Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Predicting the Recovery of Pinus halepensis and Quercus ilex Forests after a Large Wildfire in Northeastern Spain

  • Published:
Plant Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Quercus ilex and Pinus halepensis are two of the most common tree species of the western Mediterranean basin. Both species regenerate reliably after fire: P. halepensis colonizes recently disturbed areas by effective seedling recruitment, while Q. ilex resprouts vigorously after disturbances. For this reason, the natural regeneration of these species after fire should ensure the re-establishment of a forest similar to that which existed before the fire. This study analyzes with a simple simulation model whether or not the relative abundance of monospecific and mixed forests of these species in the landscape is altered by fire. We also analyze the topographic factors and the forest structure before the fire that determine the changes in forest composition after fire. This study has been carried out in a large fire that occurred in NE Spain. Overall, 33% of plots changed to another community type, but this probability of change varied considerably among community types before the fire. Monospecific forests of P. halepensis or Q. ilex had a high probability of remaining in their original composition after the fire, whereas the resilience of mixed forests of these two species was quite low. Mixed forests changed for the most part to monospecific P. halepensis or Q. ilex forests. Analysis of several factors determining these changes indicated that only elevation as a significant topographical variable. The effect of fire was to increase the altitudinal differentiation between the two species. P. halepensis forests that changed to mixed or Q. ilex forests were those of highest elevation, while the mixed and Q. ilex plots that changed to P. halepensis forests were those located at the lowest elevations. Concerning structural variables before fire, density of Q. ilex trees before the fire showed a much greater effect than P. halepensis density in determining the post-fire community. Finally, burn severity also influenced the changes observed. For both P. halepensis and Q. ilex forests, plots that changed to another forest type were mainly those that burned more severely. In the case of mixed forests, even low fire severities involved high probabilities of change to monospecific forests.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • N. Abad R.N. Caturla J. Baeza C. Bladé F. Vieira E. Carbó A. Valdecantos I. Serrasolsas R. Guàrdia J. Raventós J.A. Alloza A. Escarré J. Bellot V.R. Vallejo (1997) Regeneración de los montes quemados V.R. Vallejo (Eds) La restauración de la cubierta vegetal en la Comunidad Valenciana Fundación CEAM Valencia 51–148

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Arianoutsou (1998) Aspects of demography in post-fire Mediterranean plant communities of Greece P.W. Rundel G. Montenegro F.M. Jaksic (Eds) Landscape Degradation and Biodiversity in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems Springer Verlag Berlin 273–295

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Ariatnoutsou G. Ne'eman (2000) Post-fire regeneration of natural Pinus halepensis forests in the east Mediterranean Basin G. Ne'eman L. Trabaud (Eds) Ecology, Biogeography and Management of Pinus halepensis P. brutia Forest Ecosystems in the Mediterranean Basin Backhuys Publishers Leiden 269–290

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Barbéro G. Bonin R. Loisel F. Miglioretti P. Quezel (1987) ArticleTitleIncidence of exogenous factors on the regeneration of Pinus halepensis after fires Ecologia Mediterranea 13 51–56

    Google Scholar 

  • D. Bran O. Lobreaux M. Maistre P. Perret F. Romane (1990) ArticleTitleGermination of Quercus ilex Q. pubescens in a Q. ilex coppice. Long-term consequences Vegetatio 87 45–50 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00045654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M.J. Broncano J. Retana (2004) ArticleTitleTopography and pre-fire vegetation affecting the spatial heterogeneity generated after a large forest wildfire in the Mediterranean Basin Int. J. Wildland Fire 13 209–216 Occurrence Handle10.1071/WF03036

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R.M. Callaway F.W. Davis (1993) ArticleTitleVegetation dynamics, fire and the physical environment in Coastal Central California Ecology 74 1567–1578

    Google Scholar 

  • E.N. Daskalakou C.A. Thanos (1996) ArticleTitleAleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) post-fire regeneration: the role of canopy and soil seed banks Int. J. Wildland Fire 6 77–78

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Ducrey J. Toth (1992) ArticleTitleEffect of cleaning and thinning on height growth and girth increment in holm oak coppices (Quercus ilex) Vegetatio 99–100 365–375 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00118243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M. Ducrey M. Boisserie (1992) ArticleTitleRecrû naturel dans des taillis de chêne vert (Quercus ilex) à la suite d'exploitations partielles Ann. Sci. Forest. 49 91–109

    Google Scholar 

  • J.M. Espelta (1996) La regeneració de boscos d'alzina (Quercus ilex) i pi blanc (Pinus halepensis Mill.): estudi experimental de la resposta de les plàntules a la intensitat de llum i a la disponibilitat d'aigua Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • J.M. Espelta M. Riba J. Retana (1995) ArticleTitlePatterns of seedling recruitment in West-Mediterranean Quercus ilex forests influenced by canopy development J. Veg. Sci. 6 465–472

    Google Scholar 

  • J.M. Espelta S. Sabaté J. Retana (1999) Resprouting dynamics F. Rodà J. Retana C.A. Gracia J. Bellot (Eds) Ecology of Mediterranean Evergreen Oak Forests Springer Verlag Berlin 61–73

    Google Scholar 

  • J.M. Espelta A. Rodrigo A. Habrouk N. Meguelli J.L. Ordóñez J. Retana (2002) Land use changes, natural regeneration patterns, and restoration practices after a large wildfire in NE Spain: challenges for fire ecology and landscape restoration L. Trabaud R. Prodon (Eds) Fire and Biological Processes Backhuys Publishers Leiden 315–324

    Google Scholar 

  • G. Giovannini D. Perulli P. Piussi F. Salbitano (1992) ArticleTitleEcology of vegetative regeneration after coppicing in macchia stands in central Italy Vegetatio 99 IssueID100 331–343 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00118240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • C. Gracia J.A. Burriel J.J. Ibáñez T. Mata J. Vayreda (2000) Inventari ecològic i forestal de Catalunya. Regió forestal IV Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions forestals Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Habrouk J. Retana J.M. Espelta (1999) ArticleTitleRole of heat tolerance and cone protection of seeds in the response of three pine species to wildfires Plant Ecol. 145 91–99 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1009851614885

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M.A. Hassan N.E. West (1986) ArticleTitleDynamics of soil seed pools in burned and unburned sagebrush semi-deserts Ecology 67 269–272

    Google Scholar 

  • J.M. Herranz J.J. Martínez-Sánchez A. Marín P. Ferrandis (1997) ArticleTitlePost-fire regeneration of Pinus halepensis Miller in a semi-arid area in Albacete province (southeastern Spain) Ecoscience 4 86–90

    Google Scholar 

  • K.C. Hodgkinson (1998) ArticleTitleSprouting success of shrubs after fire: height-dependent relationships for different strategies Oecologia 115 64–72 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s004420050492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J.J. Ibañez M.J. Lledó J.R. Sánchez F. Rodà (1999) Stand structureaboveground biomass and production F. Rodà J. Retana C.A. Gracia J. Bellot (Eds) Ecology of Mediterranean Evergreen Oak Forests Springer Verlag Berlin 31–43

    Google Scholar 

  • E.A. Johnson S.L. Gutsell (1993) ArticleTitleHeat budgets and fire behaviour associated with the opening of serotinous cones in two Pinus species J. Veg. Sci. 4 745–750

    Google Scholar 

  • J.E. Keeley (1986) Resilience of Mediterranean shrub communities to fires B. Dell A.J.M. Hopkins B.B. Lamont (Eds) Resilience in Mediterranean-type Ecosystems Dr W. Junk Publishers Dordrecht 95–112

    Google Scholar 

  • J.E. Keeley (1994) Seed-germination patterns in fire-prone Mediterranean climate regions M.T.K. Arroyo P.H. Zedler M.D. Fox (Eds) Ecology and Biogeography of Mediterranean Ecosystems in ChileCalifornia and Australia Springer-Verlag New York 239–273

    Google Scholar 

  • L. López-Soria C. Castell (1992) ArticleTitleComparative genet survival after fire in woody Mediterranean species Oecologia 91 493–499 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00650321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • F. Lloret (1998) ArticleTitleFirecanopy cover and seedling dynamics in Mediterranean shrubland of northeastern Spain J. Veg. Sci. 9 417–430

    Google Scholar 

  • X. Mayor F. Rodà (1992) ArticleTitleIs primary production in holm oak forests nutrient limited? A correlation approach Vegetatio 99–100 209–217 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00118227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno J.M. and Vallejo V.R. 1999. Fire impacts on the ecosystem and restoration: summary of the main findings from the delfi-fire database. In: Volume of proceeding of: Forest fires: Needs & Innovation. International symposium. Athens, Greece pp. 239–261.

  • G. Ne'eman H. Lahav I. Izhaki (1995) ArticleTitleRecovery of vegetation in a natural east Mediterranean pine forest on Mount Carmel, Israel as affected by management strategies For. Ecol. Manage. 75 17–26 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0378-1127(95)03544-K

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • F. Ojeda T. Marañón J. Arroyo (1996) ArticleTitlePostfire regeneration of a Mediterranean heathland in Southern Spain Int. J. Wildland Fire 6 191–198

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Papió (1990) Ecologia del foc i regeneració en garrigues i pinedes mediterrànies Autonomous University of Barcelona Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • S.T.A. Pickett S.L. Collins J.J. Armesto (1987) ArticleTitleModels, mechanisms, and pathways of succession Bot. Rev. 53 335–371

    Google Scholar 

  • C.D. Pigott S. Pigott (1993) ArticleTitleWater as a determinant of the distribution of trees at the boundary of the Mediterranean zone J. Ecol. 81 557–566

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Puigdefábregas T. Mendizábal (1998) ArticleTitlePerspectives on desertification: western Mediterranean J. Arid Environ. 39 209–224 Occurrence Handle10.1006/jare.1998.0401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P. Quézel (2000) Taxonomy and biogeography of Mediterranean pines (Pinus halepensis) and (P. brutia) D.M. Richardson (Eds) Ecology and Biogeography of Pinus Cambridge University Press Cambridge 1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • P. Quézel M. Barbéro (1990) ArticleTitleLes forêts méditerranéennes. Problèmes posés par leur signification historiqueécologique et leur conservation Acta Bot. Malacitana 15 145–178

    Google Scholar 

  • P. Quézel M. Barbéro (1992) ArticleTitleLe pin d'Alep et les spèces voisines: repartition et caractères écologiques généraux, sa dynamique récente en France méditerranéenne Forêt méditerranéenne 13 158–170

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Retana J.M. Espelta M. Gracia (1996) ArticleTitleCaracterización de masas mixtas de pino carrasco y encina en el Montseny (nordeste de la Península Ibérica) Cuadernos de la Sociedad Española de Ciencias Forestales 3 167–173

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Retana J.M. Espelta M. Gracia M. Riba (1999) Seedling Recruitment F. Rodà J. Retana C.A. Gracia J. Bellot (Eds) Ecology of Mediterranean Evergreen Oak Forests Springer Verlag Berlin 89–101

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Saracino V. Leone F. De Natale (1993) ArticleTitlePermanent plots for the study of natural regeneration after fire of Pinus halepensis Milkler in dunal environment Ann. Bot. 51 209–217

    Google Scholar 

  • C.A. Thanos K. Georghiou C. Kadis C. Pantazi (1992) ArticleTitleCistaceae: a plant family with hard seeds Isr. J. Bot. 41 251–263

    Google Scholar 

  • C.A. Thanos (1999) Fire effects on forest vegetation, the case of Mediterranean pine forests in Greece G. Eftichidis P. Balabanis A. Ghazi (Eds) Proceedings of the Advanced Study Course Algosystems SA & European Commission DGXII Athens 323–336

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Trabaud (1987) ArticleTitleDynamics after fire of sclerophyllous plant communities in the Mediterranean basin Ecol. Mediterranea 13 25–37

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Trabaud (1988) ArticleTitleSurvie de jeunes plantules de pin d'Alep apparues après incendie Stud. Oecologica 5 161–170

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Trabaud (1994) Postfire plant community dynamics in the Mediterranean Basin J.M. Moreno W.C. Oechel (Eds) The Role of Fire in Mediterranean Type Ecosystems Springer-Verlag New York, USA 1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Trabaud C. Michels J. Grosman (1985) ArticleTitleRecovery of burned Pinus halepensis Mill. forests. Pine reconstituion after fire For. Ecol. Manage. 13 167–179 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0378-1127(85)90032-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T. Tsitsoni (1997) ArticleTitleConditions determining natural regeneration after wildfires in the Pinus halepensis (Miller1768) forests of Kassandra Peninsula (North Greece) For. Ecol. Manage. 92 199–208 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0378-1127(96)03909-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M.G. Turner W.H. Romme R.H. Gardner W.W. Hargrove (1997) ArticleTitleEffects of fire size and pattern on early succession in Yellowstone National Park Ecol. Monogr. 67 411–433

    Google Scholar 

  • M.G. Turner W.L. Baker C.J. Peterson R.K. Peet (1998) ArticleTitleFactors influencing succession: lessons from largeinfrequent natural disturbances Ecosystems 1 511–523 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s100219900047

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R. Vallejo J.A. Alloza (1998) The restoration of burned lands: the case of eastern Spain J.M. Moreno (Eds) Large Forest Fires Backhuys Publishers Leiden, The Netherlands 91–108

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Vélez (1991) ArticleTitleLos incendios forestales y la política forestal Revista Estudios Agro-Sociales 158 83–105

    Google Scholar 

  • R.J. Whelan (1995) The Ecology of Fire Cambridge University Press Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • C.A. Zammit P.H. Zedler (1988) ArticleTitleThe influence of dominant shrubs, fireand time since fire on soil seed banks in mixed chaparral Vegetatio 75 175–187

    Google Scholar 

  • M.A. Zavala J.M. Espelta J.M. Retana (2000) ArticleTitleConstraints and trade-offs in Mediterranean plant communities: the case of holm oak-aleppo pine forests The Bot. Rev. 66 119–149

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals (CREAF) i Unitat d`Ecologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain

    Maria José Broncano, Javier Retana & Anselm Rodrigo

Authors
  1. Maria José Broncano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Javier Retana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anselm Rodrigo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Javier Retana.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Broncano, M., Retana, J. & Rodrigo, A. Predicting the Recovery of Pinus halepensis and Quercus ilex Forests after a Large Wildfire in Northeastern Spain. Plant Ecol 180, 47–56 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-005-0974-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-005-0974-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation