Effects of fire on seedling diversity and plant reproduction (Sexual vs. Vegetative) in neotropical savannas differing in tree density

Little is known about the effects of fire on the structure and species composition of Neotropical savanna seedling communities. Such effects are critical for predicting long-term changes in plant distribution patterns in these ecosystems. We quantified richness and density of seedlings within 144 pl...

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Autor principal: Goldstein, Guillermo Hernan
Publicado: 2014
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Acceso en línea:https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_00063606_v_n_p_Salazar
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00063606_v_n_p_Salazar
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spelling paper:paper_00063606_v_n_p_Salazar2023-06-08T14:31:24Z Effects of fire on seedling diversity and plant reproduction (Sexual vs. Vegetative) in neotropical savannas differing in tree density Goldstein, Guillermo Hernan Brazil Cerrado Disturbance Heat shocks Root suckers Little is known about the effects of fire on the structure and species composition of Neotropical savanna seedling communities. Such effects are critical for predicting long-term changes in plant distribution patterns in these ecosystems. We quantified richness and density of seedlings within 144 plots of 1 m2 located along a topographic gradient in long-unburned (fire protected since 1983) and recently burned (September 2005) savannas in Brazil. These savannas differ in tree density and canopy cover. Sites along the gradient, however, did not differ in species composition prior to the fire. In recently burned savannas we also evaluated the contribution of vegetative reproduction relative to sexual reproduction by quantifying richness and density of root suckers. Finally, we tested seed tolerance to pulses of high temperatures-similar to those occurring during fires on the soil surface and below-of five dominant savanna tree species. Seedlings were more abundant and diverse in unburned than in burned savannas. Seedling species composition differed among unburned and burned savannas probably reflecting early differences in root: shoot biomass allocation patterns. In recently burned savannas, root suckers were more abundant and diverse than seedlings. Relatively long exposures (>10 min) of temperatures of 90 °C reduced seed germination in all studied species suggesting a negative effect of fire on germination of seeds located at or aboveground level. Because vegetative reproduction contributes more than sexual reproduction in burned environments, frequent fires are likely to cause major shifts in species composition of Neotropical savanna plant communities, favoring clonally produced recruits along tree density/topographic gradients. © 2014 The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation. Fil:Goldstein, G. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. 2014 https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_00063606_v_n_p_Salazar http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00063606_v_n_p_Salazar
institution Universidad de Buenos Aires
institution_str I-28
repository_str R-134
collection Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA)
topic Brazil
Cerrado
Disturbance
Heat shocks
Root suckers
spellingShingle Brazil
Cerrado
Disturbance
Heat shocks
Root suckers
Goldstein, Guillermo Hernan
Effects of fire on seedling diversity and plant reproduction (Sexual vs. Vegetative) in neotropical savannas differing in tree density
topic_facet Brazil
Cerrado
Disturbance
Heat shocks
Root suckers
description Little is known about the effects of fire on the structure and species composition of Neotropical savanna seedling communities. Such effects are critical for predicting long-term changes in plant distribution patterns in these ecosystems. We quantified richness and density of seedlings within 144 plots of 1 m2 located along a topographic gradient in long-unburned (fire protected since 1983) and recently burned (September 2005) savannas in Brazil. These savannas differ in tree density and canopy cover. Sites along the gradient, however, did not differ in species composition prior to the fire. In recently burned savannas we also evaluated the contribution of vegetative reproduction relative to sexual reproduction by quantifying richness and density of root suckers. Finally, we tested seed tolerance to pulses of high temperatures-similar to those occurring during fires on the soil surface and below-of five dominant savanna tree species. Seedlings were more abundant and diverse in unburned than in burned savannas. Seedling species composition differed among unburned and burned savannas probably reflecting early differences in root: shoot biomass allocation patterns. In recently burned savannas, root suckers were more abundant and diverse than seedlings. Relatively long exposures (>10 min) of temperatures of 90 °C reduced seed germination in all studied species suggesting a negative effect of fire on germination of seeds located at or aboveground level. Because vegetative reproduction contributes more than sexual reproduction in burned environments, frequent fires are likely to cause major shifts in species composition of Neotropical savanna plant communities, favoring clonally produced recruits along tree density/topographic gradients. © 2014 The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation.
author Goldstein, Guillermo Hernan
author_facet Goldstein, Guillermo Hernan
author_sort Goldstein, Guillermo Hernan
title Effects of fire on seedling diversity and plant reproduction (Sexual vs. Vegetative) in neotropical savannas differing in tree density
title_short Effects of fire on seedling diversity and plant reproduction (Sexual vs. Vegetative) in neotropical savannas differing in tree density
title_full Effects of fire on seedling diversity and plant reproduction (Sexual vs. Vegetative) in neotropical savannas differing in tree density
title_fullStr Effects of fire on seedling diversity and plant reproduction (Sexual vs. Vegetative) in neotropical savannas differing in tree density
title_full_unstemmed Effects of fire on seedling diversity and plant reproduction (Sexual vs. Vegetative) in neotropical savannas differing in tree density
title_sort effects of fire on seedling diversity and plant reproduction (sexual vs. vegetative) in neotropical savannas differing in tree density
publishDate 2014
url https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_00063606_v_n_p_Salazar
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00063606_v_n_p_Salazar
work_keys_str_mv AT goldsteinguillermohernan effectsoffireonseedlingdiversityandplantreproductionsexualvsvegetativeinneotropicalsavannasdifferingintreedensity
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