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Eucalyptus globulus Labill. regeneration from seeds in Portugal´s mainland
Publication . Águas, Ana Sofia Nunes do Carmo; Rego, Francisco Castro; Silva, Joaquim Sande
Eucalyptus globulus Labill. is a plant species native to SE Australia, Tasmania and
adjacent islands. It was introduced in Portugal in the mid-19th century. In 2005/06, it was the
most abundant tree species in 23% of the afforested area in Portugal’s mainland. Forests
dominated by this species are one of the most fire-prone forest types in Portugal. This thesis
was aimed to contribute to a better understanding of the naturalization process in Portugal’s
mainland, with a special focus on the role of fire in this process. A multiscale approach was
used to address the problem. Natural regeneration of E. globulus from seeds occurs in every
natural region of the territory and may reach high densities in some locations. Spatial
distribution of both wildling occurrence and density is not uniform on national (mainland),
regional, local, and stand scales. The existence of seed sources (reproductive trees) is of
primary importance. Climatic and soil conditions affect the broad scale distribution of this
regeneration and its performance. Site quality and forest management are fundamental on a
local scale. Fire clearly plays a relevant role, inducing seed release from burnt trees, providing
safe microsites for plant recruitment and development, and allowing for the establishment of
plants in the mid-term. Moreover, litter charring enables the early development of E. globulus in
otherwise toxic conditions. Maximum wildling densities observed were 0.3 plants m-2 and
9.9 plants m-2 inside unburnt and burnt plantations, respectively. Portuguese plantations, from a
region with nationally moderate levels of seminal regeneration, had mean wildling densities
3.1 times higher than Australian plantations, from seven regions either inside or outside the
native range. In summary, cultivated trees are able to produce offspring, which grows,
establishes and may produce seeds next to parent trees, in many parts of Portugal’s mainland.
Therefore, naturalization is in progress and widespread in this territory, and fire does facilitate it
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Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
3599-PPCDT
Número da atribuição
PTDC/AGR-CFL/099420/2008