New Zealand's native plant seeds may survive wildfires
Mākaka (native broom) and kōwhai seeds might be able to survive the heat of fires, new research shows. Scientists heated native and exotic seeds in a lab oven to temperatures they may face in the soil during a fire, expecting only the exotics—which often experience fires in their homelands—to survive. However, mākaka and kōwhai seeds survived up to 80°C, and mākaka seeds even sprouted in…
Recent research reveals that native New Zealand plant seeds, such as those of Mākaka and Kōwhai, may be capable of withstanding the intense heat of wildfires, according to scientists from the University of Canterbury. The team subjected native and exotic seeds to laboratory conditions where they were exposed to temperatures up to 80°C, which they believe these seeds might encounter in the soil during a fire.
Contrary to expectations that only exotic species, accustomed to regular fires in their native habitats, would survive, both Mākaka and Kōwhai seeds not only survived the heat but also showed signs of germination.
However, not all native seeds exhibited resilience. Māhoe, Tī Kōuka (cabbage tree), and Matagouri seeds were found to be killed by high temperatures. In contrast, invasive gorse, which thrives in areas frequently subjected to fires, survived temperatures up to 100°C and even sprouted after exposure to 60°C and above. This suggests that wildfires could potentially favor the regrowth of gorse over some native species.
Lead author Dr. Sarah Wyse, a senior lecturer in forest ecology at the School of Forestry, University of Canterbury, emphasized the importance of understanding which native seeds can survive fires and subsequently regenerate. The study, published in the New Zealand Journal of Botany, provides valuable insights into the potential post-fire dynamics of New Zealand's flora, highlighting a possible shift in species composition in fire-affected areas.
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