Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 83 (3): 443-452, 2010
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Fire promotes Teline monspessulana (Fabaceae) invasion by increasing its
germination
RAFAEL A. GARCÍA, ANÍBAL PAUCHARD, LOHENGRIN A. CAVIERES, EDUARDO PEÑA & MARÍA F.
Worldwide, it has been reported that invasive species and fire can interact positively
changing landscape dynamics and ecosystem cycles. This work aims to study the effect of forest fires on the seed bank of
Teline monspessulana (L.) K. Koch (French Broom) and its implications for the invasion of the species in the
mediterranean area of south-central Chile. For this aim, soil seed bank samples were subjected to different treatments that simulate
fire conditions through controlled burns. In addition, for seeds taken from mature plants the optimal range of temperatures at which
germination occurs was determined. The results show that after a wildfire germination of T. monspessulana
increases significantly. Heating of the seeds was the factor that triggers this increase in germination. Furthermore, it was
determined that the seeds reach their maximum germination rate when preheated between 80 and 120 ºC for 10 minutes. At 140 ºC,
100 % of the seeds die. During a fire, optimal temperatures for germination are reached about 2 cm in depth within the soil or at the
surface in areas where the accumulation of fuel (biomass) does not exceed 5 tons ha<sup>-1</sup>. The small portion of the
seed bank that manages to be stimulated is offset by the large seed bank that can exceed 8000 seeds m<sup>-2</sup>.
This study shows that the fire, a common phenomenon in mediterranean areas and increasingly frequent in central Chile, would be
promoting the persistence of T. monspessulana in areas with high human disturbance.
Genista,
plant invasions, positive feedback.
