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Interannual variability in fire-induced germination responses of the characteristic Ericaceae of the NW Iberian Peninsula
Forest Ecology and Management 234S (2006) S179
Abstract
Interannual variability in fire-induced germination responses of the characteristic Ericaceae of the NW Iberian Peninsula E.A. Dı´az Vizcaı´no, A. Iglesia Rodrı´guez, M. Ferna´ndez Dpto. de Bota´nica, Escuela Polite´cnica Superior de Lugo, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Campus de Lugo, 27002 Lugo, Spain
Keywords: Seed germination; Smoke; Heat; Ericaceae; Fire
The intention of this paper is to contribute to the knowledge of the ecological effects of fire (temperature and smoke) in Atlantic shrublands, by studying the germinative response of six species of Ericaceae (Erica arborea L., Erica australis L., Erica scoparia L., Erica tetralix L., Erica umbellata Loefl. ex L. and Erica vagans L.) and assessing their interannual variation in response to fire. E. australis and E. vagans always show a low or very low control germination rate that was not stimulated either by temperature or by smoke, although high temperatures were lethal to both species, but no interannual variation was observed. They also show the highest germination parameters. E. umbellata always shows a low control germination rate, which can be significantly stimulated by high temperatures, showing interannual variability in this response. Smoke also increases germination, but without this variability. The control germination of E. arborea shows an interannual variability that can be either low or high. Its comparative
DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2006.08.230 E-mail address: [email protected] (E.A.D. Vizcaı´no).
response, with respect to most of the temperature and smoke treatments, is analogous, without appreciable effects, except in the case of the high temperature treatment, which may or may not be lethal. In E. tetralix, the control germination rate is high and similar from one year to another, whilst its comparative response with respect to the temperature and smoke treatments is inferior. The high temperatures are always lethal, whilst the lowest temperatures stimulate germination, but with interannual variability. The smoke treatments also show an interannual variability. Sometimes they are a stimulating agent and other times are not; at times they can even inhibit germination. The control germination of E. scoparia is high, although it shows an interannual variability, whilst its comparative response with respect to temperature and smoke maintains a similar tendency without appreciable effects, except in the case of high temperatures, which are lethal. This species also presents the lowest germination parameters that have been found.
Abstract
Interannual variability in fire-induced germination responses of the characteristic Ericaceae of the NW Iberian Peninsula E.A. Dı´az Vizcaı´no, A. Iglesia Rodrı´guez, M. Ferna´ndez Dpto. de Bota´nica, Escuela Polite´cnica Superior de Lugo, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Campus de Lugo, 27002 Lugo, Spain
Keywords: Seed germination; Smoke; Heat; Ericaceae; Fire
The intention of this paper is to contribute to the knowledge of the ecological effects of fire (temperature and smoke) in Atlantic shrublands, by studying the germinative response of six species of Ericaceae (Erica arborea L., Erica australis L., Erica scoparia L., Erica tetralix L., Erica umbellata Loefl. ex L. and Erica vagans L.) and assessing their interannual variation in response to fire. E. australis and E. vagans always show a low or very low control germination rate that was not stimulated either by temperature or by smoke, although high temperatures were lethal to both species, but no interannual variation was observed. They also show the highest germination parameters. E. umbellata always shows a low control germination rate, which can be significantly stimulated by high temperatures, showing interannual variability in this response. Smoke also increases germination, but without this variability. The control germination of E. arborea shows an interannual variability that can be either low or high. Its comparative
DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2006.08.230 E-mail address: [email protected] (E.A.D. Vizcaı´no).
response, with respect to most of the temperature and smoke treatments, is analogous, without appreciable effects, except in the case of the high temperature treatment, which may or may not be lethal. In E. tetralix, the control germination rate is high and similar from one year to another, whilst its comparative response with respect to the temperature and smoke treatments is inferior. The high temperatures are always lethal, whilst the lowest temperatures stimulate germination, but with interannual variability. The smoke treatments also show an interannual variability. Sometimes they are a stimulating agent and other times are not; at times they can even inhibit germination. The control germination of E. scoparia is high, although it shows an interannual variability, whilst its comparative response with respect to temperature and smoke maintains a similar tendency without appreciable effects, except in the case of high temperatures, which are lethal. This species also presents the lowest germination parameters that have been found.