Abstract
The identification of an ecological niche specific to the regeneration phase has mobilised significant attention. However, the importance of the regeneration niche concept remains unclear. Our main objective was to study the existence of such a regeneration niche for a leguminous shrub, Ulex europaeus. This study was carried out in southwest France in the context of water and nutrient stresses (mainly phosphorus limitation) due to the presence of nutrient-poor sandy soils. We analysed the regeneration of the species from the germination of seeds and emergence of new seedlings until the seedlings reached young shrub size. Our design included a P fertilisation treatment. We also investigated microsite characteristics (micro-topography and vegetation development) as they can interact with meteorological conditions and determine water availability for seeds and seedlings. We found that P availability controlled seedling growth and the time necessary to reach young shrub size. Water availability appeared to impact the species germination and seedlings survival. We also found that P and water availability depended on the interactions between microsite characteristics and climatic variations. Finally we found evidence that P and water availability are important ecological factors shaping the regeneration niche of the species, but we found weak evidence that any microsite would be appropriate for the regeneration of the species in the long term. Future studies regarding regeneration niches need to distinguish more clearly the ecological factors important for regeneration (the regeneration niche per se) and the physical world where the seedlings appear and develop (the regeneration habitat).
Highlights
The regeneration phase is of prime importance in the life history of woody plants
We investigated microsite characteristics as they can interact with meteorological conditions and determine water availability for seeds and seedlings
We found that P availability controlled seedling growth and the time necessary to reach young shrub size
Summary
The regeneration phase is of prime importance in the life history of woody plants. It determines species population dynamics, and in turn plant community assemblages. We made this choice because gorse is spontaneously present in a one million hectare area of southwestern France, the Landes de Gascogne forest, which is characterized by acidic sandy soils [4], an extreme P deficiency for seedlings [5] and trees [6], and intense water stress during the summer period [7]. Regarding these severe environmental conditions, we assumed that water and P limitations influence the regeneration of the species, and that water and P availabilities might be important ecological factors shaping its regeneration niche. Choosing Ulex europaeus—a legume showing a positive response of its mature individuals to P fertilization [11]— was appropriate for the purpose of our study
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