FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Cupressus macrocarpa | Monterey Cypress 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Monterey cypress is a fire-adapted species with serotinous cones [33].
Serotiny is less pronounced in Monterey cypress than in other California
cypress species, possibly due to reduced frequency of intense crown
fires near the ocean [20,33].  Monterey cypress is capable of seedling
establishment with or without crown fire, although fire provides optimum
site conditions for regeneration [20].  Some Monterey cypress trees
survive fire; "fire-hollowed" trees were reported on sites containing
both Monterey cypress and pines [34].  

When cones of the California cypress species are opened by the heat of a
fire, the seeds fall on exposed mineral soil [16,34].  Most seed falls
in the first few months following fire [35].  Fires that occur in late
summer and fall and are followed by winter rains ensure seed
dissemination on bare mineral substrates and moist conditions for
germination [33].  No information was available on fire-free intervals
for communities dominated by Monterey cypress.  Tecate cypress
(Cupressus guadalupenis var. forbesii), a cypress found in southern
California, has an average interval between fires of 25 years, ranging
from 15 to 63 years [2,33].


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 macrocarpa | Monterey Cypress