Post-fire flowering and fruiting in Vellozia sincorana, a caulescent rosette plant endemic to Northeast Brazil

Abstract

A quantidade de fl ores e/ou frutos foi positivamente e signifi cativamente correlacionada com a altura das plantas. A abundante fl oração depois do incêndio é um indicativo do fogo como fator que dispara essa fase fenológica. Estimativa da idade de indivíduos altos e eventos de fl oração podem ser utilizados para estimar a frequência do fogo em áreas de populações de V. sincorana, contribuindo para o conhecimento da ecologia do fogo e para conservação biológica e manejo do fogo nos campos rupestres. 28'W) on ridgetops in the Chapada Diamantina National Park (Brazil) were monitored, one burned in the November 2008 fi re and the other unburned since the 1999 fi re. In both sites, 25 individuals were randomly labeled and monitored. Nine plant samplings were conducted between 2008 and 2010, during which the number of fl owers and fruits were tallied and the heights measured. Spearman's rank correlation coeffi cient and linear regression were used to evaluate the relationship between the height of individuals and phenology. Flowering and fruiting occurred only in the recently burnt population, about 40 days aft er the fi re, in 24 of the 25 individuals monitored (96%). Th e quantity of fl ower and/or fruit was positively and signifi cantly correlated with plant height. Th e abundant fl owering aft er fi re suggests that fi re triggers this phenological phase. Estimates of age of the taller individuals and the periods of fl owering can be used to estimate fi re frequency in the V. sincorana population sites, which contributes to the knowledge of fi re ecology and is useful for conservation biology and fi re management of campos rupestres.

Massive post-fire flowering events in a tropical mountain region of Brazil: high episodic supply of floral resources

“…The monocot family Velloziaceae is dominant on sandstones summits in the Chapada Diamantina region (Conceição et al 2007a). The reproductive phenology of Velloziaceae responds to rainfall (Ayensu 1973;Conceição et al 2007b) and to fire (Conceição & Orr 2012), producing flowers that represent resources to many kinds of animals in rocky grassland communities in tropical montane regions (Ayensu 1973;Laudau et al 1998;Jacobi & Sarto 2007;Conceição & Orr 2012). Here, we report the massive blooming of Vellozia sincorana L.B.Sm.…”

“…& Ayensu, locally known as candombá, a resprouting species endemic to the Chapada Diamantina region. Massive post-fire flowering in V. sincorana has been reported previously (Conceição & Orr 2012). However, the availability of the reproductive resources associated with events of this type was not evaluated.…”

“…However, the availability of the reproductive resources associated with events of this type was not evaluated. The candombá has importance for the local population, because the branches are harvested and used as kindling to start cook fires (Conceição & Orr 2012). Therefore, V. sincorana has a strong link with fire, because it is a source of fuel for humans and because it is dependent on fire to sexually reproduce and to provide resources for animals.…”

“…The post-fire supply of floral resources is limited to a period of approximately two weeks (Conceição & Orr 2012) and represents a highly episodic phenomenon that forms a component of a distinctive fire-dependent pattern. This pattern differs from the annual or continuous patterns of other species of Velloziaceae studied in the Chapada Diamantina region (Conceição et al 2007b).…”

Spring- and fall-flowering species show diverging phenological responses to climate in the Southeast USA

“…Specimens flowering significantly out of season (before DOY 150 for fall-flowering species or after DOY 150 for spring-flowering species) were excluded from per-season analyses, as these individuals were likely responding to cues other than climate such as fire (Conceicao and Orr 2012) or other disturbance.…”