How does fire season affect Cerrado vegetation?

• Grant number: 15/06743-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2015
• End date: February 29, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Alessandra Tomaselli Fidelis
• Grantee: Alessandra Tomaselli Fidelis
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Rio Claro
• Associated researchers: Aline Redondo Martins ; Isabel Belloni Schmidt ; Lara Amaral Souza
• Associated research grant(s): 19/09903-0 - Fire-adapted seed traits in Cerrado species, AP.R; 18/08892-1 - 61st Annual Symposium of the International Association for Vegetation Science, AR.EXT
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/07357-8 - Fire behavior and vegetation responses in experimental fires on Amazonian Savanna using remote sensing and in situ measurements, BP.PD; 19/17378-2 - Analysis of germination and seed traits from Cerrado: elaboration of a database, BP.TT; 18/21300-6 - Does the protection of aerial buds in woody plants occur in response to fire in Cerrado?, BP.MS; + associated scholarships 18/18696-5 - Evaluation of above- and belowground biomass and traits in areas with different fire histories in Cerrado, BP.IC; 18/18822-0 - Above- and belowground biomass of campo sujo, BP.TT; 18/09054-0 - Invasions by African grasses and Cerrado restoration: an approach by state-and-transition models, BP.DR; 17/22618-7 - How often should we burn the Cerrado? the effect of fire frequency on Cerrado communities, BP.MS; 18/02949-1 - Germination experiments in species and soil seed bank in Cerrado, BP.TT; 17/02934-1 - After fire, where to the resprouts come from? Evaluation of the bud bank and belowground organs of Cerrado, BP.PD; 17/16149-4 - The effect of fire on phenology, seed and germination traits of cerrado species, BP.MS; 17/09914-6 - Flammability of Cerrado, BP.MS; 16/13232-5 - Digging deeper: contribution of belowground plant traits to the functioning of tropical old-growth grasslands, BP.PD; 15/01380-7 - Anatomical changes and starch allocation in response to the fire in Urochloa brizantha RD Webster, BP.IC; 15/10714-6 - How burnings at different times a year can affect invasive grasses and native Cerrado vegetation?, BP.MS - associated scholarships

Abstract

This proposal aims to study the effects of fire season on campo sujo areas in different regions of Brazil: Goiás, Tocantins and São Paulo. Therefore, this project aims to establish permanent experiment plots for long-term studies, where the fire behavior will be determined in the different seasons (beginning, middle and end of the dry season). Although the results of this project will be about the short-term changes caused on vegetation, the establishment of long-term experimental studies is of crucial importance for the understanding of fire effects on vegetation. This proposal intends to analyze the changes in vegetation flammability in the different seasons, using functional traits of the vegetation. Vegetation dynamics (above- and belowground), as well as persistence strategies will be evaluated in detail in one of the study regions (Goiás), in oder to understand how fire season affects Cerrado vegetation regeneration and dynamics, mostly the herbaceous layer. Finally, this project will analyze the effects of fire season on the productivity and carbon flux in campo sujo area, leading to a better elaboration of management plans for conservation units. A database of functional traits (morphologicaland physiological) related to fire will be elaborated. Experimental studies with permanent plots and fire experiments are rare in Brazil and thus, this proposal is novel in this issue, since it is dealing with different aspects related to fire: effects on the herbaceous layer of the vegetation (above- and belowground), fire behavior and even the elaboration of a database with functional traits related to fire. Thus, the fire effects on the vegetation can be better interpreted and generalized to other areas. (AU)

Scientific publications

(52)

(The scientific publications listed on this page originate from the Web of Science or SciELO databases. Their authors have cited FAPESP grant or fellowship project numbers awarded to Principal Investigators or Fellowship Recipients, whether or not they are among the authors. This information is collected automatically and retrieved directly from those bibliometric databases.)

FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Is fire the ?bad ``?. FLORA, v. 268, JUL 2020. (15/06743-0)

DAIREL, MARIANA; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. How does fire affect germination of grasses in the Cerrado?. SEED SCIENCE RESEARCH, v. 30, n. 4, SI, p. 275-283, DEC 2020. (15/06743-0)

RISSI, MARIANA NINNO; BAEZA, M. JAIME; GORGONE-BARBOSA, ELIZABETH; ZUPO, TALITA; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Does season affect fire behaviour in the Cerrado?. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WILDLAND FIRE, v. 26, n. 5, p. 427-433, 2017. (15/06743-0)

TALITA ZUPO; M. JAIME BAEZA; ALESSANDRA FIDELIS. The effect of simulated heat-shock and daily temperature fluctuations on seed germination of four species from fire-prone ecosystems. Acta Botanica Brasilica, v. 30, n. 3, p. 514-519, 2016-09-05. (15/06743-0)

DOS SANTOS, ANA CARLA; MONTENEGRO, SAMUEL DA ROCHA; FERREIRA, MAXMILLER CARDOSO; SENA BARRADAS, ANA CAROLINA; SCHMIDT, ISABEL BELLONI. Managing fires in a changing world: Fuel and weather determine fire behavior and safety in the neotropical savannas. Journal of Environmental Management, v. 289, JUL 1 2021. (15/06743-0)

PAUSAS, JULI G.; LAMONT, BYRON B.; PAULA, SUSANA; APPEZZATO-DA-GLORIA, BEATRIZ; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Unearthing belowground bud banks in fire-prone ecosystems. NEW PHYTOLOGIST, v. 217, n. 4, p. 1435-1448, MAR 2018. (15/06743-0)

SILVEIRA, FERNANDO A. O.; ARRUDA, ANDRE J.; BOND, WILLIAM; DURIGAN, GISELDA; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA; KIRKMAN, KEVIN; OLIVEIRA, RAFAEL S.; OVERBECK, GERHARD E.; SANSEVERO, JERONIMO B. B.; SIEBERT, FRANCES; et al. Myth-busting tropical grassy biome restoration. RESTORATION ECOLOGY, v. 28, n. 5, SEP 2020. (15/06743-0, 19/07773-1)

FELIPE DAIBES, L.; GORGONE-BARBOSA, ELIZABETH; SILVEIRA, FERNANDO A. O.; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Gaps critical for the survival of exposed seeds during Cerrado fires. Australian Journal of Botany, v. 66, n. 2, p. 116-123, 2018. (15/06743-0)

SCHMIDT, ISABEL BELLONI; ELOY, LUDIVINE. Fire regime in the Brazilian Savanna: Recent changes, policy and management. FLORA, v. 268, JUL 2020. (15/06743-0)

TEIXEIRA, JULIANA; SOUZA, LARA; LE STRADIC, SOIZIG; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. ire promotes functional plant diversity and modifies soil carbon dynamics in tropical savann. Science of The Total Environment, v. 812, MAR 15 2022. (15/06743-0)

ALVES, DANIEL BORINI; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA; PEREZ-CABELLO, FERNANDO; ALVARADO, SWANNI T.; CONCIANI, DHEMERSON ESTEVAO; CAMBRAIA, BRUNO CONTURSI; PIRES DA SILVEIRA, ANTONIO LAFFAYETE; SILVA, THIAGO SANNA FREIRE. Impact of image acquisition lag-time on monitoring short-term postfire spectral dynamics in tropical savannas: the Campos Amazonicos Fire Experiment. JOURNAL OF APPLIED REMOTE SENSING, v. 16, n. 3, p. 24-pg., 2022-07-01. (15/06743-0, 19/07357-8)

ZIRONDI, H. L.; OOI, M. K. J.; FIDELIS, A.. Short-term fire exclusion affects germination and seed traits in tropical savannas. Plant Biology, v. 26, n. 6, p. 11-pg., 2024-06-28. (15/06743-0, 19/09903-0, 18/08017-3, 17/16149-4)

COZIN, BRUNO B.; LEAL, ALICE S.; DAIBES, L. FELIPE; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA; MARTINS, ALINE R.. Origin and ontogeny of the xylopodium in Cerrado legumes: Role of the hypocotyl and ecological significance. FLORA, v. 321, p. 13-pg., 2024-12-01. (15/06743-0, 22/01560-9, 20/02745-7)

BOMBO, ALINE BERTOLOSI; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA; LE STRADIC, SOIZIG. Modifications in fire frequency impact belowground plant components in old-growth grasslands, posing risks to their resilience. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY, v. N/A, p. 10-pg., 2025-10-10. (15/06743-0, 17/02934-1, 16/13232-5)

DAMASCENO, GABRIELLA; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Per-capita impacts of an invasive grass vary across levels of ecological organization in a tropical savanna. Biological Invasions, v. N/A, p. 16-pg., 2023-02-18. (18/14995-8, 15/06743-0, 18/09054-0)

FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA; ALVARADO, SWANNI T.; BARRADAS, ANA CAROLINA S.; PIVELLO, VANIA R.. The Year 2017: Megafires and Management in the Cerrado. FIRE-SWITZERLAND, v. 1, n. 3, p. 11-pg., 2018-12-01. (14/12728-1, 15/06743-0)

RODRIGUES, CASSY ANNE; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Should we burn the Cerrado? Effects of fire frequency on open savanna plant communities. JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, v. 33, n. 6, p. 11-pg., 2022-11-01. (15/06743-0, 17/22618-7)

TEIXEIRA, JULIANA; SOUZA, LARA; BOMBO, ALINE; LE STRADIC, SOIZIG. How Does Fire Exclusion Affect the Belowground Biomass of Tropical Open Ecosystems?. JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, v. 36, n. 2, p. 12-pg., 2025-03-01. (15/06743-0)

SIEBERT, FRANCES; TE BEEST, MARISKA; FYNN, RICHARD; KLIMESOVA, JITKA; MORRIS, CRAIG; NKUNA, SINDISO; SIEBERT, STEFAN; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Past, Present, and Future of Forbs in Old-Growth Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands. Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, v. 55, p. 27-pg., 2024-01-01. (15/06743-0)

ZANZARINI, VAGNER; ANDERSEN, ALAN N.; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Flammability in tropical savannas: Variation among growth forms and seasons in Cerrado. Biotropica, v. 54, n. 4, p. 9-pg., 2022-06-03. (17/09914-6, 15/06743-0)

RODRIGUES, CASSY ANNE; ZIRONDI, HELOIZA LOURENCO; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Fire frequency affects fire behavior in open savannas of the Cerrado. FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT, v. 482, FEB 15 2021. (17/16149-4, 15/06743-0)

DAIBES, L. FELIPE; MARTINS, ALINE R.; SILVEIRA, FERNANDO A. O.; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Seed tolerance to post-fire temperature fluctuation of Cerrado legume shrubs with micromorphological implications. FLORA, v. 275, FEB 2021. (15/06743-0)

FELIPE DAIBES, L.; ZUPO, TALITA; SILVEIRA, FERNANDO A. O.; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. A field perspective on effects of fire and temperature fluctuation on Cerrado legume seeds. SEED SCIENCE RESEARCH, v. 27, n. 2, SI, p. 74-83, JUN 2017. (15/06743-0)

ZIRONDI, HELOIZA LOURENCO; JOSE, HENRIQUE DE PINHO; DAIBES, L. FELIPE; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Heat and smoke affect the germination of flammable resprouters: Vellozia species in the Cerrado. FOLIA GEOBOTANICA, v. 54, n. 1-2, p. 65-72, JUN 2019. (15/06743-0)

ELIZABETH GORGONE-BARBOSA; LUÍS FELIPE DAIBES; RAFAEL B. NOVAES; VÂNIA REGINA PIVELLO; ALESSANDRA FIDELIS. Fire cues and germination of invasive and native grasses in the Cerrado. Acta Botanica Brasilica, v. 34, n. 1, p. 185-191, 2020-03-20. (15/06743-0)

BUISSON, ELISE; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA; OVERBECK, GERHARD E.; SCHMIDT, ISABEL B.; DURIGAN, GISELDA; YOUNG, TRUMAN P.; ALVARADO, SWANNI T.; ARRUDA, ANDRE J.; BOISSON, SYLVAIN; BOND, WILLIAM; et al. A research agenda for the restoration of tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas. RESTORATION ECOLOGY, v. 29, n. 1, SI, NOV 2020. (15/06743-0, 19/09903-0, 19/07773-1)

BUISSON, ELISE; LE STRADIC, SOIZIG; SILVEIRA, FERNANDO A. O.; DURIGAN, GISELDA; OVERBECK, GERHARD E.; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA; WILSON FERNANDES, G.; BOND, WILLIAM J.; HERMANN, JULIA-MARIA; MAHY, GREGORY; et al. Resilience and restoration of tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and grassy woodlands. BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS, v. 94, n. 2, p. 590-609, APR 2019. (16/13232-5, 18/03755-6, 17/14236-7, 15/06743-0, 14/12728-1)

ZIRONDI, HELOIZA L.; SILVEIRA, FERNANDO A. O.; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Fire effects on seed germination: Heat shock and smoke on permeable vs impermeable seed coats. FLORA, v. 253, p. 98-106, APR 2019. (15/06743-0, 12/24240-8)

DAMASCENO, GABRIELLA; SOUZA, LARA; PIVELLO, VANIA R.; GORGONE-BARBOSA, ELIZABETH; GIROLDO, PAULA Z.; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Impact of invasive grasses on Cerrado under natural regeneration. Biological Invasions, v. 20, n. 12, p. 3621-3629, DEC 2018. (15/06743-0, 15/10714-6)

DORNELAS, MARIA; ANTAO, LAURA H.; MOYES, FAYE; BATES, AMANDA E.; MAGURRAN, ANNE E.; ADAM, DUSAN; AKHMETZHANOVA, ASEM A.; APPELTANS, WARD; ARCOS, JOSE MANUEL; ARNOLD, HALEY; et al. BioTIME: A database of biodiversity time series for the Anthropocene. GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY, v. 27, n. 7, p. 760-786, JUL 2018. (13/50718-5, 15/06743-0, 99/09635-0, 13/50714-0, 15/10714-6, 08/10049-9)

MOURA, LIVIA C.; SCARIOT, ALDICIR O.; SCHMIDT, ISABEL B.; BEATTY, ROBIN; RUSSELL-SMITH, JEREMY. The legacy of colonial fire management policies on traditional livelihoods and ecological sustainability in savannas: Impacts, consequences, new directions. Journal of Environmental Management, v. 232, p. 600-606, FEB 15 2019. (15/06743-0)

FELIPE DAIBES, L.; PAUSAS, JULI G.; BONANI, NATHALIA; NUNES, JESSIKA; SILVEIRA, FERNANDO A. O.; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Fire and legume germination in a tropical savanna: ecological and historical factors. ANNALS OF BOTANY, v. 123, n. 7, p. 1219-1229, JUN 4 2019. (15/06743-0, 15/11176-8)

ZIRONDI, HELOIZA L.; OOI, MARK K. J.; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Fire-triggered flowering is the dominant post-fire strategy in a tropical savanna. JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, v. 32, n. 2, MAR 2021. (15/06743-0, 18/08017-3, 17/16149-4)

FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA; ZIRONDI, HELOIZA L.. And after fire, the Cerrado flowers: A review of post-fire flowering in a tropical savanna. FLORA, v. 280, JUL 2021. (15/06743-0, 17/16149-4)

CHIMINAZZO, MARCO ANTONIO; BOMBO, ALINE BERTOLOSI; CHARLES-DOMINIQUE, TRISTAN; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Your best buds are worth protecting: Variation in bud protection in a fire-prone cerrado system. FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, v. 35, n. 11, OCT 2021. (18/21300-6, 15/06743-0, 17/02934-1)

DAIREL, MARIANA; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. How does fire affect germination of grasses in the Cerrado?. SEED SCIENCE RESEARCH, v. 30, n. 4, p. 9-pg., 2020-12-01. (15/06743-0)

ROSALEM, PATRICIA FERNANDA; GORGONE-BARBOSA, ELIZABETH; DE CAMARGOS, LILIANE SANTOS; MARTINS, ALINE REDONDO. Anatomical plasticity and starch allocation in an invasive grass in response to fire. Rev. bras. Bot., v. 47, n. 3, p. 8-pg., 2024-04-06. (15/06743-0, 15/01380-7)

FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA; ROSALEM, PATRICIA; ZANZARINI, VAGNER; CAMARGOS, LILIANE S.; MARTINS, ALINE R.. From ashes to flowers: a savanna sedge initiates flowers 24 h after fire. ECOLOGY, v. 100, n. 5, p. 4-pg., 2019-05-01. (15/06743-0)

LE STRADIC, SOIZIG; ROUMET, CATHERINE; DURIGAN, GISELDA; CANCIAN, LEONARDO; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Variation in biomass allocation and root functional parameters in response to fire history in Brazilian savannas. JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, v. 109, n. 12, OCT 2021. (16/13232-5, 15/06743-0, 18/03755-6)

BOMBO, A. B.; SIEBERT, F.; FIDELIS, A.. Fire and herbivory shape belowground bud banks in a semi-arid African savanna. AFRICAN JOURNAL OF RANGE & FORAGE SCIENCE, OCT 2021. (17/02934-1, 15/06743-0, 18/17612-2)

BOMBO, ALINE BERTOLOSI; APPEZZATO-DA-GLORIA, BEATRIZ; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Fire exclusion changes belowground bud bank and bud-bearing organ composition jeopardizing open savanna resilience. Oecologia, v. 199, n. 1, p. 12-pg., 2022-04-26. (15/06743-0)

CHIMINAZZO, MARCO A.; CHARLES-DOMINIQUE, TRISTAN; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA; BOMBO, ALINE B.; JONES, CYNTHIA S.; DIGGLE, PAMELA K.. Plant form and height across environmental gradients: a developmental perspective on plant intraspecific variability. ANNALS OF BOTANY, v. N/A, p. 9-pg., 2025-07-10. (15/06743-0, 21/09269-9)

FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Is fire the ?bad "?. FLORA, v. 268, p. 3-pg., 2020-07-01. (15/06743-0)

COZIN, BRUNO BONADIO; FERREIRA, TASSIA CAROLINE; DAIBES, L. FELIPE; DE CARVALHO, ISABELLA FIORINI; DOS SANTOS, BEATRIZ SILVERIO; DE SOUZA, ROBERTA POSSAS; DE CAMARGOS, LILIANE SANTOS; MARTINS, ALINE REDONDO. Unveiling the hidden reserves: allocation strategies associated with underground organs of Cerrado legumes in fire-prone savannas. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY, v. 51, n. 9, p. 11-pg., 2024-01-01. (15/06743-0, 22/01560-9, 20/02745-7)

ROSALEM, PATRICIA FERNANDA; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA; ZANZARINI, VAGNER; DE CAMARGOS, LILIANE SANTOS; MARTINS, ALINE REDONDO. Vegetative anatomical traits of Bulbostylis paradoxa (Spreng.) Lindm (Cyperaceae). SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY, v. 180, p. 8-pg., 2025-05-01. (15/06743-0)

FELIPE DAIBES, L.; ZUPO, TALITA; SILVEIRA, FERNANDO A. O.; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. A field perspective on effects of fire and temperature fluctuation on Cerrado legume seeds. SEED SCIENCE RESEARCH, v. 27, n. 2, p. 10-pg., 2017-06-01. (15/06743-0)

ZUPO, TALITA; GORGONE-BARBOSA, ELIZABETH; RISSI, MARIANA NINNO; DAIBES, LUIS FELIPE. Experimental burns in an open savanna: Greater fuel loads result in hotter fires. AUSTRAL ECOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 12-pg., 2022-06-05. (15/06743-0)

CHIMINAZZO, MARCO ANTONIO; BOMBO, ALINE BERTOLOSI; CHARLES-DOMINIQUE, TRISTAN; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. To protect or to hide: Why not both? An investigation of fire-related strategies in Cerrado woody species. FLORA, v. 306, p. 8-pg., 2023-09-01. (17/02934-1, 18/21300-6, 15/06743-0, 21/09269-9)

DAMASCENO, GABRIELLA; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Abundance of invasive grasses is dependent on fire regime and climatic conditions in tropical savannas. Journal of Environmental Management, v. 271, OCT 1 2020. (15/06743-0, 15/10714-6)

DAIREL, MARIANA; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. The presence of invasive grasses affects the soil seed bank composition and dynamics of both invaded and non-invaded areas of open savannas. Journal of Environmental Management, v. 276, DEC 15 2020. (15/06743-0)

LE STRADIC, SOIZIG; DAMASCENO, GABRIELLA; CANCIAN, LEONARDO FARAGE; DONADIEU, MAEVA; KOLLMANN, JOHANNES; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. High Root Biomass and Variation in Root Functional Traits Allow Non-Native Grass Species to Invade Tropical Open Savannahs in Brazil. JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, v. 36, n. 4, p. 9-pg., 2025-07-01. (16/13232-5, 15/06743-0, 18/03755-6)

ZANZARINI, VAGNER; ROSSATTO, DAVI R.; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA. Changes in plant flammability-related traits to fire regime characteristics and biomass conditions in the Cerrado. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY, v. N/A, p. 10-pg., 2025-10-14. (23/16620-0, 15/06743-0)