Demographic responses to fire of Spartina argentinensis in temporary flooded grassland of Argentina

Published source details Feldman S.R. & Lewis J.P. (2007) Demographic responses to fire of Spartina argentinensis in temporary flooded grassland of Argentina. Wetlands, 27, 785-793.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use prescribed fire to maintain or restore disturbance: brackish/salt marshes Action Link

Use prescribed fire to maintain or restore disturbance: brackish/salt marshes

A replicated, paired, controlled study in 1999–2000 in an ephemeral inland salt marsh in northeast Argentina (Feldman & Lewis 2007) found that the effect of a single prescribed burn on seedling frequency varied according to the time since burning. In two of two comparisons after one month, the frequency of plant seedlings was statistically similar in burned plots (2% of quadrats contained ≥1 seedling) and unburned plots (6% of quadrats contained ≥1 seedling). After six months, seedlings were less frequent in burned plots in two of two comparisons (burned: 0%; unburned: 16–17%). After 9–12 months, seedlings were more frequent in burned plots in six of six comparisons (burned: 9–81%; unburned: 0–31%). Methods: Two pairs of 100 x 150 m plots were established in a cordgrass-dominated ephemeral marsh. The plots had not burned for ≥3 years, although fire is usually a common disturbance in these wetlands. In August 1999, one plot in each pair was deliberately burned. Seedlings of all plant species were counted between September 1999 and August 2000, in one hundred 50 x 50 cm quadrats/plot. This study was based on the same experimental set-up as (7).

(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)