Characterizing the Litter in Postfire Environments: Implications for Seedling Recruitment

Abstract

Litter accumulation after fire influences the magnitude of seed predation and seed germination. How litter accumulation and patchiness influence postfire seedling recruitment is poorly known. Species with persistent seed banks have seeds available for germination in the immediate postfire period. In contrast, plants with transient seed banks must flower after fire to place seeds in the postfire habitat. In southeastern Australian sclerophyll forests, most seedling recruitment occurs within 3 yr after fire. We found that less litter had accumulated in sites <6 mo postfire than in those 2–3 yr postfire. Seedlings of species with persistent seed banks therefore encounter postfire environments with large areas covered by little or no litter. Among these species there is great variation in seed mass, including some species with very light seeds. In contrast, the seed mass of transient seed bank species is less variable, with the lightest species more than 70 times heavier than the lightest persistent seed bank...