Martin's point is well made. Generally it is more accurate to state that a plant community is fire-dependent, and one could state that such an assemblage of species, or a particular plant species, if fire-adapted. Indirectly, however, a plant species as Martin describes could be said to be fire-dependent. Although uniformed and uninformed are sometimes co-occurring traits in humans, I believe that giving the interviewee a bit of latitude in this case is appropriate.
Best, -Adam Adam Watts, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Ecologist Fire Lab, University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611 On Oct 7, 2012, at 2:50 AM, Martin Meiss <[email protected]> wrote: > Wayne, > I don't know if this rises to the level of knowledge, but I have > often heard that the cones of certain pines won't open to release their > seeds unless toasted in a fire. It seems that it would take just the right > amount of fire, though, because toasting for too long would surely kill the > seeds. Here is an article that discusses smoke-stimulated germination, and > it lists references that may be relevant: > http://depts.washington.edu/propplnt/2003guidelines/group1/Smoke%20Infusion.htm > > Now moving on to speculation: suppose a certain species is found > only in a fire-maintained ecosystem. If fire is suppressed in that > ecosystem, it would undergo altered succession, possibly developing into as > system that no longer provided suitable habitat for the species in > question, which would then die out. Here is a link to an article about > such endemic species in Florida: http://www.forestencyclopedia.net/p/p237 > > Martin M. Meiss > > 2012/10/6 Wayne Tyson <[email protected]> > >> Ecolog: >> >> I just caught a video production on TV done by a major governmental fire >> authority. It contained a mixture of truth and superstition, as well as >> some questionable assumptions that y'all can help me clear up. >> >> 1. A uniformed fire official claimed that some plants are DEPENDENT upon >> fire for their survival. He did not say that some plants are ADAPTED to >> fire, he said "dependent." >> >> Please share your knowledge and references, please. >> >> Thanks, >> >> WT >>
