Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Fire as a threatening factor for endemic plants of the Canary Islands

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biodiversity and Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The endemic flora of the Canary Islands is remarkable but highly vulnerable to environmental changes. Several factors, such as fire, could be threatening. The purpose of this study was to analyze various treatments in endemic threatened species which could have been growing in the understory of the Canary pine forest. We attempted to improve germination through dormancy breaking, and analyze the influence of fire on these plants. Seven physical and chemical treatments were tested: control, mechanical scarification, boiling water, dry heat (50 and 120 °C), smoke and smoked water. Mechanical scarification showed a positive response in germination percentage in two species characterized by hard seed coat, but out of all of the species tested, only one demonstrated a positive response to any of the treatments related to fire. At the temperatures registered on wildfires, neither the seeds situated on the aerial structure nor seeds in seed bank seem to be able to survive and germinate. The increasing incidence of fires through anthropogenic causes could contribute to the current threat status of these species and poorness of the Canary pine forest understory.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acebes JR, León MC, Rodríguez ML, Del Arco MJ et al (2010) Pteridophyta, spermatophyta. In: Arechavaleta M, Rodríguez S, Zurita N, García A (eds) Lista de especies silvestres de Canarias. Hongos plantas y animales terrestres. Gobierno de Canarias, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, pp 119–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Addinsoft (2012) XLSTAT 2012.07.03. http://www.xlstat.com

  • Arévalo JR, Fernández-Palacios JM, Jiménez MJ, Gil P (2001) The effect of fire intensity on the understory species composition of two Pinus canariensis reforested stands in Tenerife (Canary Islands). For Ecol Manag 148:21–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arnan X, Rodrigo A, Retana J (2006) Post-fire recovery of Mediterranean ground ant communities follows vegetation and dryness gradients. J Biogeogr 33:1246–1258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bañares A, Blanca G, Güemes-Heras J, Moreno-Saiz JC, Ortíz-Núñez S (2003) Atlas y Libro Rojo de la Flora Vascular Amenazada de España. Dirección General de Conservación de la Naturaleza, Madrid

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw SD, Kingsley WD, Hopper SD, Lambers H, Turner SR (2011) Little evidence for fire-adapted plant traits in Mediterranean climate regions. Trends Plant Sci 16(2):69–76

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bradstock RA, Auld TD (1995) Soil temperatures during experimental bushfires in relation to fire intensity: consequences for legume germination and fire management in Southeastern Australia. J Appl Ecol 92:76–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Bramwell D (1990) Conserving biodiversity in the Canary Islands. Ann Mo Bot Gard 77:28–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bramwell D, Bramwell Z (2001) Flores Silvestres de las Islas Canarias, 4th edn. Editorial Rueda, Madrid

    Google Scholar 

  • Buhk C, Hensen I (2006) “Fire seeders” during early post-fire succession and their quantitative importance in South-Eastern Spain. J Arid Environ 66:193–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buhk C, Meyn A, Jentsch A (2007) The challenge of plant regeneration after fire in the Mediterranean basin: scientific gaps in our knowledge on plant strategies and evolution of traits. Plant Ecol 192:1–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Climent J, Tapias R, Pardos JA, Gil L (2004) Fire adaptations in the Canary Islands pine (Pinus canariensis). Plant Ecol 171:185–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cowling R, Rundel PW, Lamont BB, Arroyo MK, Arianoutsou M (1996) Plant diversity in mediterranean-climate regions. Trends Ecol Evol 11(9):362–366

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Lange JH, Boucher C (1990) Autoecological studies on Audonia capitata (Bruniaceae). I. Plant-derived smoke as a seed germination cue. S Afr J Bot 56:188–202

    Google Scholar 

  • DeBano LF (2000) The role of fire and soil heating on water repellency in wildland environments: a review. J Hydrol 231–232:195–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeBano LF, Dunn PH, Conrad CE (1977) Fire’s effect on physical and chemical properties of chaparral soils. In: Mooney HH, Conrad CE (eds) Symposium on environmental consequences of fire and fuel management in Mediterranean ecosystems. U.S.D.A. Forest Service General Technical Report WO3, Washington, DC, pp 65–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Arco MJ, Wildpret W, Pérez-de-Paz PL, Rodríguez-Delgado O, Acebes JR, García-Gallo A, Martín VE, Reyes-Betancort JA, Salas M, Bermejo JA, González R, Cabrera MV, García S (2006) Mapa de Vegetación de Canarias. GRAFCAN, Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Arco MJ, González R, Garzón-Machado V, Pizarro B (2010) Actual and potential natural vegetation on the Canary Islands and its conservation status. Biodivers Conserv 19:3089–3140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garzón-Machado V, González-Mancebo JM, Palomares-Martínez A, Acevedo-Rodríguez A, Fernández-Palacios JM, Del-Arco-Aguilar M, Pérez-de-Paz PL (2010) Strong negative effect of alien herbivores on endemic legumes of the Canary pine forest. Biol Conserv 143:2685–2694

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garzón-Machado V, Del-Arco-Aguilar M, Pérez-de-Paz PL (2011) A tool set for description and mapping vegetation on protected natural areas: an example from the Canary Islands. Biodivers Conserv 20:3605–3625

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilmour CA, Crowden RK, Koutoulis A (2000) Heat shock, smoke and darkness: partner cues in promoting seed germination in Epacris tasmanica (Epacridaceae). Aust J Bot 48:603–609

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-Campo C et al (1996) Libro Rojo de Especies Amenazadas de las Islas Canarias. Gobierno de Canarias, Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-González S, Sierra-Almeida A, Cavieres LA (2008) Does plant-derived smoke affect seed germination in dominant woody species of the Mediterranean matorral of central Chile? For Ecol Manag 255:1510–1515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González-Martín M (1998) Germinacion de especies endémicas canarias del género Convolvulus L. en Gran Canaria (Islas Canarias). Invest Agric Prod Prot Veg 13(3):307–318

    Google Scholar 

  • Herranz JM, Ferrandis P, Martínez-Sánchez JJ (1998) Influence of heat on seed germination of seven Mediterranean Leguminosae species. Plant Ecol 136:95–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ISTAC (2012) Viceconsejería de Medio Ambiente 2012.07.03. http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac

  • Jayasuriya KMGG, Baskin JM, Baskin CC (2008) Dormancy, germination requirements and storage behavior of seeds of Convolvulaceae (Solanales) and evolutionary considerations. Seed Sci Res 18:223–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keeley JE, Fotheringham CJ (2000) Role of fire in regeneration from seed. In: Fenner M (ed) Seeds: the ecology of regeneration in plant communities, 2nd edn. CAB International, Wallingford

    Google Scholar 

  • Keeley JE, Keeley M, Fotheringham CJ (2005) Alien plant dynamics following fire in Mediterranean-climate California shrublands. Ecol Appl 15:2109–2125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klaus W (1989) Mediterranean pines and their history. Plant Syst Evol 162:133–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luna B, Moreno JM, Cruz A, Fernández-González F (2007) Heat-shock and seed germination of a group of Mediterranean plant species growing in a burned area: an approach based on plant functional types. Environ Exp Bot 60:324–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malkisnon D, Wittenberg L, Beeri O, Barzilai R (2011) Effects of repeated fires on the structure, composition, and dynamics of Mediterranean maquis: short- and long-term perspectives. Ecosystems 14:478–488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Médail F, Quézel P (1997) Hot-spots analysis for conservation of plant biodiversity in the Mediterranean basin. Ann Mo Bot Gard 84:112–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Millar CI (1993) Impact of the eocene on the evolution of Pinus L. Ann Mo Bot Gard 80:471–498

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moreira B, Tormo J, Estrelles E, Pausas JG (2010) Disentangling the role of heat and smoke as germination cues in Mediterranean basin flora. Ann Bot 105:627–635

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno JC (2008) Lista Roja 2008 de la flora vascular española. Dirección General de Medio Natural y Política Forestal, Madrid

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers N, Mittermeier RA, Mittermeier CG, Da Fonseca GAB, Kent J (2000) Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature 403:853–858

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Otto R, García-del-Rey E, Gil-Muñoz P, Fernández-Palacios JM (2010) The effect of fire severity on first-year seedling establishment in a Pinus canariensis forest on Tenerife, Canary Islands. Eur J For Res 129:499–508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parker VT, Kelly VR (1989) Seed bank in California chaparral and other Mediterranean climate shrublands. In: Leck MA, Parker VT, Simpson RL (eds) Ecology of soil seed bank. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 231–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Pausas JG, Llovet J, Rodrigo A, Vallejo R (2008) Are wildfires a disaster in the Mediterranean basin?—A review. Int J Wildland Fire 17:713–723

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-de-Paz PL, Del Arco MJ, Rodríguez-Delgado O, Acebes JR, Marrero M, Wildpret W (1994) Atlas cartográfico de los pinares canarios III, La Palma. Viceconsejería de Medio Ambiente. Consejería de Política Territorial, Gobierno de Canarias, Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-García F, González-Benito ME (2006) Seed germination of five Helianthemum species: effect of temperature and presowing treatments. J Arid Environ 65:688–693

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-García F, González-Benito ME, Gómez-Campo C (2008) Germination of fourteen endemic species from the Iberian Peninsula, Canary and Balearic Islands after 32–34 years of storage at low temperature and very low water content. Seed Sci Technol 36:407–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Piñol J, Terradas J, Lloret F (1998) Climate warming, wildfire hazard, and wildfire occurrence in coastal eastern Spain. Clim Change 38:345–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reyes O, Trabaud L (2009) Germination behaviour of 14 Mediterranean species in relation to fire factors: smoke and heat. Plant Ecol 202:113–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rivas M, Reyes O, Casal M (2006) Influence of heat and smoke treatments on the germination of six leguminous shrubby species. Int J Wildland Fire 15:73–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robles AB, Castro J (2002) Effect of thermal shock and ruminal incubation on seed germination in Helianthemum apenninum (L.) Mill. (Cistaceae). Acta Bot Malacitana 27:41–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos A (1983) Vegetación y Flora de La Palma. Editorial Interinsular Canaria, S.A. Santa Cruz de Tenerife

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos A (1993) Helianthemum cirae spec. nova (Cistaceae—Sect. Helianthemum) in the flora of La Palma, Canary Islands. I Symposio de Flora y Fauna de las Islas Atlánticas, Madeira

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson RL, Leck MA, Parker VT (1989) Seed banks: general concepts and methodological issues. In: Leck MA, Thomas VT, Simpson RL (eds) Ecology of soil seed banks. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 3–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Syphard AD, Radeloff VC, Hawbaker TJ, Stewart I (2009) Conservation threats due to human-caused increases in fire frequency in Mediterranean-climate ecosystems. Conserv Biol 23(3):758–769

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thanos CA, Doussi MA (1995) Ecophysiology of seed germination in endemic labiates of crete. Israel J Plant Sci 43:227–237

    Google Scholar 

  • Tompsett PB, Pritchard HW (1998) The effect of chilling and moisture stress on the germination, desiccation tolerance and longevity of Aesculus hippocastanum L. seeds. Ann Bot 82:249–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trabaud L (1979) Etude du comportement du feu dans la garrigue de Chêne Kermès è partir des témperatures et des vitesses de propagation. Ann For Sci 36:13–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trabaud L (1997) Are wildland fires threatening the Mediterranean flora and vegetation? Ecosyst Sustain Dev 1:137–146

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Alexandra Rodríguez and Raquel Hernández for their help with the daily seed count, and Antonio Rodríguez-Lerín for his hard work in collecting seeds. The authors would also like to thank Ángel Palomares-Martínez, Aurelio Acevedo-Rodríguez, Mercedes Díaz and the maintenance team of Caldera de Taburiente National Park for their invaluable help. The authors would also like to acknowledge the critical revision and opinions of J. C. Luis-Jorge and Juana Mª González-Mancebo, who helped to improve the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología Vegetal (Botánica), Universidad de La Laguna, C/Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez s/n, 38071, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

    Víctor Garzón-Machado, Marcelino J. del Arco Aguilar & Pedro L. Pérez-de-Paz

  2. Departamento de Biología Vegetal (Fisiología Vegetal), Universidad de La Laguna, C/Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez s/n, 38071, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

    Francisco Valdés González

Authors
  1. Víctor Garzón-Machado
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marcelino J. del Arco Aguilar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  3. Francisco Valdés González
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  4. Pedro L. Pérez-de-Paz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Víctor Garzón-Machado.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Garzón-Machado, V., del Arco Aguilar, M.J., González, F.V. et al. Fire as a threatening factor for endemic plants of the Canary Islands. Biodivers Conserv 21, 2621–2632 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-012-0321-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-012-0321-3

Keywords