Sustitución de comunidades y concentración de nutrientes en plantas tras incendios forestales en una cuenca subárida del S.E. de España

Abstract

Specific plant communities replacement in a subarid basin (Sierra de Almijara, S. E. Spain) is described related with internal concentration of C, N and compartimental P in several post-fire representative and dominant species. Plots were burnt 1, 6, 12 and 30 years before respectively, because fire is a recurrent phenomenon in that mediterranean shrublands. Juniperus oxycedrus is typical of the advanced stages of succession and presents low concentration of P and N, specially in old plants. Genista spartioides minimizes C:N ratio due to its symbiotic activity; and Cistus clusii shows an active cumulative metabolism specially in that concerning the phosphorus retention. In the frame of the general theory of sucession, C . clusii takes advantages of its ability to internalize high concentration of phosphate and Fabaceae of N accumulation. A dilution effect is detected in plants which are characteristic of the vegetation at the end of recolonization.