Journal of Range and Watershed Managment

Germination response of annual and perennial herbaceous species to fire products in semi-steppe rangelands

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Ali Asghar Naghipour 1
Maedeh Sharifi 2
Ataollah Ebrahimi 3
Elham Ghesareh Ardestani 1
Sina Nabizadeh 4

1 Assistant Prof., Faculty of Natural Resources and Earth Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, I.R. Iran.

2 MSc. in Range management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Earth Science, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran.

3 Associate Prof., Faculty of Natural Resources and Earth Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, I.R. Iran.

4 PhD student in Rangeland Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Earth Science, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22059/jrwm.2022.337596.1642
Abstract
Fire is one of the important ecological factors that affect the dynamics of rangeland vegetation. In recent decades, the incidence of wildfires in semi-steppe rangelands has increased significantly, challenging the adaptive capacity of plants for post-fire regeneration. In the present study, the germination response of eight annual and perennial herbaceous species of semi-steppe rangelands of Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province to fire products treatments including heat (60, 80 and 100° C), smoke, ash, and the combined effect of heat and smoke treatments were investigated. Also, percentage cover change of studied species, one year after the fire were measured in the field. The results showed that the germination of seeds of eight studied plant species showed a significant positive or negative reaction to at least one of the fire product treatments. Combined treatment of smoke and 60° C caused a significant increase in the mean germination percentage of Heteranthelium piliferum. This treatment also significantly reduced the mean germination time of Cousinia cylindracea. Ash treatment also increased the mean germination percentage of Alyssum linifolium and Stachys lavandulifolia. Vegetation sampling results also showed that among the eight species studied, H. piliferum and Taeniatherum crinitum were fire adapted and six species were tolerant. The results of this study can be used as a potential factor to understand the dynamics of vegetation and restoration of degraded rangelands.

Keywords

Vegetation
Smoke treatment
Heat treatment
Ash treatment
Germination percentage
Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province
  • Abedi, M., Zaki, E., Erfanzadeh, R. and Naqinezhad, A. (2018). Germination patterns of the scrublands in response to smoke: The role of functional groups and the effect of smoke treatment method. South African Journal of Botany, 115, 231-236.
  • Arán, D., García-Duro, J., Reyes, O. and Casal, M. (2013). Fire and invasive species: Modifications in the germination potential of Acacia melanoxylon, Conyza canadensis and Eucalyptus globulus. Forest Ecology and Management, 302, 7-13.
  • Arcamone, J.R. and Jaureguiberry, P. (2018). Germination response of common annual and perennial forbs to heat shock and smoke treatments in the Chaco Serrano, central Argentina. Austral ecology, 43(5), 567-577.
  • Baskin, C.C., Baskin, J.M. (2001). Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination. Academic Press, San Diego California.
  • Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2004). A classification system for seed dormancy. Seed science research, 14(1), 1-16.
  • Brown, N.A.C., Van Staden, J., Johnson, T. and Daws, M.I. (2003). A summary of patterns in the seed germination response to smoke in plants from the Cape Floral Region. Seed Conservation Turning Science into Practice. Cromwell Press, Ltd. Kew, Great Britain, 563-574.
  • Buhk, C. and Hensen, I. (2006). “Fire seeders” during early post-fire succession and their quantitative importance in south-eastern Spain. Journal of Arid Environments, 66(2), 193-209.
  • Casillo, J., Kunst, C. and Semmartin, M. (2012). Effects of fire and water availability on the emergence and recruitment of grasses, forbs and woody species in a semiarid Chaco savanna. Austral Ecology, 37(4), 452-459.
  • Clarke, S. and French, K. (2005). Germination response to heat and smoke of 22 Poaceae species from grassy woodlands. Australian Journal of Botany, 53(5), 445-454.
  • Daws, M.I., Davies, J., Pritchard, H.W., Brown, N.A. and Van Staden, J. (2007). Butenolide from plant-derived smoke enhances germination and seedling growth of arable weed species. Plant Growth Regulation, 51(1), 73-82.
  • Dayamba, S.D., Tigabu, M., Sawadogo, L. and Oden, P.C. (2008). Seed germination of herbaceous and woody species of the Sudanian savanna-woodland in response to heat shock and smoke. Forest Ecology and Management, 256(3), 462-470.
  • Fenner, M. and Thompson, K. (2005). The ecology of seeds: Cambridge Univisity Press, Cambridge.
  • Fidelis, A., Blanco, C.C., Müller, S.C., Pillar, V.D. and Pfadenhauer, J. (2012). Short‐term changes caused by fire and mowing in Brazilian Campos grasslands with different long‐term fire histories. Journal of Vegetation Science, 23(3), 552-562.
  • Florentine, S., Weller, S., King, A., Florentine, A., Dowling, K., Westbrooke, M. and Chauhan, B.S. (2018). Seed germination response of a noxious agricultural weed Echium plantagineum to temperature, light, pH, drought stress, salinity, heat and smoke. Crop and Pasture Science, 69(3), 326-333.
  • García-Duro, J., Cruz, O., Casal, M. and Reyes, O. (2019). Fire as driver of the expansion of Paraserianthes lophantha (Willd.) IC Nielsen in SW Europe. Biological Invasions, 21(4), 1427-1438.
  • Gholami, P., Mirzaei, M.R., Zandi Esfahan, E. and Eftekhari, A. (2020). Effect of Fire on Composition, Biodiversity, and Functional Groups Changes in Semi-Steppe Rangelands of Southern Zagros. Journal of Rangeland Science, 10(1), 39-48. (In Farsi)
  • Gomez-Gonzalez, S., Torres-Diaz, C. and Gianoli, E. (2011). The effects of fi re-related cues on seed germination and viability of Helenium aromaticum (Hook.) HL Bailey (Asteraceae). Gayana Botánica, 68(1), 86-88.
  • Gonzalez, S.L. and Ghermandi, L. (2012). Fire cue effects on seed germination of six species of northwestern Patagonian grasslands. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 12(9), 2753-2758.
  • Harper J.L. (1977) Population Biology of Plants (Academic Press) Londres, Inglaterra.
  • Hobbs, R.J. and Huenneke, L.F. (1992). Disturbance, diversity, and invasion: implications for conservation. Conservation biology, 6(3), 324-337.
  • Kazancı, D.D. and Tavşanoğlu, Ç. (2019). Heat shock-stimulated germination in Mediterranean Basin plants in relation to growth form, dormancy type and distributional range. Folia Geobotanica, 54(1), 85-98.
  • Keeley, J.E. and Brennan, T.J. (2012). Fire-driven alien invasion in a fire-adapted ecosystem. Oecologia, 169(4), 1043-1052.
  • Keeley, J.E. and Fotheringham, C.J. (1997). Trace gas emissions and smoke-induced seed 572 germination. Science, 276, 1248-1250.
  • Keeley, J.E., Pausas, J.G., Rundel, P.W., Bond, W.J. and Bradstock, R.A. (2011). Fire as an evolutionary pressure shaping plant traits. Trends in plant science, 16(8), 406-411.
  • Moles, A.T., Falster, D.S., Leishman, M.R. and Westoby, M. (2004). Small‐seeded species produce more seeds per square metre of canopy per year, but not per individual per lifetime. Journal of ecology, 92(3), 384-396.
  • Morrison, D.A. and Morris, E.C. (2000). Pseudoreplication in experimental designs for the manipulation of seed germination treatments. Austral Ecology, 25(3), pp.292-296.
  • Nabizadeh, S., Naghipour Borj, A.A. and Tahmasebi, P. (2018). Heat, Smoke and Ash Effects on Soil Seed Bank Germination in the Semi-Steppe Rangelands of Central Zagros, Iran. Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology, 7(3), 13-25. (In Farsi)
  • Naghipour, A.A., Bashari, H., Khajeddin, S.J., Tahmasebi, P. and Iravani, M. (2016). Effects of smoke, ash and heat shock on seed germination of seven species from Central Zagros rangelands in the semi-arid region of Iran. African Journal of Range & Forage Science, 33(1), 67-71.
  • Naghipour, A.A., Nabizadeh, S. and Pourrezaei, J. (2019). Effects of fire on vegetation dynamics in semi-steppe rangelands (case study: Buin va Miandasht rangelands, Isfahan province). Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research, 26(3). (In Farsi)
  • Ne'Eman, G., Henig‐Sever, N. and Eshel, A. (1999). Regulation of the germination of Rhus coriaria, a post‐fire pioneer, by heat, ash, pH, water potential and ethylene. Physiologia Plantarum, 106(1), 47-52.
  • Neéman, G., Neéman, R., Keith, D.A. and Whelam, R.J. (2009). Does post- fire plant regeneration mode affect the germination response to fire-related cues? . Oecologia, 159, 483–492.
  • Paula, S. and Pausas, J.G. (2008). Burning seeds: germinative response to heat treatments in relation to resprouting ability. Journal of Ecology, 96(3), 543-552.
  • Pausas, J. (2004). Changes in fire and climate in the Eastern Iberian Peninsula (Mediterranean basin). Clim. Change, 63, 337-350.
  • Pausas, J.G. and Keeley, J.E. (2009). A burning story: the role of fire in the history of life. BioScience, 59(7), 593-601.
  • Pausas, J.G. and Keeley, J.E. (2014). Evolutionary ecology of resprouting and seeding in fire‐prone ecosystems. New Phytologist, 204(1), 55-65.
  • Shirmardi, H. A., Gholami, P., Ghasriani, F., and Mohammadi, H. (2020). The most appropriate level of utilization for Bromus tomentellus at Karsanak rangelands in Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari. Rangeland, 14(3), 367-378. (In Farsi)
  • Tahmasbi, P., (2013). An investigation on detrimental effect and potential use of fire as a management tool for plant community composition in semi-steppe rangelands, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Journal of Range and Watershed Managment, 66(2), 287-298. (In Farsi)
  • Tahmasbi, P., Ebrahimi, A., and Yarali, N. (2012). The most appropirate quadrate size and shape for determing some characteristics of a semi-steppic rangeland. Journal of Range and Watershed Management, 65(2), 203-216. (In Farsi)
  • Thomas, P.B., Morris, E.C., and Auld, T.D. (2003). Interactive effects of heat shock and smoke on germination of nine species forming soil seed banks within the Sydney region. Austral Ecology, 28, 674–683.
  • Thomas, P.B., Morris, E.C., and Auld, T.D. (2007). Response surfaces to the combined effects of heat shock and smoke on germination of 16 species forming soil seed banks in south-east Australia. Austral Ecology, 32, 605–616.
  • Tierney, D. A. (2006). The effect of fire-related germination cues on the germination of a declining forest understorey species. Australian Journal of Botany, 54(3), 297–303.
  • Van Staden, J., Brown, N. A., Jäger, A. K., & Johnson, T. A. (2000). Smoke as a germination cue. Plant Species Biology, 15(2), 167-178.
  • Zaki E, Abedi M. (2017). Effects of smoke and heat treatments on germination of Stipa caucasica, Festuca valesiaca and Poa densa. Rangeland, 10(4), 474-482. (In Farsi)
  • Zaki, E., Abedi, M. and Naqinezhad, A. (2021). How fire history affects germination cues of three perennial grasses from the mountain steppes of Golestan National Park. Flora, 280, p.151835.
  • Zuloaga-Aguilar, S., Briones, O. and Orozco-Segovia, A. (2011). Seed germination of montane forest species in response to ash, smoke and heat shock in Mexico. Acta Oecologica, 37(3), 256-262.
Journal of Range and Watershed Managment
Volume 75, Issue 1
Spring 2022
Pages 153-168

  • Receive Date 17 January 2022
  • Revise Date 27 February 2022
  • Accept Date 08 March 2022
  • Publish Date 22 May 2022

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Contact Us