Fire adaptation

Fire adaptation is the ability of a species to resist and survive fires. This is accomplished through natural selection that causes the development of adaptive traits that vary between species. There are numerous adaptations that are all very different from one another and all very effective in maintaining biota survival during or following a fire.

Photo courtesy of B.C. Wildfire Management Branch

One example of this is called serotiny, or the ability of a plant to retain seeds in their canopies, releasing them following a fire instead of at seed maturation. This assists a plant in recovering and repopulating following a devastation.  Serotiny doesn't happen exclusively to fire adaptive plants, but is a characteristic of fire adaptation. The most popular example of this seed retention is by some species of pine tree, who hold their seeds high in the trees. The seeds of the pine tree are encased in a hardy cone, like a womb, and sealed with a waxy substance that melts in the presence of fire, releasing the seed to germinate. The needles of a pine tree also have a high moisture concentration, the trunk covered in thick bark, and are "self-pruning", causing them to be more tolerant to surface fire. Lacking branches low to the ground reduces "ladder fuel", which carries fire upwards towards the canopy, causing heavy damage.

Photo by Seb Ruiz

Plants are not the only thing that can be considered fire adapted. Animals can also possess adaptations to fire. It is uncommon for mature animals to be found dead following a fire, mostly because they know where to go to escape fire. Some birds and small mammals can burrow into the soil, which is an excellent insulator against fire, in order to survive a fire. Some species can also benefit from from fire as it can bring prey to easily accessible areas. Herd and small animals can be pushed into open areas and insects flee smokey areas, creating lots of food for some animals and even leads to increasing reproductive rates following fire.

Photo by A. Morris

Works Cited

"Ponderosa Pine." State Symbols USA. Web. 17 Apr. 2016. http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/symbol-official-item/montana/state-tree/ponderosa-pine

Press, The Canadian. "B.C. Wildfire Officials Concerned with 2nd Heat Wave - British Columbia - CBC News." CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada. Web. 17 Apr. 2016. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-wildfire-officials-concerned-with-2nd-heat-wave-1.2719326

“The Ecology of the Ponderosa Pine Zone.” Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, British Columbia. Web. 17 April 2016.

<https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/docs/bro/bro60.pdf>