Bryophyte recolonization on burnt soil and logs

Abstract

This paper summarizes what is known of the colonization of bryophytes on burnt soil and dead wood immediately after fire. The review concentrates on the very beginning of the recolonization process, i.e. 0–4 years after fire. Bryophytes are often the first species to colonize burnt substrates, especially after intense fires, and their role in the beginning of succession should not be underestimated. The bryophyte species reported as first colonizers are listed, and a literature review with references to studies on their ecology in relation to the effects of fire is given. The results of this review show that there is a clear lack of knowledge in relation to colonization of bryophytes on burnt wood, which, however, is an essential topic when planning, e.g. for forest restoration treatments that aim at increasing biodiversity.

Keywords:

• Burnt wood
• colonization
• disturbed soil
• fire
• hepatics
• mosses

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mr Henrik Lindberg and Ms Carina Järvinen for discussions, Ms Jessica Lopez Bellido, Mr Franck Quere and Mr Jevgeni Jakovlev for help in translating Spanish, French and Russian literature, respectively, and Mr Kent Tankersley for checking the English. Funding for the present study is provided by the Academy of Finland, project no. 50525 for S.L.-L. and project no. 52789 for R.R., and the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation through a grant to R.R.