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<p>Expanding native woodland, including by natural regeneration, helps address the biodiversity and climate crises. For small-seeded trees, like many pine species, disturbances such as fires can enhance seedling recruitment, boosting sapling establishment. We tested this idea on heathland beside semi-natural Scots pine <i>Pinus sylvestris</i> forest in Scotland, a heavily deforested country with abundant deer. A replicated experiment was established, comprising 10 blocks within 50&#xa0;m of seed-trees, each with four 10 × 10&#xa0;m plots. In each block, two treatment factors, prescribed burning and deer exclusion (by fencing) were applied in all combinations. Seedling establishment to year 5 was reported previously, showing a ~ tenfold increase in burnt plots. Here, we report on establishment to year 16, when many young trees were over 25&#xa0;cm, defined here as saplings. Where deer had access, mean sapling density in burnt plots was 16.9 times higher (95% CLs 5.8–49) than unburnt. This factor was lower where deer were excluded by fencing, though still large (6.6; 2.9–16). Sapling cover and maximum height were also higher in burnt plots than unburnt ones, by factors of 2.3–6.7. There was a tendency for higher stem density in burnt plots where deer were present, but lower height and cover. However, fencing effects were modest, perhaps partly reflecting low deer numbers at our study site. Our results help quantify how disturbances can influence the establishment of trees with small, wind-blown seeds, and support the use of prescribed fire to enhance Scots pine regeneration in similar contexts.</p>

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Sapling establishment by Scots pine Pinus sylvestris following experimental prescribed burning and deer exclusion on heathland beside native forest

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月8日

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  • Mark H. Hancock,
  • Philippa R. Gullett,
  • Martin Clift,
  • Phil Golder,
  • Gareth Marshall,
  • Shaila J. Rao,
  • Johanna Willi,
  • Neil R. Cowie

摘要

Expanding native woodland, including by natural regeneration, helps address the biodiversity and climate crises. For small-seeded trees, like many pine species, disturbances such as fires can enhance seedling recruitment, boosting sapling establishment. We tested this idea on heathland beside semi-natural Scots pine Pinus sylvestris forest in Scotland, a heavily deforested country with abundant deer. A replicated experiment was established, comprising 10 blocks within 50 m of seed-trees, each with four 10 × 10 m plots. In each block, two treatment factors, prescribed burning and deer exclusion (by fencing) were applied in all combinations. Seedling establishment to year 5 was reported previously, showing a ~ tenfold increase in burnt plots. Here, we report on establishment to year 16, when many young trees were over 25 cm, defined here as saplings. Where deer had access, mean sapling density in burnt plots was 16.9 times higher (95% CLs 5.8–49) than unburnt. This factor was lower where deer were excluded by fencing, though still large (6.6; 2.9–16). Sapling cover and maximum height were also higher in burnt plots than unburnt ones, by factors of 2.3–6.7. There was a tendency for higher stem density in burnt plots where deer were present, but lower height and cover. However, fencing effects were modest, perhaps partly reflecting low deer numbers at our study site. Our results help quantify how disturbances can influence the establishment of trees with small, wind-blown seeds, and support the use of prescribed fire to enhance Scots pine regeneration in similar contexts.