TY  - JOUR
AU  - Logan, J. R.
AU  - Luby, I. H.
AU  - McCallum-Cook, I. A.
PY  - 2012/06/04
TI  -  Fire has positive effects on seed reproduction in  Andropogon gerardii  but negative impacts on  Ratibida pinnata  seed reproduction
JF  - Tillers; Vol 6 (2009)
KW  - 
N2  - Fire plays an important role in tallgrass prairie ecology and as such, many prairie plants have evolved mechanisms to cope with or take advantage of its effects. We examined the effects that fire has on seed reproductive potential in  Andropogon gerardii  (Big Bluestem),  Sorghastrum nutans  (Indiangrass), and  Ratibida pinnata  (Grey-headed Coneflower) by measuring the number of seed heads, net seed production per plant, and germination success between seeds in annually spring burned plots and unburned plots of tallgrass Iowa prairie. We found significantly higher numbers of seed heads for  A. gerardii  in burned plots and a significantly greater number of seed heads and net seed weight in  R. pinnata  in unburned plots. We also found a trend towards higher germination of  R. pinnata  in unburned plots. Our study suggests that grasses invest more energy into reproduction via seeds after fires, perhaps because they are better able to colonize a greater area of exposed land, and that certain forbs produce fewer seeds after fire. We suggest that grass seeds used in restoring prairies come from burned prairies and  R. pinnata  seeds come from unburned areas.
UR  - https://ojs.grinnell.edu/index.php/tillers/article/view/47