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Effect of Seedling Provenance and Site Heterogeneity on Abies cephalonica Performance in a Post-Fire Environment

Author

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  • Kostas Ioannidis

    (Laboratory of Silviculture, Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Mediterranean & Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, 11528 Athens, Greece)

  • Marianthi Tsakaldimi

    (Laboratory of Silviculture, Department of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Katerina Koutsovoulou

    (Green Fund, Ministry of Environment and Energy, 14561 Kifisia, Greece)

  • Evangelia N. Daskalakou

    (Laboratory Forest Management & Forest Economics, Institute of Mediterranean & Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter”, 11528 Athens, Greece)

  • Petros Ganatsas

    (Laboratory of Silviculture, Department of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

Abstract

Reforestation constitutes a challenge in post-fire ecosystem restoration, although there are limitations such as species and genotype selection, planting and management design, and environmental conditions. In the present study, the basic issue is the longevity of Abies cephalonica Loudon—the Greek fir seedlings planted extensively in Parnitha National Park (Central Greece), located near the metropolitan city of Athens, following the large-scale wildfire of 2007. Seedling performance was assessed for a 3-year monitoring period (2013–2015) through the establishment of 8 permanent transects, including 400 seedlings at the burned, reforested sites. According to the long-term reforestation project, two seedling provenances were used: (a) from Mt. Mainalon (South Greece, Vytina provenance) and (b) the local one from Mt. Parnitha. Both provenances showed a relatively successful survival rate reaching, in average, 73.8%, with the first summer after planting being crucial for seedling survival. The overall mean seedling height was 39.2 ± 1.1 cm, with a mean crown diameter of 47.3 ± 1.4 cm in the last monitoring survey. Although Parnitha seedlings seem to perform better in terms of growth, seedling performance in both provenances was affected by reforestation site characteristics, mainly altitude and aspect. Approximately one third of seedlings exhibited damage in their crown architecture (29.8%), while apical bud damage was less extensive (12.2%) in the final field measurement. Data indicate that seedling performance has proved to be quite promising for post-fire restoration, although long-term monitoring data should be considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Kostas Ioannidis & Marianthi Tsakaldimi & Katerina Koutsovoulou & Evangelia N. Daskalakou & Petros Ganatsas, 2021. "Effect of Seedling Provenance and Site Heterogeneity on Abies cephalonica Performance in a Post-Fire Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:6097-:d:564446
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Roosa Leimu & Markus Fischer, 2008. "A Meta-Analysis of Local Adaptation in Plants," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(12), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Alexandros Dimitrakopoulos & M. Vlahou & Ch. Anagnostopoulou & I. Mitsopoulos, 2011. "Impact of drought on wildland fires in Greece: implications of climatic change?," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 109(3), pages 331-347, December.
    3. Vassilis Detsis & Georgios Efthimiou & Olga Theodoropoulou & Stavroula Siorokou, 2020. "Determination of the Environmental Factors that Affect the Growth and Survival of Greek Fir Seedlings," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-15, March.
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