FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Quercus marilandica | Blackjack Oak



FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Blackjack oak is nearly as fire tolerant as turkey oak [43] and more
fire tolerant than post oak and black oak [19].  Smaller blackjack oaks
are easily top-killed by fire, but sprout vigorously from the root crown
[59].

Recurring fires at 6- to 8-year intervals in the Pine Plains of New
Jersey have produced and maintained a dwarfed community of pitch pine,
blackjack oak, and bear oak [19,33].  Most arborescent oak species are
restricted from the Pine Plains because they do not bear viable seed at
a young enough age to reproduce effectively at this high fire frequency.
Blackjack oak tolerates these frequent fires by sprouting vigorously
after being top-killed and by producing viable seed on the sprouts in 3
to 4 years [29,30].

In xeric sandhill communities of blackjack oak, post oak, and bluejack
oak, grass and other fuels are rare and fires only occasional.  When
fires do reach these communities, these oaks may be top-killed, but they
sprout from the root crown and the community is maintained [56].

Under a normal fire regime (fire occurring every few years), a savanna
is maintained because grass grows back faster than the woody sprouts
after a hot fire.  In the absence of fire, blackjack oak spreads and
the grass dies back [23].


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

Related categories for Species: Quercus marilandica | Blackjack Oak