Brande, K., Davis, F.W. & Kendall, B.E. Bark traits and fire vulnerability in three California foothill oak species. fire ecol 22, 43 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42408-026-00488-2
Conclusion
Bark traits and growth patterns can confer fire adaptation in tree species. Q. agrifolia showed stronger evidence of fire-adapted bark traits than Q. douglasii or Q. lobata. More work is needed to develop reliable general models relating time to trunk tissue kill to bark traits for oaks in fire-prone ecosystems.
