Evolutionary fire ecology: An historical account and future directions

Pausas, Juli G; Keeley, Jon E

doi:10.1093/biosci/biad059

Cited by 4 publications

References 76 publications

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Fire effects on pollination and plant reproduction: a quantitative review

Carbone,

Tavella,

Marquez

et al. 2024

Annals of Botany

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Background and Aims Fire may favour plant flowering by opening the vegetation and increasing abiotic resource availability. Increased floral display size can attract more pollinators and increase the absolute fruit and seed production immediately after the fire. However, anthropogenic increases in fire frequency may alter these responses. We aim to assess the effects of fire on pollination and reproductive success of plants at the global scale. Methods We performed a systematic literature review and meta-analyses to examine overall fire effects as well as different fire parameters on pollination and on plant reproduction. We also explored to what extent the responses vary among pollinators, pollination vectors, plant regeneration strategies, compatibility systems, vegetation types and biomes. Key Results Most studies were conducted in fire-prone ecosystems. Overall, single fires increased pollination and plant reproduction but this effect was overridden by recurrent fires. Floral visitation rates of pollinators were enhanced immediately following a wildfire, and especially in bee-pollinated plants. Fire increased the absolute production of fruits or seeds but not the fruit or seed set. The reproductive benefits were mostly observed in wind-pollinated (graminoids), herbaceous and resprouter species. Finally, fire effects on pollination were positively correlated with fire effects on plant reproductive success. Conclusions Fire has a central role in pollination and plant sexual reproduction in fire-prone ecosystems. The increase in the absolute production of fruits and seeds suggests that fire benefits on plant reproduction are likely driven by increased abiotic resources and the consequent floral display size. However, reproduction efficiency, as measured by fruit or seed set, does not increase with fire. In contrast, when assessed on the same plant simultaneously, fire effects on pollination are translated into reproduction. Increased fire frequency due to anthropogenic changes can alter the nature of the response to fire.

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Fire effects on pollination and plant reproduction: a quantitative review

Carbone,

Tavella,

Marquez

et al. 2024

Annals of Botany

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Performance and allocation can simultaneously shape behaviour in fire-disturbed populations of root vole

Boratyński,

Iwińska,

Wirowska

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Metabolic physiology and animal personality are often considered linked to each other, shaping ecological and evolutionary strategies along a life-history continuum. The energy allocation model predicts a negative while the performance model predicts a positive correlation between the rate of metabolic processes and behaviours, such as activity level. The models might operate simultaneously but depending on the context one can predominate over the other, determining expression of alternative pro- and reactive behavioural strategies. Large-scale fires, such as the one that burnt wetlands of Biebrza National Park (NE Poland), degrade natural habitats, affect amount of food and shelters and modify predatory-prey interactions. Fires pose also direct threat to survival of local populations, such as the wetland specialist root vole (Microtus oeconomus). We hypothesized that fire disturbance, by changing environmental context and selective regimes, determines mechanisms linking physiology and behaviour. Positive relation found among most studies, predicted by the performance model, would revert to negative relation, predicted by the allocation model, affecting animals ecological strategy in disturbed habitat. We repeatedly measured maintenance and exercise metabolic rates and activity behaviour on voles from post-fire and unburnt populations. Repeatable maintenance metabolism and activity level were positively correlated, but more labile exercise metabolism did not explain behaviour. The correlations were not strongly affected by fire disturbance, but voles from post-fire habitat had higher maintenance but not maximum metabolism and moved shorter distances than individuals from unburnt area. The results suggest that performance model predominates, while habitat disturbance might reveal some allocation constraints on physiology-personality linkage.

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The effects of fire on large‐ and medium‐sized mammal communities: what do we know? A review

Forney,

Peacock

2024

Mammal Review

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Large‐ and medium‐sized mammals play a unique role in ecosystem dynamics. They can change the physical and biotic landscape by altering the flow of resources among trophic levels, thereby affecting ecosystem functioning. Although the effects of fire on some ungulates have been well studied, data gaps exist for many species, including canids, felids, mustelids and ursids among others. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a literature review to synthesize what is known about large and medium mammal responses to fire, including communities, species richness and species interactions in connection with fire. Twenty‐seven large and medium mammal species were studied. Fifty percent of the studies examined ungulates, far exceeding studies of other trophic levels. Eighty‐six percent were conducted on large mammals with significantly fewer studies on medium‐sized mammals. Only four studies examined multiple species responses to fire. Results indicated that fire had a largely positive effect on large‐ and medium‐sized mammals. However, considerable heterogeneity exists within and among taxa. Most fire research has been conducted on focal species rather than on biodiversity, and a large data gap exists on the interactions within or among large‐ and medium‐sized mammals. Forest management focus is changing from fire suppression to reinstating natural fire regimes. Effectiveness monitoring programmes will be needed to test the efficacy of restoration strategies in mammalian communities.

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Evolutionary fire ecology: An historical account and future directions

Cited by 4 publications

References 76 publications

Fire effects on pollination and plant reproduction: a quantitative review

Fire effects on pollination and plant reproduction: a quantitative review

Performance and allocation can simultaneously shape behaviour in fire-disturbed populations of root vole

The effects of fire on large‐ and medium‐sized mammal communities: what do we know? A review

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