FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Juniperus scopulorum | Rocky Mountain Juniper 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Young Rocky Mountain junipers are short, have thin bark and a compact
crown.  These characteristics cause them to be readily killed by fire
[5].  Young trees are often killed when the crown and stem are scorched.
Low, spreading branches can allow the fire to spread to the crown.

Older Rocky Mountain junipers have thicker bark and a more open crown
which enables them to survive low-intensity fires.  Even older trees can
be killed by a hot fire however.  Large older junipers have been known
to survive 4 to 6 low-intensity fires in areas with little understory.
Where understory vegetation is absent, fire damage is usually slight
[5].  In some open stands with little understory, fires do not carry.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Rocky Mountain juniper does not resprout after fire.  Some older, larger
trees can survive low-intensity fires and serve as seed sources [5].
Reoccupation of a site is generally through water or animal-dispersed
seed.  Recovery time depends on the distance to seed sources, the size
of the burn and presence of dispersal agents.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Species: Juniperus scopulorum | Rocky Mountain Juniper