Author(s)

L. Trabaud

Abstract

Fire is an ancient and universal ecological force which has shaped most of plant communities and landscapes of the Mediterranean basin. Associated with climate and topography, fire has contributed to create, but not always predominantly, the types of vegetation growing around the Mediterranean Sea. In any study dealing with plant dynamics after fire, qualitative and quantitative aspects should be considered. Immediately after fire (first months to first year) floristic richness is lower than in unbumed sites; then during the second to fifth years it becomes higher. This is due to a progressive recovery of communities and also an invasion of many annuals attempting to occupy the burned open sites. But towards the fifth year after fire the floristic

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