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Wildlife, Animals, and Plants
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FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Quercus laevis
| Turkey Oak
Large, mature turkey oaks have relatively thick bark and can survive
low-severity fire. If top-killed, turkey oak sprouts vigorously from
the root collar. Historically, natural fire occurred at 3- to 4-year
intervals in sandhill vegetation [28]. Frequent low-severity fire keeps
turkey oaks small, stunted, and widely scattered [23].
Fire influences the spatial pattern of turkey oak. Repeated fires
result in segregation between longleaf pine and turkey oak [28]. Fire
fueled by longleaf pine litter is hotter than fire fueled by turkey oak
litter [36]. In addition, fallen pine needles lodge in the foliage of
subcanopy turkey oak. Turkey oak stands growing with longleaf pine,
where fires are frequent and carry well, are often young and even-aged.
Turkey oak stands isolated from pines, where fires are less frequent,
are uneven-aged [28].
Turkey oak is protected from fire near groves of sand live oak, which
act as natural fire breaks. The litter of sand live oak is moist and
incombustible, and the dense grove inhibits wiregrass growth [28].
Tree with adventitious bud/root crown/soboliferous species root sucker
Related categories for
SPECIES: Quercus laevis
| Turkey Oak
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