| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Pilon, Natashi A. L.
[1]
;
Hoffmann, William A.
[2]
;
Abreu, Rodolfo C. R.
[2]
;
Durigan, Giselda
[1, 3]
Total Authors: 4
|
| Affiliation: | [1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Campinas, SP - Brazil
[2] North Carolina State Univ, Dept Plant & Microbial Biol, Raleigh, NC - USA
[3] Inst Florestal, Floresta Estadual Assis, Lab Ecol & Hidrol Florestal, Assis - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | Plant Ecology & Diversity; v. 11, n. 3, p. 259-266, 2018. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 1 |
| Abstract | |
Background: Fire has been reported to trigger the production of flowers and fruits in many fire-prone ecosystems around the world. However, for tropical savannas, little is known about the effects of fire on flower production at community and species scale, especially for the ground-layer.Aims: We assessed the role of fire as a trigger to short-term flowering in cerrado grassland, compared with unburned vegetation.Methods: We recorded the presence of flowers or fruits in 2,441 individuals from 47 plant species (grasses, forbs and subshrubs), during 6 months after fire, in burned and unburned areas of cerrado grasslands, in south-eastern Brazil.Results: In the burned areas, 63% of individuals sampled flowered, in contrast to 19% in unburned areas, demonstrating a strong and positive effect of fire on plant communities of cerrado grasslands. Fire significantly induced flowering in 79% of the studied species, of which 20 species flowered only after fire (nine grasses, seven subshrubs and four forbs).Conclusions: These results highlight the role of fire triggering important ecological processes in the cerrado grasslands, potentially benefiting seed production and genetic diversity of many species. Fire is a crucial factor to be maintained for conservation of these ecosystems and their biodiversity. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 16/17888-2 - Effects of prescribed burning and frost on plant diversity and structure in Cerrado ground layer |
| Grantee: | Natashi Aparecida Lima Pilon |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |