From Soil to Canopy: A Discussion with Jamie Woolet and Sarah Hettema on Fire Ecology

From Soil to Canopy: A Discussion with Jamie Woolet and Sarah Hettema on Fire Ecology

Welcome to a very special final episode of Ashes and Adaptations. To wrap up this mini-series, we will be discussing fire ecology with Jamie Woolet and Sarah Hettema. Jamie is a PhD candidate in the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship at Colorado State University. Her research spans from the impact of wildfires on soil composition to how changing fire regimes affect avian communities. Sarah is a spatial analyst at Colorado State University, analyzing the landscape-level impacts of wildfire treatments on Colorado's Front Range. Each offers a unique perspective on the topic of fire adaptations.

The Phoenix Tree

The eucalyptus is an iconic species across Australia. Join us as we explore what makes them so unique in fire ecology. In this episode of Ashes and Adaptations, we'll be exploring epicormic budding, flammability, and serotiny in the eucalyptus tree. Sources: Nolan, R. H., Bowman, D. M., Clarke, H., Haynes, K., Ooi, M. K., Price, O. F., ... & Bradstock, R. A. (2021). What do the Australian black summer fires signify for the global fire crisis?. Fire, 4(4), 97. Pausas, J. G., & Keeley, J. E. (2017). Epicormic resprouting in fire-prone ecosystems. Trends in Plant Science, 22(12), 1008-1015. Younes, N., Yebra, M., Boer, M. M., Griebel, A., & Nolan, R. H. (2024). A review of leaf-level flammability traits in Eucalypt trees. Fire, 7(6), 183.

The Waiting Game: The Science of Serotiny

Some species don't simply survive fire, they depend on it. In the third episode of Ashes and Adaptations, we will be discussing serotiny. This remarkable fire adaptation uses heat to trigger seed release. We'll explain what serotiny is, how it works, and why it is beneficial. Sources: Parchman, T. L., Gompert, Z., Mudge, J., Schilkey, F. D., Benkman, C. W., & Buerkle, C. A. (2012). Genome‐wide association genetics of an adaptive trait in lodgepole pine. Molecular ecology, 21(12), 2991-3005. Schoennagel, T., Turner, M. G., & Romme, W. H. (2003). The influence of fire interval and serotiny on postfire lodgepole pine density in Yellowstone National Park. Ecology, 84(11), 2967-2978.

Layers of Surivival: The Power of Thick Bark

In this episode of Ashes and Adaptations, we're discussing one of the most unassuming yet powerful fire-adapted traits: thick bark. Some trees are built with a natural armor that can protect them from the high temperatures caused by wildfires. We'll explore how fire shapes ecosystems, the science behind bark thickness, variation among species, and limitations regarding thick bark as an adaptation Sources: Fire behavior. US Forest Service Research and Development. (n.d.). https://research.fs.usda.gov/psw/fire/behavior [https://research.fs.usda.gov/psw/fire/behavior] Madrigal, J., Rodríguez de Rivera, Ó., Carrillo, C., Guijarro, M., Hernando, C., Vega, J. A., ... & Espinosa, J. (2023). Empirical Modelling of Stem Cambium Heating Caused by Prescribed Burning in Mediterranean Pine Forest. Fire, 6(11), 430. Rosell, J. A. (2016). Bark thickness across the angiosperms: more than just fire. New Phytologist, 211(1), 90-102.

Overview of Evolution

Welcome to Ashes and Adaptations! This mini-series will be diving into various plant adaptations that have evolved in response to fire. This first episode explores evolution as a process, how adaptations arise, and corrects common misconceptions. Sources: Adaptation. (n.d.). Retrieved October 3, 2025, from https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolution-101/mechanisms-the-processes-of-evolution/adaptation/ [https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolution-101/mechanisms-the-processes-of-evolution/adaptation/] Bilyk, K. T., & DeVries, A. L. (2010). Freezing avoidance of the Antarctic icefishes (Channichthyidae) across thermal gradients in the Southern Ocean. Polar biology, 33(2), 203-213. Raman, V., Wang, M., Avula, B., Lee, J., Manfron, J., & Khan, I. A. (2025). Chemical mimicry in the corpse flower: Floral odor and phytochemical profiles of Amorphophallus titanum (Becc.) Becc. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 118, 104920.