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The Ecosystem

HomeWhat is Longleaf?The EcosystemBuilt by Fire

Built by Fire

Frequent, low intensity, and often large scale, surface fires were the dominant factor in shaping the longleaf pine ecosystems across the historical range. This frequent fire regime, over generations, selected for longleaf pine’s fire-resistant attributes.

Fire prepares the seed bed for increased chance of survival for longleaf pine germinants. Photo by Sarah Crate.
Fire prepares the seed bed for increased chance of survival for longleaf pine germinants. Photo by Sarah Crate.
New needle growth on grass stage longleaf after being scorched in a fire. Photo by Randy Tate.
New needle growth on grass stage longleaf after being scorched in a fire. Photo by Randy Tate.
Thick plates of bark protect inner wood from surface fires. Charred bark is a sign  of a previous fire. Photo by Robert Abernethy.
Thick plates of bark protect inner wood from surface fires. Charred bark is a sign of a previous fire. Photo by Robert Abernethy.

Seeds & Seedlings

Fire consumes litter on the forest floor, creating optimal conditions for germination. While longleaf seeds can germinate almost anywhere (on rocks, logs, forest mulch), they survive best on mineral soil. New germinants are susceptible to fire, however, until reaching the grass stage.

Grass Stage

Grass stage longleaf focus their growth underground in their roots while their long, dense needles protect the growth bud above ground. When a fire occurs, any burned or scorched needles will be quickly replaced with new growth. During the grass stage, longleaf pine seedlings are very resistant to fire damage.

“Rocket” Stage

Once longleaf initiates height growth, it grows rapidly in a short period of time, securing an advantageous position to gather sunlight. As it grows, newly emerged ‘candles’ may be vulnerable to damage until new (and protective) needles develop or the growing tip moves above typical flame heights. During the rocket stage, longleaf pine trees are also slightly more vulnerable to fire until its bark thickens for sufficient insulation.

Fire Resistant, Not Fire-Proof

After longleaf reaches 8 feet in height and about 2 inches in diameter at ground level, it becomes very robust and resistant to fire damage. On mature trees, thick plates of bark protect the inner wood from surface fires. Lower pine limbs are thermally pruned, keeping the canopy above most flame heights. Once established, longleaf needle litter promotes subsequent fires by providing fine fuels to carry fire across the forest floor. Of course, no tree is fire-proof, and longleaf pines are susceptible to fire injury during certain life-stages and when stressed by other environmental conditions (like drought, pests, or disease).

A Fire Forest

Longleaf pines are just one species in southeastern ecosystems adapted to frequent, low-intensity fires. Plants and wildlife alike utilize different strategies to survive and thrive in regularly burned habitats. See this response in action in the Perennial Forest Story - a visual journey of one forest following a prescribed fire.

BROWSE THIS SECTION

  • The Tree
    • Life Stages
    • The Economics
    • The History
    • The Misconceptions
  • The Ecosystem
    • Built by Fire
    • Habitats
    • Species Diversity
  • Restoration & Management
    • Groundcover Restoration
    • Herbicides
    • Longleaf Regeneration
    • Prescribed Fire
  • Photo Gallery

From our feed

Have you heard? We're hosting a field day at the C Have you heard? We're hosting a field day at the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge on June 6th. Join us to discuss all things longleaf restoration! Sign up TODAY at longleafalliance.org > upcoming events (link in bio)!
When you work in conservation, Earth Day is like o When you work in conservation, Earth Day is like our Super Bowl...And The Longleaf Alliance staff are going to busy this weekend. Come and find us at an event near you!Georgia: 🌲Day in the Woods - Gaskins Forest Education Center🌎Earth Day Party at Ponce City Market - Atlanta🌎Savannah Earth Day at Daffin Park (Friday, April 21)North Carolina:🌲Party for the Pine Festival - Southern PinesSouth Carolina:🌎Aiken Earth Day🌎Brookgreen Gardens Earth Day Celebration#EarthDayEveryDay #FireFestival #RestoreLongleaf
The life of a gopher tortoise revolves around its The life of a gopher tortoise revolves around its tunnel-like burrow. The burrows are easy to spot because of the characteristic mound of loose sand at the burrow entrance (called the “apron”). Gopher tortoises are often referred to as ecosystem engineers or keystone species because of their ability to dig these large (up to 40 feet long), deep (up to 10 feet down) burrows that provide habitat to >350 animal species. Patrick Elliott's "Longleaf Ecosystem" print depicts several of these burrow commensal species. Which ones do you see? P.S. April 10th is #GopherTortoiseDay! 🐢
"Egg-hunts" in longleaf pine forests might look a "Egg-hunts" in longleaf pine forests might look a bit like this!📷 Two dove eggs in a ground nest at the base of a bolting longleaf pine in South Carolina. Photo by Josh Raglin.
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