Postfire survival in Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine: comparing the effects of crown and bole damage

Abstract

Survival patterns after late summer wildfires were evaluated for Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine in the northern Rocky Mountains. Crown scorch was the most important variable for predicting postfire survival and variables representing bole damage improved the significance of logistic regression models for both species. Crown scorch and basal scorch were the best combination of variables for predicting survival in lodgepole pine. Crown scorch and insect damage were the best combination of variables for predicting survival in Douglas-fir. Postfire survival of lodgepole pine, which has relatively thin bark, was more sensitive than Douglas-fir to variables that quantified bole damage.