Natural post-fire dynamics and serotiny in 10-year-old Pinus halepensis Mill. stands along a geographic gradient
D. Moya A C , J. M. Espelta B , F. R. López-Serrano A , M. Eugenio B and J. De Las Heras AA Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos de Albacete, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Universitario, E-02071 Albacete, Spain.
B Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
C Corresponding author. Email: daniel.moya@uclm.es
International Journal of Wildland Fire 17(2) 287-292 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF06121
Submitted: 8 September 2006 Accepted: 17 September 2007 Published: 18 April 2008
Abstract
In 1994, six large fires occurred along a climate gradient in Eastern Spain. Ten-year-old trees were selected in the plots established for each location affected by fire. Each selected tree was measured for height and trunk diameter, the number of female strobili and cones, and grouped into four types. A geographical gradient was determined to study growth by latitude and variations in reproductive characteristics. Height and diameter values decreased southwards with the exception of the lowest-density tree location, where trunk diameters were similar to those in northern locations. Strobilus and cone production were higher in lower tree density locations owing to intraspecific competition and higher availability of water, nutrients and light. Serotiny levels were highest in southern locations, although lower percentages were found in the southern locations with low tree density. The number of reproductive trees was higher with lower tree density. The reproductive phase was reached in the lowest tree density site (also low site quality) and nearly reached in the most northern locations (high tree density as well as high site quality). Results showed a geographical gradient based on growth and reproduction dynamics, where serotiny levels are higher in southern locations. Density was shown to be a significant factor influencing overall pine stand development.
Additional keywords: juvenile phase, reproductive characteristics, site quality, tree density.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Regional Forestry Services of Castilla–La Mancha, Murcia and Cataluña for providing the research locations and field collaborators. The present research was funded by the R+D+I Spanish National Program (AGL2004–07506/FOR). Also we are grateful to Stefanie Alexa Kroll for her comments and language review.
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