Fire in South African Mountain Fynbos: Ecosystem, Community and Species Response

Description: Fire in South African Mountain Fynbos by Brian W. van Wilgen, David M. Richardson, Frederick J. Kruger, Hubertus J. van Hensbergen Ecologists are increasingly being drawn into the task of addressing problems of environmental degradation. In doing so, the robustness of the science becomes increasingly important, and the problem of extrapolating the results of research conducted within what is usually a relatively limited geographical scope is increasingly highlighted. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Ecologists are increasingly being drawn into the task of addressing problems of environmental degradation. They are expected to find solutions that will lead to sustainable resource use throughout the world. In doing so, the robustness of the science becomes increasingly important, and the problem of extrapolating the results of research conducted within what is usually a relatively limited geographical scope is increasingly highlighted. One approach to developing a globally robust ecology involves more or less formal intercontinental comparative studies, usually focused on the question of ecological convergence. These studies are directed at testing the prediction that similar physical and other environmental factors in different parts of the world, through their selective influences, will give rise to ecosystems which share com mon structural and functional features. Should this be true, the predictive power of ecology developed within such a framework should be sufficient to solve similar problems elsewhere in such biomes. There is a long history of such an approach in mediterranean type ecosystems, documented in a series of volumes and their accompanying scientific papers beginning with that of Di Castri and Mooney (1973). Notes Springer Book Archives Table of Contents 1 The Swartboskloof Experimental Site.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 Location and Physical Site Description.- 1.3 Land-Use History.- 1.4 The Vegetation of Swartboskloof.- 1.5 Fauna.- 1.6 Research Rationale and Design.- 1.7 The Fire of March 1987.- Acknowledgements.- 2 The Climate of Swartboskloof.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 The Climate of Swartboskloof in a Mediterranean-Climate Context.- 2.3 Important Climatic Parameters.- 2.4 The Influence of Climate on Fire.- 2.5 Conclusions.- Acknowledgements.- 3 Fuel Properties of Vegetation in Swartboskloof.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 The Description of Vegetation as Fuel.- 3.3 The Fuel Properties of Vegetation in Swartboskloof.- 3.4 Fire in Fynbos and Forest Patches in Swartboskloof..- 3.5 The Effects of Invasion by Alien Trees and Shrubs on Fuel Properties.- 3.6 Fuel in Swartboskloof and Other Ecosystems.- 3.7 Conclusions.- 4 Regeneration Strategies in Fynbos Plants and Their Influence on the Stability of Community Boundaries After Fire.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Survival Mechanisms and Vital Attributes of Species.- 4.3 Results and Discussion.- Acknowledgements.- 5 Is Fynbos a Stage in Succession to Forest? Analysis of the Perceived Ecological Distinction Between Two Communities.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Fire and the Stability of Forest/Fynbos Boundaries.- 5.3 Colonization of Fynbos by Forest Species.- 5.4 Factors Influencing Forest Development.- 5.5 Synthesis.- Acknowledgements.- 6 Coexistence of Seeders and Sprouters in a Fire-Prone Environment: the Role of Ecophysiology and Soil Moisture.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Ecophysiological Characteristics of Seeders and Sprouters in Swartboskloof.- 6.3 Comparison of Swartboskloof with Other Regions.- 6.4 Community Composition Along a Moisture Gradient.- 6.5 Conclusions.- Acknowledgements.- 7 The Relative Advantages of Seeding and Sprouting in Fire-Prone Environments: a Comparison of Life Histories of Protea neriifolia and Protea nitida.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Population Growth after Fire.- 7.3 Mortality Rates.- 7.4 Age at Maturity.- 7.5 Seed Production and Seed Banks.- 7.6 Seed Germination.- 7.7 Recruitment Between Fires.- 7.8 Effects of Fire Frequency.- 7.9 Coexistence of Seeders and Sprouters.- 7.10 Implications for Management.- 7.11 Conclusions.- Acknowledgements.- 8 Life Cycles and Fire-Stimulated Flowering in Geophytes.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 The Life Cycle of Watsonia borbonica (Iridaceae).- 8.3 The Life Cycle of Cyrtanthus ventricosus (Amaryllidaceae).- 8.4 Fire Season and the Flowering Response of Watsonia borbonica.- 8.5 Proximate Cues for Flowering.- 8.6 Factors Favouring the Evolution of Fire-Stimulated Flowering.- 8.7 Geophyte Life Cycles and the Type of Flowering Response.- 8.8 Effect of Frequent Fires on Watsonia borbonica.- 8.9 Conclusions.- Acknowledgements.- 9 Why Is Mountain Fynbos Invasible and Which Species Invade?.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 What Makes Terrestrial Plant Communities Invasible?.- 9.3 Plant Invasions in Mountain Fynbos: Why and How?.- 9.4 Which Species Invade?.- 9.5 Conclusions.- Acknowledgements.- 10 Do Small Mammals Govern Vegetation Recovery After Fire in Fynbos?.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Methods.- 10.3 Results.- 10.4 Discussion.- 10.5 Conclusions.- Acknowledgements.- 11 The Influence of Fire, Vegetation Age and Argentine Ants (Iridomyrmex humilis) on Ant Communities in Swartboskloof.- 11.1 Introduction.- 11.2 Methods.- 11.3 Results and Discussion.- Acknowledgements.- 12 The Effects of Fire on Soil Water Repellency, Catchment Sediment Yields and Streamflow.- 12.1 Introduction.- 12.2 Methods and Results.- 12.3 Discussion.- 12.4 Conclusions.- Acknowledgements.- 13 Fire and Catchment Chemical Budgets.- 13.1 Introduction.- 13.2 Approach and Methods.- 13.3 Atmospheric Deposition.- 13.4 Stream Water Chemistry.- 13.5 Mineral Nutrient Budgets.- 13.6 The Effect of Fire.- 13.7 Conclusions.- Acknowledgements.- 14 Soil Microorganisms and Activities in Relation to Season, Soil Factors and Fire.- 14.1 Introduction.- 14.2 Soil Chemical, Physical and Microbiological Investigations.- 14.3 Effects of Season.- 14.4 Effects of Soil Type and Depth.- 14.5 Effects of Fire.- 14.6 Rhizosphere Stimulation of Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria in Post-Fire Soils in Relation to General Rhizosphere Effect.- 14.7 Intercontinental Comparisons.- Acknowledgements.- 15 Ecosystem, Community and Species Response to Fire in Mountain Fynbos: Conclusions from the Swartboskloof Experiment.- 15.1 Introduction.- 15.2 Population-Level Effects of Fire.- 15.3 Community-Level Effects of Fire.- 15.4 Ecosystem-Level Effects of Fire.- 15.5 Managing Fire in Mountain Fynbos.- References. Promotional Springer Book Archives Long Description Ecologists are increasingly being drawn into the task of addressing problems of environmental degradation. They are expected to find solutions that will lead to sustainable resource use throughout the world. In doing so, the robustness of the science becomes increasingly important, and the problem of extrapolating the results of research conducted within what is usually a relatively limited geographical scope is increasingly highlighted. One approach to developing a globally robust ecology involves more or less formal intercontinental comparative studies, usually focused on the question of ecological convergence. These studies are directed at testing the prediction that similar physical and other environmental factors in different parts of the world, through their selective influences, will give rise to ecosystems which share com Details ISBN3642761763 Short Title FIRE IN SOUTH AFRICAN MOUNTAIN Series Ecological Studies Language English ISBN-10 3642761763 ISBN-13 9783642761768 Media Book Format Paperback Series Number 93 Year 2011 Publication Date 2011-12-21 Imprint Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. K Place of Publication Berlin Country of Publication Germany Edited by Brian W. van Wilgen Birth 1944 DEWEY 570 Subtitle Ecosystem, Community and Species Response at Swartboskloof Pages 325 DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-76174-4 Author Hubertus J. van Hensbergen Publisher Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG Edition Description Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1992 Alternative 9783540533016 Audience Professional & Vocational Illustrations XXII, 325 p. 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