Resprouting and growth dynamics after fire of the clonal shrub Andira legalis (Leguminosae) in a sandy coastal plain in south-eastern Brazil

Cirne, P Scarano, FR

P. Cirne et Fr. Scarano, Resprouting and growth dynamics after fire of the clonal shrub Andira legalis (Leguminosae) in a sandy coastal plain in south-eastern Brazil, J ECOLOGY, 89(3), 2001, pp. 351-357

45

INGLESE

Article

Environment/Ecology

JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY

0022-0477 → ACNP

89

3

2001

351 - 357

ISI

0022-0477(200106)89:3<351:RAGDAF>2.0.ZU;2-2

1 Survival, resprouting and growth dynamics of the clonal shrub Andira lega lis were studied for 2 years after fire, on a sandy spit on the coastal pla in of Brazil. We examined the importance of resprouting for post-fire persi stence, the relationship between resprouting patterns and injury suffered a nd size of individuals, and whether ramet growth was determined by competit ion and self-thinning. 2 Post-fire resprouting was responsible for production of new ramets and le d to an increase in the mean number of ramets per A. legalis individual. 3 There was a negative association between resprouting from overground vs. underground. Highly injured individuals showed a significant tendency to sp rout new ramets from underground organs whereas less damaged plants produce d new branches and leaves from stem buds. Ramet production was related to a n individual's prefire size (basal area), but to a lesser extent than to in jury. 4 Immediately after fire, the G(t,x) function (mean of absolute growth rate s of shoots of size x at time f) was size-independent, suggesting an absenc e of competition. G(t,x) then became size-dependent, while D(t,x) (variance of absolute growth rates of shoots of size x at time t) remained size-inde pendent, indicating that any competition between ramets was symmetric. 5 Size-dependent mortality and a negative linear relationship between mean ramet size and density indicated self-thinning. However, the low ramet mort ality (7.7%) and the absence of size hierarchies (coefficients of variation remained constant) suggest that competition and self-thinning were not int ense.