Title
Fire and invasive species: Modifications in the germination potential of Acacia melanoxylon, Conyza canadensis and Eucalyptus globulus
Date Issued
05 August 2013
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
García-Duro J.
Reyes O.
Casal M.
Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
Abstract
This study attempts to understand the effect of the main fire factors (smoke, ash and heat) on the germination of three invasive species widely distributed in many countries: Acacia melanoxylon, Conyza canadensis and Eucalyptus globulus. Fifteen simple treatments were tested: 3 of Smoke, 3 of Ash, 8 of Heat, and 1 Control (Control 1). In addition, in C. canadensis a second test was performed using 4 combined treatments: Smoke-Ash, Smoke-Heat, Ash-Heat, Smoke-Ash-Heat and Control 2.The seeds were incubated in a germination chamber with a photoperiod of 16. h of light at 24. °C and 8. h of darkness at 16. °C.Three species showed different responses from fire factors. Smoke and ash treatments did not modify the germination percentage of A. melanoxylon, but moderate heat increased germination and severe heat significantly decreased it. Moreover, some treatments significantly decreased germination rate. C. canadensis germination was increased by moderate levels of all the factors tested, whilst high levels of fire delayed and reduced germination. The combined action of the fire factors did not modify the germination percentage, but did reduce the germination rate. E. globulus had low germination in Control 1 and none of the tested treatments modified either percentage or rate of germination. Finally, regenerative aspects of the three species are discussed. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.
Start page
7
End page
13
Volume
302
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Protección y nutrición de las plantas
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84876788871
Source
Forest Ecology and Management
ISSN of the container
03781127
Sponsor(s)
The study was carried out within the Project 10MDS200007PR, financed by the Dirección Xeral de Investigación, Desenvolvemento e Innovación, of the Consellería de Economía e Industria, of the Xunta de Galicia, Spain.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus