Seed rain after a fire in a xerophytic shrubland

Abstract

Fire causes a reduction of plant cover due to the death of several structures, especially of those that are notisolated from high temperatures; such as seeds and fruits. After a disturbance the availability of diaspores is crucial forthe recovery of the community. This work studied the composition and abundance of the seed rain in the xerophyticshrubland of the Pedregal de San Ángel Ecological Reserve, located at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Méxicocampus in Mexico City, which was affected by a surface fire. In order to understand the role of diaspores in the naturalregeneration of a burned site, seed traps were placed on 2 sites, one affected by the fire and the other in an unburnedlocation. During 1 year the dispersed seeds and fruits were collected and identified. Results showed that speciesrichness, life forms, and dispersal syndromes were different between sites. The highest abundance and richness valueswere observed in the burned site. This work offers basic data on the availability of species as diaspores, informationwhich is useful for potential restoration strategies especially in those areas under constant anthropogenic disturbances.