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Growth of Tropical Bracken (Pteridium arachnoideum): Response to Weather Variations and Burning

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Kristin Roos ,
Rütger Rollenbeck ,
Thorsten Peters ,
Jörg Bendix  and
Erwin Beck
Kristin Roos*
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Physiology, University of Bayreuth, Universitaetsstr. 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
Rütger Rollenbeck
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Remote Sensing and Climatology, Department of Geography, University of Marburg, Deutschhausstr. 10, 35032 Marburg, Germany
Thorsten Peters
Affiliation:
Institute for Geography, University of Erlangen, Kochstr. 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Jörg Bendix
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Remote Sensing and Climatology, Department of Geography, University of Marburg, Deutschhausstr. 10, 35032 Marburg, Germany
Erwin Beck
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Physiology, University of Bayreuth, Universitaetsstr. 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The ecology of tropical bracken, which occurs in tropical regions, is not well known. We studied its response to weather variations and burning in the south Ecuadorian Andes, where this weed had already overgrown 40% of the pastureland. In field observations, a constant 1 : 1 ratio of emerging and dying leaves suggested limitation of frond density by nutrient shortage. Short-term deviations from that ratio could be related to weather variations. Spells of dry weather temporarily increased mortality but stimulated emergence of new fronds. Lifespan of the fronds produced immediately after a fire was longer than of those produced during unaffected bracken growth. A burst of frond development during the initial 2 to 3 mo was observed after a fire followed by self-thinning to a stable level. To analyze the effect of fire on bracken, rhizomes were treated with heat pulses. Rhizomes were heat tolerant up to 70 C, and frond production from short shoots was enhanced by elevated temperature. Burning apparently releases apical dominance of developed fronds, as does cutting, and stimulates bud break. The local practice of pasture maintenance in Ecuador of repeated burning favors growth of the fern.

Keywords

Bracken, Pteridium aquilinum agg. (L.) Kuhntropical bracken (bracken of the southern hemisphere), e.g., neotropical Pteridium arachnoideum (Kaulf.) Maxon and Pteridium caudatum (L.) MaxonTropical brackeninvasive fernsvegetation dynamicsfire ecologyheat effects on rhizome
Type
Research
Information
Invasive Plant Science and Management , Volume 3 , Issue 4 , December 2010 , pp. 402 - 411
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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