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Abstract

Seedlings of the native twining forbs Galactia tenuiflora and Pycnospora lutescens, the grass Heteropogon triticeus and the tree Corymbia clarksoniana, were assessed for their ability to survive a low intensity fire within a year of germination. Of the seedlings that were alive one week prior to a May 1999 fire, 72% of G. tenuiflora, 71% of P. lutescens,48% of H. triticeus and 7% of C. clarksoniana resprouted. This represented 46%, 54%, 19% and 2%, respectively, of the total number of seedlings that germinated between September 1998 and May 1999, including the proportion that had died in the months prior to the May 1999 fire. The resprouting capacity of these species enables some level of population resilience to fires that occur in the first year following germination. However, it is likely that repeated annual fire regimes will reduce the regenerative success of these native plants. Germination events of C. clarksoniana are rare and therefore it is important that fire-free intervals of more than a year follow the germination of this tree, if new individuals are to be recruited into the community.