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Tree density and site quality influence on Pinus halepensis Mill. reproductive characteristics after large fires

Influence de la densité du peuplement et de la fertilité de la station sur la dynamique de reproduction de Pinus halepensis Mill., dix ans après d’importants incendies

Annals of Forest Science volume 64, pages 649–656 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

In Spain, many Pinus halepensis Mill. forests have been seriously affected by significant forest fires in the past decade, in 1994 alone, more than 100 000 ha were burned in Eastern Spain. In order to study the reproductive characteristics of P. halepensis after forest fires, six locations were selected in four areas affected by serious fires in the summer of 1994, and the following different precipitation zones were studied: dry-subhumid, dry and semi-arid. Ten years after the fires, data relevant to the production of pine cones: serotinous (grey), mature (brown), immature (green) and opened cones, was collected from areas with natural post-fire regeneration. Various cone and seed characteristics, such as pine cone seed number and weight, and germination percentage, were measured. The results showed greater production of cones and strobili in high-density sites. The biggest cone sizes (volume) and seed number per cone were related to site quality (dry-subhumid precipitation zone). Also, viability and germination percentages were higher with better site quality, with significant differences in values for serotinous and non-serotinous cones. Despite these differences, the canopy seed bank was large enough to ensure regeneration in this area for this age stand.

Résumé

En Espagne, dans les dix dernières années, de nombreuses forêts de Pin d’Alep ont été gravement touchées par d’importants feux de forêt. Rien qu’en 1994, plus de 100 000 ha ont brûlé dans l’est de l’Espagne. Dans le cadre d’une étude de la dynamique de la reproduction du Pin d’Alep après incendie, six sites, situés dans des zones de feux de forêt survenus lors de l’été 1994, ont été observés. Ces sites présentent des niveaux de précipitations différents : sec à sub-humide, sec et semi-aride. Dix ans après incendie, des données concernant la production de cônes de pin : sérotineux (gris), mûrs (marrons), immatures (vert) et cônes ouverts, ont été collectées dans des zones de régénération naturelle. Diverses caractéristiques des cônes et des graines ont été relevées : nombre et poids des cônes et des graines, taux de germination. Les résultats révèlent une production importante de cônes et de strobiles dans les sites à forte densité de pin. Le volume des cônes et le nombre de graines par cône étaient liés à la fertilité de la station (zone sèche à sub-humide). Les taux de viabilité et de germination étaient aussi plus importants dans les zones présentant le plus de précipitations et des écarts significatifs ont été observés entre les valeurs de cônes sérotineux et non sérotineux. Malgré ces différences, les banques de graines dans les peuplements étaient suffisamment importantes pour assurer la régénération du pin dans cette zone.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos de Albacete, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Universitario s/n., 02071, Albacete, Spain

    Daniel Moya, Francisco López-Serrano & Jorge De Las Heras

  2. CREAF (Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications), Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain

    Josep M. Espelta & Iraima Verkaik

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  1. Daniel Moya
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  2. Josep M. Espelta
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  3. Iraima Verkaik
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  4. Francisco López-Serrano
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  5. Jorge De Las Heras
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Correspondence to Daniel Moya.

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Moya, D., Espelta, J.M., Verkaik, I. et al. Tree density and site quality influence on Pinus halepensis Mill. reproductive characteristics after large fires. Ann. For. Sci. 64, 649–656 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2007043

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Annals of Forest Science

ISSN: 1297-966X