RESULTS
Table 1. Summary of descriptive statistics of cone opening after heating at three different temperatures and three times of exposure.
Maximum opening values are those in the 250ºC with 10 and 20 min treatments. The lowest is at 100ºC with 5 minutes.
Maximum opening values are those in the 250ºC with 10 and 20 min treatments. The lowest is at 100ºC with 5 minutes.
GRAPHIC
Fig. 2 Lineplot for the cone opening after heating at three temperatures and three times of exposure. Bars represent S.E.
In general, we found an increase in cone opening along with temperature and time, but the effect of temperature and time is more variable at certain combinations (100ºC-5 min and 250ºC-5 and10 min). At temperatures of 100ºC, time does not have a strong effect compared to higher temperatures at 20 min.
This results show that cone protection decreases along with the factors tested, and opening is considered relevant (seeds are more directly exposed as they can bee seen from the outside) after 10 minutes at high temperatures (200 and 250ºC). This means that a canopy fire can affect the seeds inside, but at the same time, causes enough opening to liberate the seeds. In surface conditions, likely to happen in slash and burn management, seeds are more exposed to heat and probability of survival is critical.
Cones of this species could be considered very efficient at temperatures of 100ºC, condition meet when they are integrated in the soil or when the surface fire is brief. At 200ºC they would still have a protective effect, but more research is needed to address seed survival after these treatments.
In general, we found an increase in cone opening along with temperature and time, but the effect of temperature and time is more variable at certain combinations (100ºC-5 min and 250ºC-5 and10 min). At temperatures of 100ºC, time does not have a strong effect compared to higher temperatures at 20 min.
This results show that cone protection decreases along with the factors tested, and opening is considered relevant (seeds are more directly exposed as they can bee seen from the outside) after 10 minutes at high temperatures (200 and 250ºC). This means that a canopy fire can affect the seeds inside, but at the same time, causes enough opening to liberate the seeds. In surface conditions, likely to happen in slash and burn management, seeds are more exposed to heat and probability of survival is critical.
Cones of this species could be considered very efficient at temperatures of 100ºC, condition meet when they are integrated in the soil or when the surface fire is brief. At 200ºC they would still have a protective effect, but more research is needed to address seed survival after these treatments.