Quercus kelloggii (Newb.) sprout response to fire severity in northern California

Abstract

We counted seedlings and assessed crown characteristics and abundance of fire-induced stump sprout regeneration in California black oak (Quercus kelloggii) 11 to 12 years after wildfire. Regeneration was examined across three levels of burn severity (low, moderate, and high) according to the Composite Burn Index. Fire severity affected crown width of oak sprout clumps; clumps of a given width were taller in areas of high severity fire. Multi-stemmed, sprouting black oak genets were more common than black oak seedlings. The data illustrate a positive sprout clump density association with increasing fire severity. Black oak densities were 3.6, 21.7, and 66.0 genets ac^-1 in low, moderate, and high burn severity stands, respectively. Additionally, stand level crown area of the sprouted oak trees was strongly influenced by summed live and fire-killed mature black oak basal area (R² = 0.83) and density (R² = 0.73).

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the seventh California oak symposium: managing oak woodlands in a dynamic world

Keywords

2000 Storrie Fire, California black oak, CBI, Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment

Citation

Crotteau, Justin S.; Ritchie, Martin W.; Varner, J. Morgan; Berrill, John-Pascal. 2015. Quercus kelloggii (Newb.) sprout response to fire severity in northern California. In: Standiford, Richard B.; Purcell, Kathryn L., tech. cords. Proceedings of the seventh California oak symposium: managing oak woodlands in a dynamic world. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-251. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 377-386.