The importance of buried seeds and vegetative propagation in the development of postfire plant communities

Abstract

Understorey vegetation in boreal and subboreal ecosystems is critical to ecosystem dynamics by contributing to nutrient cycling, soil aggregation, and soil fertility. As well, it provides habitat for animals and microorganisms and creates suitable microsites for the regeneration of tree species. Within a context of holistic or ecological management, it is important to understand the dynamics of understorey vegetation after disturbance. However, there is a lack of information on the effect of disturbance on plant diversity. Regeneration of plant communities in postdisturbance boreal and subboreal ecosystems is discussed with particular reference to (i) current knowledge of buried seeds (soil seed banks) and vegetative propagation, and (ii) the importance of the fire regime on plant regeneration. In future, research should emphasize new methods to measure fire behaviour to predict the effect of fire on plant diversity. As well, a good understanding of plant succession should help the implementation of ecological management of industrial forests.