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| Titel |
Rainfall patterns after fire differentially affect the recruitment of three Mediterranean shrubs |
| VerfasserIn |
J. M. Moreno, E. Zuazua, B. Pérez, B. Luna, A. Velasco, V. Resco de Dios |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
1726-4170
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Biogeosciences ; 8, no. 12 ; Nr. 8, no. 12 (2011-12-19), S.3721-3732 |
| Datensatznummer |
250006252
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/bg-8-3721-2011.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| In fire-prone environments, the "event-dependent hypothesis" states that
plant population changes are driven by the unique set of conditions of a fire
(e.g. fire season, climate). Climate variability, in particular changes in
rainfall patterns, can be most important for seeder species, since they
regenerate after fire from seeds, and for Mediterranean shrublands, given the
high yearly variability of rainfall in these ecosystems. Yet, the role of
rainfall variability and its interaction with fire characteristics (e.g.
fire season) on plant populations has received little attention. Here we
investigated the changes in seedling emergence and recruitment of three
seeder species (Cistus ladanifer, Erica umbellata and Rosmarinus officinalis) after fires lit during three different years and at
two times (early and late) during the fire season. Three plots were burned at
each season, for a total of 18 plots burned during the three years. After
fire, emerged seedlings were tallied, tagged and monitored during three years
(two in the last burning year). Rainfall during the study period was rather
variable and, in some years, it was well below average. Postfire seedling
emergence varied by a factor of 3 to 12, depending on the species and on the
burning year. The bulk of seedling emergence occurred during the first year
after fire; seedling recruitment at the end of the study period was tightly
correlated with this early emergence. Emergence in Erica and Rosmarinus, but not in
Cistus, was correlated with precipitation in the fall and winter immediately after
fire, with Erica being the most sensitive to reduced rainfall. Fire season was
generally neither an important factor in controlling emergence nor, in
particular, recruitment. We discuss how projected changes in rainfall
patterns with global warming could alter the balance of species in this
shrubland, and could drive some species to near local extinction. |
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