Pre-disturbance plant condition drives intraspecific resprouting variability in Mediterranean shrubs

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Botany
• Plant Science

Background:

• Mediterranean ecosystems face frequent disturbances.
• Plant resprouting is a key regeneration strategy.
• Predicting regeneration under global change requires understanding resprouting variability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors influencing resprouting variability in Mediterranean plants.
• To test the hypothesis that long-term environmental factors are more influential than immediate conditions.
• To assess the role of individual history, aridity, fire frequency, and disturbance intensity on resprouting.

Main Methods:

• Field experiments with two Mediterranean species (Anthyllis cytisoides, Globularia alypum) under simulated disturbance.
• Common garden experiment with A. cytisoides from contrasting aridity provenances under varied water treatments.
• Analysis of resprouting success based on pre-disturbance plant size, environmental history, and experimental treatments.

Main Results:

• Intraspecific resprouting variability was mainly driven by pre-disturbance plant size (individual history).
• Aridity positively influenced resprouting, while high fire frequency and repeated cutting negatively affected it.
• No evidence for local adaptation was found in adult plants; young plants showed water dependency.

Conclusions:

• Plant size and historical environmental conditions are critical for resprouting success.
• Adult plants show resilience to drought but sensitivity to frequent disturbances.
• Ontogenetic differences in vulnerability highlight potential challenges for young plants in future drier climates.