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Seed and seedling ecology of two co-occurring ericoid fynbos shrub species
Bibliography: pages 140-167.
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Department of Biological Sciences
2016
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| _version_ | 1867613278155309056 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Kilian, Daryll |
| author2 | Cowling, Richard M |
| author_browse | Cowling, Richard M Kilian, Daryll |
| author_facet | Cowling, Richard M Kilian, Daryll |
| author_sort | Kilian, Daryll |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Bibliography: pages 140-167. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/17368 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:33:35.758Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publishDateRange | 2016 |
| publishDateSort | 2016 |
| publisher | Department of Biological Sciences |
| publisherStr | Department of Biological Sciences |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/17368 Seed and seedling ecology of two co-occurring ericoid fynbos shrub species Kilian, Daryll Cowling, Richard M Botany Bibliography: pages 140-167. The seed and seedling ecology of the ericoid fynbos shrubs Passerina paleacea and Phylica ericoides were studied. These species co-occur in dune fynbos and are dependent on soil seed banks for regeneration after recurrent fynbos fires. Phylica was stimulated by the heat effect of fire. The precise germination cue for Passerina could not be determined, although circumstantial evidence pointed to the role of an indirect fire effect associated with the removal of vegetation. The seed banks of both species were seasonally persistent, and were not substantially depleted during the year following seed input. Fire appeared not to kill significant numbers of seeds, but seed banks were largely, although not completely depleted during the winter following fire. Phylica appeared to lose little seed after dispersal and most seed appeared to survive for at least several years in the soil. This allowed Phylica to build up seed banks larger than the seed input in one year. Passerina produced much larger amounts of smaller seeds, most of which were lost before incorporation into the soil seed bank. These large losses were not limiting on population recruitment of Passerina af.ter fire, which was apparently limited by seedling mortality during summer drought. The recruitment of Phylica, in contrast, appeared to be limited by poor seedling establishment during the first winter after fire. This was possible largely due to germination failure, which is probably affected by the intensity of fire. Recruitment in mature vegetation was severely limited for both species, although Phylica appeared to have more potential than Passerina for recruitment in this environment. The implications of results for burning of fynbos and for commercial flower harvesting of Phylica are discussed. Differences between the species are also used for suggesting possible means of non-equilibrium coexistence. 2016-02-29T12:06:17Z 2016-02-29T12:06:17Z 1991 Master Thesis Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17368 eng application/pdf Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Botany Kilian, Daryll Seed and seedling ecology of two co-occurring ericoid fynbos shrub species |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Seed and seedling ecology of two co-occurring ericoid fynbos shrub species |
| title_full | Seed and seedling ecology of two co-occurring ericoid fynbos shrub species |
| title_fullStr | Seed and seedling ecology of two co-occurring ericoid fynbos shrub species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seed and seedling ecology of two co-occurring ericoid fynbos shrub species |
| title_short | Seed and seedling ecology of two co-occurring ericoid fynbos shrub species |
| title_sort | seed and seedling ecology of two co occurring ericoid fynbos shrub species |
| topic | Botany |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17368 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kiliandaryll seedandseedlingecologyoftwocooccurringericoidfynbosshrubspecies |