Early Stages of Regeneration After Burning in Dry Sclerophyll Vegetation. I. Regeneration of the Understorey by Vegetative Means

Abstract

The dynamics of regeneration by vegetative means were examined during the first 2 years after summer burning of dry sclerophyll vegetation. Three shrub species were fire-sensitive, and the remaining perennial shrub and herb species fire-resistant and able to produce vegetative regrowth. The latter were classified as 'increasers' or 'decreasers' on the basis of their ability to multiply vegetatively. Of all pre-burn plants, 50-75 % commenced regrowth within 2 months of burning. Vegetative recovery appeared to be affected most by fire intensity, post-burn soil moisture, plant age and the origin of the regrowth. The vegetative multiplication of most increaser species was stimulated after burning. Regrowth survival was high, and the few observed instances of death were caused by water stress. The floristic composition of the vegetation remained the same after burning, and although species dominance appeared to change, it was related to differences in the method of species regeneration.