Explain how some ecosystems have adapted to forest fires please?

Most eco-systems that are in historically high fire areas have adapted in some way. However, keep in mind that the fires of today are not what these systems adapted to. The huge forest fires we have today are caused by human intervention. For about a hundred years or so, humans have done there best to stop all forest fires, which is a problem. This has allowed a large buildup of dry undergrowth to accumulate and when this ignites, it can turn into a massive firestorm. In the past, before human intervention, fires were quite common but were small in nature. The undergrowth would burn off every couple years from lightning strikes. These would be low grade fires which would not result in the massive conflagrations we see today. No ecosystem has adapted to the fires of today nor can they. However, many trees have some sort of reliance or defense on fires. The red pine cone will only open when exposed to heat. There are many trees whose branches don't start growing until higher off the ground. Pine trees are designed to burn their needles off quickly in an effort to save the trunk. Certain trees produce sap which helps them cope with high heat. Many animals however merely flee the fire and return to feast on the new growth that sprouts up.