Fire severity and seedling establishment in Pinus halepensis woodlands, eastern Iberian Peninsula |
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Authors: | JG Pausas N Ouadah A Ferran T Gimeno R Vallejo |
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Institution: | (1) Centro de Estudios Ambientales del Mediterráneo (CEAM), C. Charles Darwin 14, Parc Tecnològic, Paterna, 46980, Spain |
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Abstract: | Given the observed heterogeneity in fire severity produced within wildfires, we asked to what extent this heterogeneity might
affect post-fire regeneration. For this purpose, we studied the post-fire dynamics of Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) in the eastern Iberian Peninsula. Sampling was stratified on the basis of fire severity. We defined three fire
severity classes based on the degree of consumption of the pine canopy. The results suggested that there is no clear relationship
between seedling density and fire severity; however, mortality was lower and growth (height, shoot biomass and root biomass)
was higher in the high severity class. These results can be explained by soil processes: Sites in the high fire severity class
may have sustained higher fire intensities, resulting in higher soil organic matter mineralisation and higher ash deposition,
and thus in higher post-fire soil fertility. This higher fertility would produce faster growth in pine seedlings. Independent
of the severity class, seedling mortality was higher in quadrats (50 × 50 cm) with higher cover of the perennial grass Brachypodium retusum (Poaceae), suggesting a possible competitive effect. For all plots in all 3 severity classes, spatial analysis suggests an
aggregate seedlings pattern, but with independence from the position of the adult (source) trees.
This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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Keywords: | Aleppo pine Forest fires Mediterranean-type ecosystem Spatial pattern |
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