FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Quercus shumardii | Shumard Oak 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Specific information on the relationship of Shumard oak and fire was not
found in the literature.  Shumard oak occurs in bottomland hardwood
forests which are dependent on fire exclusion [43].  It also occurs in
post oak (Quercus stellata)-blackjack oak communities which, though they
can be damaged by fire, are fire resistant [42].  Shumard oak occurs in
blue ash savannas, which are maintained by a combination of factors
including fire [10].

Shumard oak is probably moderately resistant to immediate fire damage,
but, like many hardwoods, is subject to attack by disease when wounded
by fire.  Basal wounding usually results in at least top-kill of such
trees, either by girdling the tree or by creating avenues for infection
by wood-rotting fungi.  Top-killed Shumard oak produce root sprouts [40].

Shumard oak is not usually found in early seral communities and is
therefore unlikely to colonize early postfire communities.


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   Tree with adventitious-bud root crown/soboliferous species root sucker

Related categories for Species: Quercus shumardii | Shumard Oak