Fire-adapted seed traits in Cerrado species

Abstract

Wildfires are a global phenomenon affecting many ecosystems and together with climate change shapes their vegetation and cause damage to property and livelihoods. Germination from seed after fire is a global phenomenon. It has evolved multiple times, is widespread across the phylogenetic tree, can be associated with distinct seed dormancy mechanisms, and its ecology has been well studied in "Mediterranean-type" fire-prone ecosystems. Far less is known about "Non-Mediterranean-type" fire-prone ecosystems such as the Australian South-East and the Brazilian Cerrado. The Cerrado is a prime example for a fire-prone natural savanna eco-system, it harbours plant species with unique adaptations and is a neotropical biodiversity hotspot with a high proportion of endemic species . Global predictions for increased fire risk under a warming climate highlight the urgent need for a more sustainable coexistence with fire. More frequent weather extremes such as heatwaves come with increased risk of wildfires especially in regions which are normally not burning. Many species from fire-prone regions ensure plant regeneration from soil-stored seed banks with smoke-derived chemicals and/or fire-generated heat-shock as germination cues. These works also suggest that as the Australian South-East, also the Cerrado savanna differs from "Mediterranean-type" fire-prone ecosystems; very little is known about fire-adapted seed traits. (AU)