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BRUCE D. CLAYTON earned an A.B. degree in botany and zoology from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1972, and a Ph.D. in plant ecology from the University of Montana in 1978. This report is based in part on a preliminary draft, of reduced scope, prepared by Dr. Clayton under Forest Service contract 43-0346-8-00050, RELATIONSHIP OF MAJOR TREE SPECIES TO FIRE This section is devoted to a discussion of each important tree species in east side forests with regard to its resistance or susceptibility to fire and its role as a successional component of forest communities. Particular attention is given to special adaptations to fire, such as corky bark, serotinous cones, or seeds that require mineral soil for germination. UNDERGROWTH RESPONSE TO FIRE This section is a summary of the effect of fire on the response of important understory grass, forb, and shrub species. Particular attention is given to fire-adaptive traits or survival strategies that determine whether fire generally increases or decreases species cover in the immediate postfire period. GENERALIZED FOREST SUCCESSION The succession diagram and associated text represent a simplified, synthetic oveniew of fire's role in succession for all habitats of each Fire Group. For clarity, no literature references are given in this section since it is intended to serve as a graphic and uncomplicated presentation of the material covered earlier in the chapter. The diagram in each of these sections represents a visual summary of the effects that fires of varying intensity can have on the habitat types. Secondary succession begins with the lowest seral form, but the diagram can be used from any stage of stand development. In habitat types with aggressive seral conifers, the shrub/herb stage is short lived. Numerous facts that may influence the vegetation on the landscape have been neglected in order to emphasize the potential influences of fire and fire suppression. The conifer species are symbolized in order to simplify the diagrams. The symbols are defined as follows: A bies lasiocarpa, subalpine fir (ABLA) Junipmsscopulorum, Rocky Mountain juniper (JUSC) Lark lyallii, alpine larch (LALY) Picea engelmannii, Engelmann spruce (PICEA) Pinus albicaulis, whitebark pine (PIAL) Pinus contorts, lodgepole pine (PICO) Pinusji'exilis, limber pine (PIFL) Pinusponderosa, ponderosa pine (PIPO) Pseudotsuga menziesii, Douglas-fir (PSME) SUCCESSIONAL PATHWAYS This section provides a more detailed discussion of potential forest succession than the previous section. It is a synthesis of confirmed knowIedge and unconfirmed speculation that forms a complex series of hypotheses about the many possible influences fire may have on the vegetation of the Fire Groups. The flow charts follow the method suggested by Kessell and Fischer (1981). FLRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS This section suggests how the preceding information can be used to develop fire management plans that support land and resource management objectives. The discussion is intended to be suggestive, not dogmatic. Each i...

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