How are forest fires beneficial to conifers like jack pines? a. jack pine seeds are protected by forest fires. b. pine cones are carried on the winds produced by forest fires. c. forest fires release the seeds stored in jack pine cones. d. all of the above.

c. Forest fires release the seeds stored in Jack pine cones.

Fire ecology is a scientific discipline that deals with the natural processes that involves fire in an ecosystem and in the ecological effects. Fire in the ecosystem either generates naturally or intentionally by humans. The fire generated naturally is useful in the forests ecosystem, especially forests with coniferous trees. The trees exhibit special adaptation, which involves the release of seeds from the cones by the aid of fire. The naturally generated fires melts the resin covering the cones and helps in the release of seeds from these cones of coniferous trees such as pine.

Hence, forest fires release the seeds stored in Jack pine cones is the correct option.