Regeneration patterns in a Calluna vulgaris heathland in the Cantabrian mountains (NW Spain): effects of burning, cutting and ploughing

Regeneration after experimental disturbances (burning, cutting and ploughing) was studied in a heathland dominated by Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull located in NW Spain. Regeneration of C. vulgaris was better after burning and ploughing than after cutting. When cut, this species was replaced by another resprouting ericaceous species, Erica tetralix L. Calluna seedlings suffered high mortality in the third and fourth years after all treatments. Herbaceous species, which dominated during the first year of the secondary succession, were gradually replaced by woody species characteristic of that area from the sixth and seventh years after cutting and burning, and during the tenth year after ploughing. Multivariate analysis showed a clear separation between the different treatments, reflecting different responses in the community to different disturbances and partly reflecting the vegetation status before disturbance. © 2002 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.