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Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Variation in recruitment and early demography in Pinus rigida following crown fire in the pine barrens of Long Island, New York

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2005
Authors:R. Landis, M, GUREVITCH, JESSICA, Fox, GA, Fang, W, TAUB, DANIELR
Journal:Journal of Ecology
Volume:93
Issue:3
Date Published:2005
ISBN Number:1365-2745
Keywords:Corvidae, Corvus, Corvus corone, crown fire, demographic variation, dwarf pine plains, pine seedling growth, plant demography, recruitment limitation, seedling recruitment, seedling survival
Abstract:Summary* 1Following severe, stand-replacing fires in 1995, we quantified emergence, growth and survival in Pinus rigida seedlings in eight stands in three areas of the pine barrens of Long Island, New York, USA, and examined factors contributing to spatial and temporal variation in recruitment. * 2We followed 6431 marked seedlings in the first cohort following fire, as well as additional cohorts in subsequent years, for 7 years to assess the effects of fire intensity, soil characteristics, intraspecific density, interspecific competition and facilitation on variation in early demography at three different scales. We found substantial variation in many of the demographic parameters measured between plots within stands (10–50 m apart), among stands within areas (600–1500 m apart), and among forest areas (5–30 km apart), as well as among years. * 3Almost all adult P. rigida in most of the stands studied were killed by the 1995 fires and population recovery therefore depended upon recruitment from seed. Initial recruitment appears to be largely determined by seed limitation, which was affected by fire intensity combined with serotiny and other factors. * 4Subsequent seedling survival and growth were determined largely by inherent differences among areas and sites in factors including cover of the shrub Quercus ilicifolia and soil texture and composition. * 5Initial seedling density, and subsequent survival and growth, varied among plots within sites, among sites within areas, and among areas. Early survival was negatively correlated with intraspecific seedling density, but was enhanced by neighbouring Q. ilicifolia, although these shrubs inhibited later seedling growth. Early demographic variation may determine many of the differences observed among mature populations in this landscape. * 6Variation in demographic parameters across space and time, and over a hierarchy of scales, may have critical consequences at the population, community and landscape levels. A comprehensive evaluation of the nature and extent of such demographic variation across different systems would have major implications for understanding vegetation patterns at the population, community and landscape levels.
URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2005.00996.x
Short Title:Journal of Ecology
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith