FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Pinus echinata | Shortleaf Pine 



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Shortleaf pine is classified as fire-resistant [4].  It is more tolerant
than loblolly pine [45] and less tolerant than pitch pine [16].  It has
a low susceptibility to crown fire because of its moderately high and
open crown and moderately open stand structure.  It is able to endure
some fire defoliation [4] but is not able to survive frequent or severe
fires [28].  Shortleaf pine has medium-thick bark which protects the
tree and the dormant buds within the bole and at the base.  Shortleaf
pines up to about 30 years of age will sprout from dormant basal buds if
the crown is top-killed [28,31].  Shortleaf pine regenerates well after
fire since exposed mineral soil and lack of competition facilitate
seedling establishment.


POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   crown-stored residual colonizer; short-viability seed in on-site cones
   off-site colonizer; seed carried by wind; postfire years one and two
   survivor species; on-site surviving root crown or caudex

Related categories for Species: Pinus echinata | Shortleaf Pine