Abstract
All mediterranean shrub communities are resilient to wildfires at a frequency range of every 20–50 years. These communities, however, are not unique in this respect. Many non-mediterranean shrub communities are dominated by species capable of resprouting and thus are resilient to occasional wildfires. Certain mediterranean shrub communities are unique in that they are dominated by species which have specialized their reproductive cycle to fires. These species recruit seedlings only in the first postfire year and since the burned shrubs are incapable of vegetative regeneration, they are referred to as obligate seeding shrubs. Such species require fires for rejuvenation and population expansion. Communities dominated by obligate seeding species are not resilient to wide deviations from this modal fire frequency. Fires at shorter intervals readily eliminate species with this life history mode. Likewise, extremely long intervals between fires could eliminate such species, though the upper limit of tolerance is unknown. California chaparral obligate seeding shrubs are largely resilient to fire-free intervals of 100 years or more but this may not be universally true for obligate seeding shrubs in other regions. Mediterranean-climate shrub communities dominated by resprouting shrubs are resilient to a much shorter fire recurrence interval. Certain of these species however fail to establish seedlings after fire and it appears that these obligate resprouters require extended fire-free periods for seedling establishment. Many of these resprouting species are capable of continually rejuvenating their canopy by sprouting from the base and there is reason to believe that communities dominated by such species would be resilient to very long fire recurrence intervals. The abundance of species with different life history modes varies between the different mediterranean-climate regions as well as along geographical gradients within regions. Thus, resilience of these communities is spatially variable.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adamson, R.S. 1935. The plant communities of Table Moun-tain: III. A six years’ study of regeneration after burning. J. Ecol. 23: 43–55.
Arnold, K., L.T. Burcham, R.L. Fenner, and R.F. Grah. 1951. Use of fire in land clearing. Calif. Agric. 5 (3) 9–11; 5 (4): 4–5, 13, 15; 5 (5): 11–12; 5 (6): 13–15; 5 (7): 6, 15.
Ball, C.T., J. Keeley, H. Mooney, J. Seaman, and W. Winner. 1983. Relationship between form, function, and distribution of two Arctostaphylosspecies (Ericaceae) and their putative hybrids. Oecologia Plantarum 4: 153–164.
Beadle, N.C.W. 1940. Soil temperatures during forest fires and their effect on the survival of vegetation. J. Ecol. 28: 180–192.
Bond, W.J. 1980. Fire in senescent fynbos in Swartberg. South Afr. For. J. 114: 68–71.
Bond, W.J. 1984. Fire survival of Cape Proteaeceae — influence of fire season and seed predators. Vegetatio 54: 65–74.
Bradstock, R.A. and P.J. Mverscough. 1981. Fire effects on seed release and the emergence and establishment of seed-lings in Banksia ericifoliaL. f. Aust. J. Bot. 29: 521–531.
Breytenbach, G.J. 1984. Single agedness in fynbos: A predation hypothesis. In: Medecos IV Proceedings 4th International Conference on Mediterranean Ecosystems (ed. B. Dell ), pp. 14–15. Bot. Dept., Univ. West. Aust., Nedlands, Western Australia.
Bullock, S.H. 1978. Plant abundance and distribution in relation to types of seed dispersal in chaparral. Madrono 25: 104–105.
Charnov, E.L. and W.M. Schaffer. 1973. Life-history conse-quences of natural selection: Cole’s result revisited. Amer. Natur. 107: 791–793.
Cochrane, G.R. 1963. Vegetation studies in forest-fire areas of Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia. Ecology 44: 41–52.
Cowling, R. and B. Lamont, 1984. Population dynamics and recruitment of four co-occurring Banksia spp. after spring and autumn burns. In: Medecos IV Proceedings 4th International Conference on Mediterranean Ecosystems (ed. B. Dell ), pp. 31–32. Bot. Dept., Univ. West. Aust., Nedlands, Western Australia.
Gardner, C. A. 1957. The fire factor in relation to the vegetation of Western Australia. West. Aust. Natur. 5: 166–173.
Gill, A.M. 1975. Fire and the Australian flora: A review. Aust. For. 38: 4–25.
Gill, A.M. 1976. Fire and the opening of Banksia omataF. Muell. follicles. Aust. J. Bot. 24: 329–335.
Gill, A.M. and R.G. Groves, 1981. Fire regimes in heathlands and their plant ecological effects. In: Ecosystems of the World 9B: Heathlands and Related Shrublands — Analytical Studies (ed. R.L. Specht ). pp. 61 - 84. Elsevier Scientific, New York.
Hazard, J. and R.F. Parsons, 1977. Size-class analysis of coastal scrub and woodland, Western Port, southern Australia. Aust. J. Ecol. 2: 187–197.
Hellmers, H., J.S. Horton, G. Juhren, and J. O’Keefe. 1955. Root systems of some chaparral plants in southern California. Ecology 36: 667–678.
Hnatiuk, R.J. and A.J.M. Hopkins, 1980. Western Australian species rich Kwongan (sclerophyllous shrubland) affected by drought. Aust. J. Bot. 28: 573–585.
Holland, P.G. 1969. Weight dynamics of Eucalyptusin the mallee vegetation of southeast Australia. Ecology 50: 212–219.
Horn, S. 1984. Bird Dispersal of Toyon (Heteromeles arbuti-folia). M. S. Thesis, Calif. State Univ., Hayward. 48 pp.
Hunt, J.H. 1977. Ants. In: Chile-California mediterranean scrub atlas-A comparative analysis (eds. N.H.W. Thrower and D.E. Bradbury ), pp. 195–198. Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross, Stroudsburg, Penn.
Juhren, M.C. 1966. Ecological observations on Cistusin the Mediterranean vegetation. For. Sci. 12: 415–426.
Keeley, J.E. 1977a. Seed production, seed populations in soil, and seedling production after fire for two congeneric pairs of sprouting and non-sprouting chaparral shrubs. Ecology 58: 820–829.
Keeley, J.E. 1977b. Fire dependent reproductive strategies in Arctostaphylos and Ceanothus. In: Proceedings of the Symposium on Environmental Consequences of Fire and Fuel Management in Mediterranean Ecosystems (eds. H.A. Mooney and C.E. Conrad), pp. 371–376. USDA For. Serv., Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-3.
Keeley, J.E. 1981. Reproductive cycles and fire regimes. In: Proceedings of the Conference Fire Regimes and Ecosystem Properties (eds. H.A. Mooney, T.M. Bonnicksen, N.L. Christensen, J.E. Lotan and W.A. Reiners). pp. 231–277. USDA For. Serv., Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-26.
Keeley, J.E. 1982. Distribution of lightning and man-caused wildfires in California. In: Proceedings of the Symposium on Dynamics and Management of Mediterranean-type Ecosystems (eds. C.E. Conrad and W.C. Oechel). pp. 431–437. USDA For. Serv., Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-58.
Keeley, J.E. and S.C. Keeley. 1977. Energy allocation patterns of sprouting and non-sprouting species of Arctostaphylosin the California chaparral. Amer. Midi. Natur. 98: 1–10.
Keeley, J.E. and S.C. Keeley. 1981. Postfire regeneration of California chaparral. Amer. J. Bot. 68: 524–530.
Keeley, J.E. and P.H. Zedler. 1978. Reproduction of chaparral shrubs after fire: A comparison of sprouting and seeding strategies. Amer. Midi. Natur. 99: 142–161.
Keeley, S.C. and A.W. Johnson. 1977. A comparison of the pattern of herb and shrub growth in comparable sites in Chile and California. Amer. Midi. Natur. 97: 120–132.
Kruger, F.J. 1979. South African heathlands. In: Ecosystems of the World 9A: Heathlands and Related Shrublands — Descriptive Studies (ed. R.L. Specht ). pp. 19–80. Elsevier Scientific, New York.
Kruger, F.J. 1983. Plant community diversity and dynamics in relation to fire. In: Mediterranean-type Ecosystems. The Role of Nutrients (eds. F.J. Kruger, D.T. Mitchell and J.U.M. Jarvis ). pp. 446–472. Springer, New York.
Kruger, F.J. and R.C. Bigalke. 1984. Fire in fynbos. In: Ecolo¬gical Effects of Fire in South African Ecosystems (eds. de V. Booysen and N.M. Tainton ). pp. 67–114. Springer, New York.
Le Houerou, H.N. 1974. Fire and vegetation in the Mediterranean Basin. Proc. Tall Timb. Fire Ecol. Conf. 13: 237–277.
Levyns, M.R. 1966. Haemanthus canaliculatus, a new fire-lily from the the western Cape Province. J. S. Afr. Bot. 32: 73–75.
Low, A.B. 1984. The Cape Restios — a modern success story. In: Medecos IV Proceedings 4th International Conference on Mediterranean Ecosystems (ed. B. Dell ), pp. 93–94. Bot. Dept., Univ. West. Aust., Nedlands, Western Australia.
MacArthur, R.H. and E.O. Wilson. 1967. The Theory of Island Biogeography. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 203 pp.
McMahon, A. 1984a. The effects of time since fire on heathlands in the Little Desert, N.W. Victoria, Australia. In: Medecos IV Proceedings 4th International Conference on Mediterranean Ecosystems (ed. B. Dell ), pp. 99–100. Bot. Dept., Univ. West. Aust., Nedlands, Western Australia.
McMahon, A. 1984b. The effects of fire regime components of heathland in the Little Desert, N.W. Victoria, Australia. In: Medecos IV Proceedings 4th International Conference on Mediterranean Ecosystems (ed. B. Dell ), pp. 101–102. Bot. Dept., Univ. West. Aust., Nedlands, Western Australia.
Martin, A.R.H. 1966. The plant ecology of the Grahamstown Nature Reserve. II. Some effects of burning. J.S. Afr. Bot. 32: 1–39.
Miller, P.C. (ed)., 1981. Resource Use by Chaparral and Matorral. Springer, New York. 455 pp.
Mooney, H.A (ed). 1977. Convergent Evolution of Chile and California — Mediterranean Climate Ecosystems. Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. 224 pp.
Musick, H.B., Jr. 1972. Post-fire Seedling Ecology of Two Ceanothusspecies in Relation to Slope Exposure. M. A. Thesis, Univ. Calif., Santa Barbara. 27 pp.
Naveh, E. 1974. Effects of fire in the Mediterranean Region. In: Fire and Ecosystems (eds. T.T. Kozlowski and C.E. Ahl-gren ). pp. 401–434. Academic, New York.
Naveh, Z. 1975. The evolutionary significance of fire in the Mediterranean Region. Vegetatio 29: 199–208.
Naveh, Z. 1984. Resilience and homeorhesis of Mediterranean shrublands. In: Medecos IV Proceedings 4th International Conference on Mediterranean Ecosystems (ed. B. Dell ), pp. 122–123. Bot. Dept., Univ. West. Aust., Nedlands, Western Australia.
O’Dowd, D. and A.M. Gill. 1984. Predator satiation and site alteration following fire: Mass reproduction of alpine ash (Eucalyptus delegatensis) in southeastern Australia. Ecology 65: 1052–1066.
Papanastasis, V.P. and L.C. Romanas. 1977. Effect of high temperatures on seed germination of certain mediterranean half-shrubs. Ministry of Agric. — For. Res. Inst. Bull. No. 86. Thessaloniki, Greece. 30 pp.
Russell, R.P. and R.F. Parsons. 1978. Effects of time since fire on heath floristics at Wilson’s Promontory, South Australia. Aust. J. Bot. 26: 53–61.
Specht, R.L. 1981. Responses to fires in heathlands and related shrublands. In: Fire and the Australian Biota (eds. A.M. Gill, R.H. Groves and I.R. Noble ), pp. 394–415. Aust. Acad. Sci., Canberra, ACT.
Specht, R.L., P. Rayson, and M.E. Jackman. 1958. Dark Island heath (Ninety-mile plain, South Australia) VI. Pyric succession: Changes in composition, coverage, dry weight and mineral nutrient status. Aust. J. Bot. 6: 59–88.
Taylor, H.C. 1978. Capensis. In: Biogeography and Ecology of Southern Africa (ed. M.J.A. Werger. pp. 171–229. Dr W. Junk, The Hague.
Trabaud, L. and J. Lepart. 1981. Changes in the floristic composition of Quercus cocciferagarrigue in relation to different fire regimes. Vegetatio 46: 105–116.
van Wilgen, B.W. and F.J. Kruger. 1981. Observations on the effects of fire in mountain fynbos at Zachariashoek, Paarl. J. S. Afr. Bot. 47: 195–212.
Wells, P.V. 1969. The relation between mode of reproduction and extent of speciation in woody genera of the California chaparral. Evolution 23: 264–267.
Zammit, C. 1984. Seedling recruitment strategies in obligate-seeding and resprouting Banksiashrubs. In: Medecos IV Proceedings 4th International Conference on Mediterranean Ecosystems (ed. B. Dell ), pp. 171–172. Bot. Dept., Univ. West. Aust., Nedlands, Western Australia.
Zedler, P.H. 1981. Vegetation change in chaparral and desert communities in San Diego County, California. In: Forest Succession. Concepts and Applications (eds. D.C. West, H.H. Shugart and D. Botkin ). pp. 406–430. Springer, New York.
Zedler, P.H. 1984. Resilience of chaparral in southern California. In: Medecos IV Proceedings 4th International Conference on Mediterranean Ecosystems (ed. B. Dell ), pp. 177–178. Bot. Dept., Univ. West. Aust., Nedlands, Western Australia.
Zedler, P.H., C.R. Gautier, and G.S. McMaster. 1983. Vegetation change in response to extreme events: The effect of a short interval between fires in California chaparral and coastal scrub. Ecology 64: 809–818.
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1986 Dr. W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Keeley, J.E. (1986). Resilience of mediterranean shrub communities to fires. In: Dell, B., Hopkins, A.J.M., Lamont, B.B. (eds) Resilience in mediterranean-type ecosystems. Tasks for vegetation science, vol 16. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4822-8_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4822-8_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8637-0
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-4822-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive