Lifespan and dormancy type affect post-fire seed germination strategies: evidence from a multispecies experiment in a temperate grassland

This study investigates the critical role of fire cues in breaking seed dormancy in a non-fire-prone temperate grassland ecosystem. The differential germination responses among species are driven by dormancy type and lifespan. Although the overall increase in germination percentage was modest, the differential responses of seed germination to fire cues among species and functional groups reveal the potential importance of wildfires in reshaping community structure and composition. Our findings provide new insights into post-fire vegetation dynamics in the temperate grasslands.