This study investigates the post-fire sprouting dynamics of three dominant oak species—Quercus brantii, Q. libani, and Q. infectoria—in the northern Zagros forests of western Iran. Sprouting responses were assessed at three post-fire intervals (2, 4, and 10 years), focusing on sprout origin (root vs. stump), sprout density, and growth performance of sprouts (height and diameter).The effects of stump diameter and species-specific traits on resprouting capacity were also evaluated. Findings revealed that root suckering was the predominant regeneration mechanism, contributing more than 90% of sprouts across all stands. Sprouting capacity remained relatively stable among different post-fire ages and oak species, showing no significant differences. In contrast, a strong negative relationship was observed between stump diameter and both sprout density and growth, with small to medium-sized stumps (5–35 cm) supporting the highest regeneration potential. Annual diameter and height increments were greatest in the early post-fire years (11.2 mm and 63.1 cm yr⁻¹ in 2AF stands), but declined significantly with stand age and increasing stump size, reflecting self-thinning and resource limitations. The largely uniform sprouting response across species highlights shared adaptive mechanisms such as persistent bud banks and robust root systems. Overall, the study demonstrates that root-derived vegetative sprouting—particularly from small to medium-sized stumps—constitutes the primary recovery pathway in fire-affected Zagros oaks, ensuring resilience where seed-based regeneration is limited. These findings emphasize the ecological importance of vegetative regeneration under recurrent disturbances and provide a basis for guiding post-fire management and restoration strategies in oak-dominated ecosystems. While these findings provide valuable baseline insights for guiding future forest restoration and management in fire-prone landscapes, their applicability remains geographically restricted to the Zagros region. Long-term monitoring will therefore be necessary to fully evaluate the success and persistence of post-fire regeneration dynamics
