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The heat is on: frequent high intensity fire in bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) drives mortality of the sprouting tree Protea caffra in temperate grasslands

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Abstract

We examined the effect of fire frequency and intensity on a Protea caffra tree population in the temperate montane grasslands of north-western KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We assessed the effect of fire by comparing the population structure of the resprouter P. caffra in discrete bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) patches with that in the surrounding grassland matrix. Fuel biomass did not differ between grassland and bracken, but bracken fuel was significantly drier than grass. Above-ground fire temperatures and fireline intensity, measured by P. caffra char height, were significantly higher in the bracken habitat. Forty-two percent of the P. caffra population in grassland and in bracken persisted by coppice resprouts, having lost their original stem to fire damage. Exposure to higher intensity bracken fire suppressed P. caffra regeneration and caused greater adult mortality compared with trees in grassland. Consequently, the P. caffra population in bracken was skewed towards old age with most trees severely fire damaged. The high incidence of small trees in grassland indicates that a regular fire interval of 2–3 years does not negatively affect regeneration of P. caffra. However, in bracken patches regular high intensity fires cause high mortality among all P. caffra size classes and will ultimately result in local extinction. Bracken thus has the potential to significantly alter tree–grass interactions in these montane grasslands.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the University of KwaZulu-Natal through the Forest Biodiversity Research Unit. The authors are grateful to Tony Rebelo for providing information on Protea regeneration strategies. HA gratefully acknowledges Lesley Durrans for financial support. We thank Meyrick Bowker for assisting with field work and Peter Clarke and two anonymous reviewers for many helpful comments on this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    Hylton Adie, Kevin P. Kirkman & Michael J. Lawes

  2. KZN Wildlife, P.O. Box 13069, Cascades, 3202, South Africa

    Stephen Richert

  3. Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia

    Michael J. Lawes

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  1. Hylton Adie
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Correspondence to Michael J. Lawes.

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Adie, H., Richert, S., Kirkman, K.P. et al. The heat is on: frequent high intensity fire in bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) drives mortality of the sprouting tree Protea caffra in temperate grasslands. Plant Ecol 212, 2013–2022 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-011-9945-8

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