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Global Warming - Will Proteas Survive?
For the first time since the
project began we are getting lots of records about protea deaths. The only other time that
several atlassers noticed extensive dieback was the sulphur fire near Somerset West which
killed lots of proteas (especially Burchell's Sugarbush - Protea
burchellii) as far away as Stellenbosch and Bellville (PAN 30:12).
Undoubtedly the cause of the dieback was the late winter rains. Thus we found in July that half of one of the populations of Toffee Apple Conebush - Leucadendron "touwsrivierenses" (almost a thousand plants) in the Baviaansberg had died since April - all the survivors were in a seep. At Doring River Silky Needlebush - Hakea sericea was dead in huge swathes over large areas - Gum-leaf Conebush - Leucadendron eucalyptifolium in the patches were also dead, but other species appeared to have been unaffected. Dieback was also reported from the Swartberg. At Sir Lowry’s Pass Common Sugarbush - Protea repens had died in many isolated patches over a large area. Some Green Tree Pincushion - Leucospermum conocarpodendron viridum had also died, but most heavily affected was Common Pin Spiderhead - Serruria fasciflora, where three out of four plants found were dead. By contrast, Sun Conebush - Leucadendron sessile appeared unaffected.
Will the proteas survive? The communities described above should not be too adversely affected. Among serotinous species, there are still many plants nearby to reseed into the dead areas, when the next fire occurs. All the deaths are recorded from veld in which proteas had already flowered. So good seedbanks probably exist for the non-serotinous species.
Far more interesting will be to follow the regeneration in the vast areas burned during the summer over the last two years. Deaths of seedlings in these areas will not be noticed. And unless atlassers have documented what was there before the fire, we will never know if some species have been adversely affected. But we have lots of atlas data! We will be able to know, if someone is interested, thanks to your contribution.
Tony Rebelo
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