Charles Darwin visits a forest fire

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[evensgrey]

Don't forget the problems that occur if fires are suppressed to intensely. This leads to an accumulation of dead wood, which tends to be ideal fuel for forest fires. Plants and animal have evolved strategies that allow them to survive or recolonize after normal intensity fires, but the severe fires that result from the accumulation of abnormal levels of dead wood can overcome these strategies. IIRC, this happened repeatedly back in the 80's, leading to changes in fire control practices.

[emancoy]

@belfastfreethinker these trees have taken entirely different evolutionary strategies, one may be vulnerable to some selective pressures (rot, insects, diseases, fire) and you see all this diversity. these highly flammable trees have other adaptive features like having their seeds dispersed all over the place and when the old high resin trees burned, the seedlings will grow and take their place.

[belfastfreethinker]

I have an interesting question for you Most timber is vulnerable to rot or insects or both. This makes evolutionary sense because decomposition recycles nutrients back into the soil to feed the offspring of dead trees. However, some timber is resistant to rot and insects Cedar for example Would it be fair to say that such trees have evolved vulnerability to forest fire with a high resin content? Fire would do the job of recycling nutrients for the trees' future generations I've often wondered

[belfastfreethinker]

I have an interesting question for you Most timber is vulnerable to rot or insects or both. This makes evolutionary sense because decomposition recycles nutrients back into the soil to feed the offspring of dead trees. However, some timber is resistant to rot and insects Cedar for example Would it be fair to say that such trees have evolved vulnerability to forest fire with a high resin content? Fire would do the job of recycling nutrients for the trees' future generations I've often wondered