Early post-fire regeneration in Pinus brutia forest ecosystems of Sam os

Post-fire regeneration of pine (Pinus brutia) forest of Samos island was investigated 6 years after the great wildfire of August 1983. Results and observations concerning floristics of woody plants and pine sapling demography are presented and discussed in relation to those gathered during the first two post-fire years and already reported in a previous publication. By 1989, most of the burnt area was dominated by two species of Cistus, the vegetation being a dense shrubland of phryganic and evergreen species. The overall density of 6-year-old pine saplings was around 0.15 plants m-2, adequately high for natural reforestation in most sites. The survival of saplings was considerable: 43 % of the pine seedlings tagged in May 1984 were found alive. The height of 6-year-old pine saplings was largely variable with an overall average around 60 cm. The striking discovery of numerous, very short (10-20 cm) saplings, evidently suppressed by neighboring vegetation, led to the postulate that a pine sapling bank may be formed during the early post-fire recovery stage. Since pine seed supply during this stage is absent or scarce, a pine sapling bank may be proven an important or indispensable adaptative strategy for the regeneration of a burnt Mediterranean forest