Ten years of recovery of cistus ladanifer after experimental disturbances

• Published in: Israel journal of plant sciences Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 271 - 276
• Main Authors: ESTANISLAO LUIS-CALABUIG, REYES TÁRREGA, LUZ VALBUENA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Science From Israel, a Division of LPPLtd 2000
• Subjects: burning; Cistus ladanifer; cutting; germination; heat; plowing; population growth; seedling growth; seedlings; shoots; sprouting; Spain
• ISSN: 0792-9978; 2223-8980
• DOI: 10.1560/JA7X-6NR1-X8E0-L080

The aim of this study is to compare the recovery response of Cistus ladanifer L. tothree experimental treatments in terms of seedling growth and population dynamics.A uniform area was chosen in the province of Le& oacute; n (NW Spain), in which C. ladanifer was clearly dominant with a mean cover of 70%. Three plots were established and subjected to experimental burning, cutting, and plowing in July1989. The changes in the C. ladanifer population were surveyed over 10 years (from1990 to 1999). The number of Cistus seedlings, the height of each, and the total Cistus cover percentage were recorded for every sampling period. There were no Cistus shoots from vegetative sprouting. The lowest density was recorded in the plowed plot and the highest in the burned one, as was expected from a species whose germination is stimulated by heat; ten years after treatments, density in the burned plot is still significantly higher. A tendency towards stabilization in cover was observed in the three plots, with the highest values in the burned plot and the lowestin the plowed one in the first years but without any differences in the last years. A continuous increase in Cistus plant height was observed and was highest in the plowed plot; mean height was the lowest in the burned plot because there were somes mall seedlings (lower than 5 cm) until the seventh year. Although the differences among treated plots decrease in time, differences in height and density can still be detected 10 years after treatments. Moreover, complete recovery of initial conditions has not yet been attained.