2020 And 2021 CA Megafires Essentially Wiped Out Reproduction In Hardest-Hit Giant Sequoia Groves

[PufPuf23]

4. Giant Sequoia cones take 2 years to develop with fertilization taking place the 2nd year.

There are male and female (the cone) "flowers". The cones with seed can be retained for years in the crown with some seeds being released each in a declining amount from the initial year ripe. The older seeds also decline over time in germination viability. In general, Giant Sequoia have lower seed viability than most conifers. In general, conifers produce cone in one or two (Giant Sequoia) years to maturity. Heavy seed years for conifers differ in cycles and are subject to climate and other external environmental conditions. If viable seeds were dropped in significant numbers, the mineral soil exposed by fire is where they would successfully germinate and persist.

Giant Sequoias persist because of resistance to fire once mature (thick bark, clean boles). Historically, the prevention of more frequent and lower intensity fires, resulted in understories of white fir and other species that provided fuel ladders, more fuel, and drought stress for the Giant Sequoia. Effort occurred in past 40 years at re-introducing fire in some Giant Sequoia stands.

Climate change causes havoc in California's forests, more so in the Giant Sequoia as the Sequoia is a remnant species from a distant pass living in what is now a highly stressful environment. I am not surprised by the results of the research. The lack of seedlings could be exacerbated by the time of the fires with the heavy cone crop cycle and fire-drought-smoke complex.