Plant strategies and secondary succession on Brittany heathlands after severe fire

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Abstract
Plant succession on heathlands subjected to major fire disturbance and humus burn in 1976 was studied over twelve years following burning. Life history strategies of principal heathland species are described with reference to concepts outlined by Grime (1979) and Whittaker & Goodman (1979). Heathlands and closely related communities are characterised by dominance of speciestolerant of physical stress (‘S’ strategists) whereas species which colonise disturbed sites are closer to rude‐rals (‘R’ strategists). After severe burning three main successional patterns were identified. They depend on water and nutrient availability relative to temporal population dynamics. Recovery of heathland is often retarded due to monospecific dominance, e.g. of Polytrichum commune, Molinia caerulea and Betula pubescens. These patterns of secondary succession illustrate the inhibition model advanced by Connell & Slatyer (1977).