Fire : plant functional types and patch mosaic burning in fire-prone ecosystems

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
The focus of this paper is on the occurrence of fire in fire-prone ecosystems, in which plant species have evolved fire-survival and/or fire-persistence traits that may even be necessary for the continued existence of the vegetation community/ecosystem. It is followed by a discussion of recent research which offers a critical reappraisal of patch mosaic burning as a means to increase landscape heterogeneity and biodiversity, including the role played by plant functional types in determining diversity. The fire-prone ecosystems of mediterranean-type shrublands and heathlands, savannas and grasslands, and boreal and other coniferous forests are the main geographic focus of the paper.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Progress in physical geography, issn : 0309-1333, 2008, vol. 32, n°. 4, p. 421-437, nombre de pages : 17, Références bibliographiques : 2 p.

Date :
2008

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, London, Sage Publications