The Soil Seed Bank Role in Mountainous Heathland Ecosystems after Fire and Inorganic Nitrogen Fertilization
<i>Calluna</i> vulgaris-dominated heathlands are a priority habitat type in Annex I of the Habitats Directive (92/43/ECC, habitat code 4060). In the Iberian Peninsula, the landscape of the Cantabrian Mountain range has great heterogeneity due to human management during the last 10,000 ye...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/2/226 |
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| author | Josu G. Alday Leonor Calvo José Luis Fernández Rodríguez Luz Valbuena |
| author_facet | Josu G. Alday Leonor Calvo José Luis Fernández Rodríguez Luz Valbuena |
| author_sort | Josu G. Alday |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Calluna</i> vulgaris-dominated heathlands are a priority habitat type in Annex I of the Habitats Directive (92/43/ECC, habitat code 4060). In the Iberian Peninsula, the landscape of the Cantabrian Mountain range has great heterogeneity due to human management during the last 10,000 years. Another factor that can affect these communities is the increase in human-induced atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition. During the last century, there has been a dramatic increase in N deposition rates. For all these reasons, it is important to know the regeneration dynamics of the heathlands in the context of the disturbances that these communities currently face (i.e., N deposition, fire, and decrease in sheep grazing) in the Cantabrian Mountain range. In this study, we characterized the plant species composition and soil seed bank after prescribed burning in three heathlands on their southern distribution limit in Spain, to gain insights into regenerative capacity and conservation of these communities. The results obtained suggest that the post-burn soil seed bank could restore <i>Calluna</i>-dominated vegetation in these habitats, indicating that the restoration potential from the soil seed bank after wildfires of these habitats is high. Our results also suggest that, in the short term after burning, the main characteristic species such as <i>Calluna</i> and <i>Erica</i> are recovered, which is fundamental to maintain the heathland community structure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:48:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7ef0d0390b2b4c54a20dc2b91c0566b6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:48:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-7ef0d0390b2b4c54a20dc2b91c0566b62023-11-16T20:33:03ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072023-01-0114222610.3390/f14020226The Soil Seed Bank Role in Mountainous Heathland Ecosystems after Fire and Inorganic Nitrogen FertilizationJosu G. Alday0Leonor Calvo1José Luis Fernández Rodríguez2Luz Valbuena3Joint Research Unit CTFC–AGROTECNIO–CERCA, 25198 Lleida, SpainArea of Ecology, Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management, University of León, 24071 León, SpainArea of Ecology, Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management, University of León, 24071 León, SpainArea of Ecology, Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management, University of León, 24071 León, Spain<i>Calluna</i> vulgaris-dominated heathlands are a priority habitat type in Annex I of the Habitats Directive (92/43/ECC, habitat code 4060). In the Iberian Peninsula, the landscape of the Cantabrian Mountain range has great heterogeneity due to human management during the last 10,000 years. Another factor that can affect these communities is the increase in human-induced atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition. During the last century, there has been a dramatic increase in N deposition rates. For all these reasons, it is important to know the regeneration dynamics of the heathlands in the context of the disturbances that these communities currently face (i.e., N deposition, fire, and decrease in sheep grazing) in the Cantabrian Mountain range. In this study, we characterized the plant species composition and soil seed bank after prescribed burning in three heathlands on their southern distribution limit in Spain, to gain insights into regenerative capacity and conservation of these communities. The results obtained suggest that the post-burn soil seed bank could restore <i>Calluna</i>-dominated vegetation in these habitats, indicating that the restoration potential from the soil seed bank after wildfires of these habitats is high. Our results also suggest that, in the short term after burning, the main characteristic species such as <i>Calluna</i> and <i>Erica</i> are recovered, which is fundamental to maintain the heathland community structure.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/2/226heathlandsfireinorganic nitrogenseed bankrestoration<i>Calluna vulgaris</i> (L) Hull. |
| spellingShingle | Josu G. Alday Leonor Calvo José Luis Fernández Rodríguez Luz Valbuena The Soil Seed Bank Role in Mountainous Heathland Ecosystems after Fire and Inorganic Nitrogen Fertilization Forests heathlands fire inorganic nitrogen seed bank restoration <i>Calluna vulgaris</i> (L) Hull. |
| title | The Soil Seed Bank Role in Mountainous Heathland Ecosystems after Fire and Inorganic Nitrogen Fertilization |
| title_full | The Soil Seed Bank Role in Mountainous Heathland Ecosystems after Fire and Inorganic Nitrogen Fertilization |
| title_fullStr | The Soil Seed Bank Role in Mountainous Heathland Ecosystems after Fire and Inorganic Nitrogen Fertilization |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Soil Seed Bank Role in Mountainous Heathland Ecosystems after Fire and Inorganic Nitrogen Fertilization |
| title_short | The Soil Seed Bank Role in Mountainous Heathland Ecosystems after Fire and Inorganic Nitrogen Fertilization |
| title_sort | soil seed bank role in mountainous heathland ecosystems after fire and inorganic nitrogen fertilization |
| topic | heathlands fire inorganic nitrogen seed bank restoration <i>Calluna vulgaris</i> (L) Hull. |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/2/226 |
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