species is
relatively rapid is probably due to severe fires.  The occurrence of
whitebark pine and Engelmann spruce in subalpine basins and on moist
north slopes is probably the result of fire [2].

Postfire seedling survivor rate is reported as 25 percent.  A maximum of
150 years is required for afforestation at current rates.  Fires create
sites conducive to the planting of seeds by Clark's nutcrackers and for
seedling establishment [1,2,17,46,47].
	


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Species: Pinus albicaulis | Whitebark Pine