Why Wildfires Are Essential For Some Species' Survival
By: NDTVNewsDesk
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Wildfires are essential for some species' survival as they trigger reproduction, clear out old growth to release nutrients, etc.
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Heat melts resin on cones of lodgepole pines, jack pines, and giant sequoias, allowing seeds to fall on nutrient-rich ash.
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Smoke and heat stimulate germination for plants like certain lilies, while others need fire to break dormancy.
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Fire quickly returns nutrients from dead organic matter to the soil, boosting fertility.
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Burns remove dense undergrowth, creating open meadows for grasses and wildflowers that thrive in sunlight.
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New growth provides food (wild lupine for Karner blue butterfly larvae) and habitat for animals like deer, woodpeckers, and insects.
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Fire-chaser beetles detect fires to lay eggs in burned wood, while some woodpeckers rely on burned forests for food.
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Fires can connect isolated populations, boosting genetic health, as seen with Boisduval's blue butterflies.
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