Studies on Fire in Scottish Heathland Communities: III. Vital Attributes of the Species

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Abstract
The characteristics of species occurring in the post-fire development of heathland vegetation are investigated with special reference to the vital attributes discussed by Noble and Slatyer (1978). Most of the vascular species possess 2 main mechanisms for persistence during disturbance and subsequent re-establishment: an ability to regrow vegetatively and storage of seed in the soil. Only Betula spp. depend on seed dispersal into an area after fire. Variations in post-fire vegetation development are discussed in terms of the varying availability of propagules and regeneration centers in stands of different ages, mediated by the timing of critical life history events for the major species groups.