The effect of inter-fire interval and fire severity on seedling germination and resprouting in Allocasuarina verticillata
Karleah K. Berris
A * , Ruby M. H. Jones B , Xiangning Kok B , Adrian K. J. McCafferty B , Johannes K. Skirrow B and Trish Mooney A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Kangaroo Island Landscape Board, Kingscote, SA 5223, Australia.
B UniSA STEM, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.
Australian Journal of Botany 70(5) 384-395 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT22016
Submitted: 9 February 2022 Accepted: 12 August 2022 Published: 2 September 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Context: Regeneration from seed and resprouting are life-history strategies used by plants in fire-prone landscapes; however, for some species there is a limited understanding of how different factors influence post-fire response within populations.
Aims: We studied the effect of inter-fire interval and degree of tree burn on post-fire seedling germination and basal resprouting in Allocasuarina verticillata within two conservation parks on Kangaroo Island.
Methods: We undertook seedling counts using 1 m2 quadrats. Burnt trees were assessed for signs of resprouting.
Key results: Seedling density 8–9 months post-fire was primarily influenced by interfire interval, and was higher in stands with an inter-fire interval time of 37–45 years (143 per m2) compared to those with an interval of >60 years (48 per m2). Resprouting in burnt A. verticillata trees was influenced by the degree of tree burn, but also varied considerably between the two parks.
Conclusions: Our study confirmed that A. verticillata is a facultative seeder/resprouter that can regenerate from both seedling germination and resprouting post-fire. However, the two strategies are influenced by different factors, and resprouting rates in A. verticillata can be very low in some circumstances.
Implications: Because A. verticillata relies primarily on seedling germination for population persistence post-fire, it may be vulnerable to drastic changes in fire frequency. Further research is required on the minimum inter-fire interval for persistence of this species within a landscape.
Keywords: Allocasuarina verticillata, basal resprouting, Casuarinaceae, fire ecology, fire frequency, fire-cued seeding, resprouter plants, seed germination.
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