FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Quercus rubra | Northern Red Oak 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Northern red oak is well adapted to periodic fires [3,70].  Older,
larger individuals often survive fire and young, small trees typically
resprout vigorously from the stump or root collar [33].  Postfire
seedling establishment has also been reported.  Fire is integrally
associated with oak forests [131].  Many researchers maintain that
recurrent fires are the key to oak dominance in some areas.  As a result
of increased fire suppression, oak forests have been replaced by mesic
sugar maple communities [25].

Northeast and central states:  Fire has played an important role in
deciduous forests of the eastern United States [98,134].  Most oaks are
favored by a regime of relatively frequent fire, and many present-day
oak forests may have developed in response to recurrent fire.  Declines
of oak forests have been noted throughout much of the East and are often
attributed to reduced fire frequency [98].  Historic fire frequencies of
approximately 22 years have been reported for maple-basswood forests of
Minnesota, in which northern red oak occurs as a dominant [35].

Northern red oak occurred on relatively mesic sites in presettlement oak
savannas of the Upper Midwest.  In the absence of recurrent fires, these
savannas are replaced by closed mixed mesophytic forests within 20 to 40
years [25].

The Southeast:  Fire was also a major influence in presettlement forests
of the Southeast.  In the southern Appalachians, many present-day oak
stands may have developed 60 to 100 years ago with widespread burning
associated with agriculture and timber harvest.  Increased fire
suppression has evidently favored more shade-tolerant hardwoods and
resulted in a decrease in oaks [120].


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   survivor species; on-site surviving root crown or caudex
   survivor species; on-site surviving roots
   off-site colonizer; seed carried by animals or water; postfire yr 1&2

Related categories for Species: Quercus rubra | Northern Red Oak