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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Fire and herbivory shape belowground bud banks in a semi-arid African savanna

Full text
Author(s):
Bombo, A. B. [1] ; Siebert, F. [2] ; Fidelis, A. [1]
Total Authors: 3
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Estadual Paulista UNESP, Inst Biociencias, Rio Claro - Brazil
[2] North West Univ, Unit Environm Sci & Management, Potchefstroom - South Africa
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: AFRICAN JOURNAL OF RANGE & FORAGE SCIENCE; OCT 2021.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

Fire and herbivory are major drivers in tropical savanna ecosystems and they selected a flora composed of species able to cope with recurrent aboveground biomass removal. Renewal of the herbaceous stratum is made possible by resprouting, mostly through a belowground bud bank. Evaluating the impacts of disturbances on the bud bank can assist in predicting post-disturbance responses and system resilience. In a semi-arid savanna, we aimed to verify whether lower fire frequency, fire and herbivory exclusion could affect belowground bud bank and organs diversity and consequently, the resprouting potential. Lower fire frequency or suppression and absence of herbivory were expected to reduce the bud bank density, which was confirmed by our results. If the fire is suppressed or fire frequency is reduced, the total, graminoid and the shrub bud bank decreased, whereas herbivory exclusion resulted in total and a forb bud bank of lower densities. Belowground buds were identified in non-woody and woody rhizomes, stolons, root crowns, and bulbs or corms. Despite having bud banks of lower density, disturbance exclusion promoted belowground biomass accumulation. Our results indicated the importance of maintaining the endogenous disturbances to the preservation of the belowground community and regeneration strategy, guaranteeing resilience in semi-arid savanna communities. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 17/02934-1 - After fire, where to the resprouts come from? Evaluation of the bud bank and belowground organs of Cerrado
Grantee:Aline Bertolosi Bombo
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
FAPESP's process: 15/06743-0 - How does fire season affect Cerrado vegetation?
Grantee:Alessandra Tomaselli Fidelis
Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
FAPESP's process: 18/17612-2 - Fire frequency effects in bud bank size and belowground organs in a South African savanna
Grantee:Aline Bertolosi Bombo
Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor