
%0 Journal Article
%A Ojeda, F 
%A Maranon, T 
%A Arroyo, J 
%T Postfire Regeneration of a Mediterranean Heathland in Southern Spain
%J International Journal of Wildland Fire
%D 1996/12/01
%V 6
%N 4
%P 191-198
%K Diversity; Fire; Mediterranean vegetation; Sprouter;Seeder
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/WF9960191
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/WF9960191 
%X Fire is a recurrent disturbance in the vegetation of Mediterranean climate regions. Most of the woody species (16 out of 19) in a Mediterranean heathland community, in the Strait of Gibraltar region of southern Spain, sprouted from subterranean vegetative organs after a wild-fire. Dominant sprouters were the prostrated oak Quercus lusitanica, three gorses, Genista tridens, G. tridentata and Stauracanthus boivinii, and a heath, Erica scoparia. About 100 seedlings m-2 of 14 woody species were censused in the first three years after fire. The highest density of seedlings was recorded for heather (Calluna vulgaris), a rockrose (Cistus populifolius subsp. major) and a gorse (Genista triacanthos). Woody vegetation covered up to 85% of the soil surface in the third year after fire. At this stager the community was co-dominated by the sprouters Quercus lusitanica (21%), Genista tridentata (21%) and Stauracanthus boivinii (20%), and the seeder Cistus populifolius subsp. major (20%). A total of 52 herbaceous species, many of them (35) perennials, was recorded, showing a temporal change in species composition. The role of fire influencing community diversity and the consequences for the conservation of heathlands in the Strait of Gibraltar region, are discussed. 
