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Seed dispersal as a backup system to resprouting and seeding during post-fire regeneration
José M Costa1, Ruben H Heleno1, Pedro Lopes1
1Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-456, Portugal.
Annals of Botany
|September 19, 2025
Summary
Plant populations recover from wildfires using resprouting or seeding, with seed dispersal traits acting as a backup. Fleshy fruits, aiding seed dispersal, are common in resprouting species, enhancing post-fire regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Botany
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Wildfire recovery mechanisms include resprouting, seeding from surviving seed banks, and recolonization via seed dispersal.
- The interplay between these mechanisms, particularly the association of seed dispersal traits with resprouting or seeding strategies, remains unclear.
- It is unknown if plants lacking other fire-coping strategies disproportionately possess traits for seed dispersal and post-fire recolonization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between post-fire regeneration mechanisms (resprouting, seeding) and seed dispersal traits in Mediterranean flora.
- To determine if specific seed dispersal syndromes are linked to resprouter or seeder potential.
- To assess if plants relying on seed dispersal traits for post-fire recovery are more prevalent among those lacking other fire-coping strategies.
Main Methods:
- Compiled data on resprouting potential, seeding capacity, and seed dispersal traits for 705 plant species in the European Mediterranean Basin.
- Utilized three-way contingency tables to analyze associations between the regeneration mechanisms.
- Employed log-linear models to statistically assess the relationships between resprouting, seeding, and seed dispersal traits.
Main Results:
- A negative association was found between resprouting and seeding capacities.
- Resprouting and seeding mechanisms were generally independent of possessing general seed dispersal traits.
- Traits facilitating endozoochory, specifically fleshy fruits, were found to be more common in resprouting species than statistically expected.
Conclusions:
- Seed dispersal traits are prevalent among both resprouting and seeding species in the Mediterranean flora.
- Seed dispersal traits function as an independent supplementary system for post-fire recovery.
- These traits assist burned site recovery rather than serving as a primary alternative to resprouting or post-fire seeding.
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