This study compares the emergence of jack pine (Pinusbanksiana Lamb.), eastern white pine (Pinusstrobus L.), black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and balsam fir (Abiesbalsamea (L.). Mill.) for three seasons after sowing on two postfire seedbeds to test the hypothesis that conifer species differ in their ability to store viable seeds in the soil. Less than 20% of all viable seeds produced emergent seedlings in the first growing season. Emergence continued in the second growing season but not in the third. No viable seeds of any species were found at the end of the experiment. During the second growing season (July 1), the emergence of jack pine was greatest at the warmer and drier site but at the cooler and moister site, large numbers of black spruce emerged; by the end of the second season jack pine seedlings predominated at both sites. Although this delayed emergence accounted for <3% of the viable jack pine seeds sown, this percentage would be sufficient to produce a dense stand given normal postfire seedfall rates. It is suggested that delayed emergence from the soil along with partial seed retention in tree crowns are strategies of jack pine and black spruce which increase the probability of establishment even if the immediate postfire conditions are particularly inhospitable.

Surface-charred organic matter is a common but unfavourable postfire seedbed in eastern Canada. Slatted screens providing 0, 25, 50, and 75% cover were used to shelter 1-m2 charred plots from direct sunlight. Plots were sown with four conifer species. Jack pine (Pinnsbanksiana Lamb.) established abundantly on all plots and dominated on unsheltered areas. As shelter increased, eastern white pine (Pinusstrobus L.), and eventually balsam fir (Abiesbalsamea (L.) Mill.) and black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) increased in number. Thus, the size and composition of the seedling community depended upon the amount of shelter given. To test whether postfire herbaceous and shrub vegetation could have a similar effect, seeds were sown on pairs of charred 1-m2 plots. Vegetation was removed weekly from one plot of each pair. Removal of vegetation decreased the establishment of balsam fir and black spruce but not red pine (Pinusresinosa Ait.). It was concluded that, during the first growing season, changes in vegetation cover produce changes in establishment similar to those found using slatted screens. Increasing fire severity (organic matter consumption) may reduce the postfire vegetation cover. A hypothetical model is presented, linking the establishment of the above five species to fire severity.

Wildfires after prolonged drought consume quantities of fallen trees and soil organic layers. We hypothesized that conflicts within the literature about establishment success of conifers on the resulting ash were a result of the different types of ash used (from wood or peat) and degree of leaching. This was tested using jack pine (Pinusbanksiana Lamb.) in field and laboratory experiments. Ash from peat was chemically neither detrimental nor advantageous to jack pine establishment. No seedlings survived on unleached wood ash. Leaching improved germination and survival, but leached aspen ash was usually a poorer substrate than leached ashes from conifers. There was no consistent differences between ash from different conifers nor degree of decomposition prior to burning. Chemical analysis of the wood ash suggested the high pH of 10.6–12.5 caused by high hydroxide and bicarbonate levels to be directly harmful.

The current paper focuses on potential medicinal use of forest species from Deciduous Seasonal Forest in central region

Questions:Restoration of grassy biomes is currently of large importance, and controlling invasive grasses is often key to restoring these ecosystems in the tropics and subtropics. We combined different ecological restoration techniques to evaluate potential to control the invasive grass Urochloa decumbens and restore plant species composition. Specific questions were: (a) are herbicide application and topsoil removal efficient to control U. decumbens cover and allow native species establishment; and (b) are hay transfer and sowing native grass species efficient to reintroduce native species and increase their cover? Location: Campos grasslands, southern Brazil. Methods: We combined the follow restoration techniques: (a) herbicide application or topsoil removal to control the invasive species, and (b) hay transfer or sowing of native grasses to reintroduce native species. We assessed and compared native plant species richness, vegetation cover, native species cover, U. decumbens cover and other exotic species cover in 2016 and 2017.Results: Herbicide application reduced invasive species cover more than topsoil removal, even though both were effective. The decrease of U. decumbens cover led to an increase in native species cover and native species richness. Hay transfer and sowing native grasses did not produce satisfactory results for native species reintroduction. Native species richness and U. decumbens cover increased from 2016 to 2017. Conclusion:Herbicide application was a better option to control U. decumbens and to allow recovery of native species. However, use of herbicides in restoration is controversial, and more detailed studies on impacts are necessary. Environmental filters appear to be a major cause for failure of hay transfer and seeding species. Recovery of the native plant community is a great challenge in invaded subtropical grasslands, and additional management actions and time are necessary to increase the establishment of native species.