Vegetative response of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi to experimental cutting andburning

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi uses vegetative resprouting to recover rapidly afte r disturbances. This study aims to widen knowledge of its regeneration resp onse, so it was subjected to experimental cutting and burning. Fifteen pair s of small circular plots (50 cm diameter) were situated at random in an ar ea where this species is abundant and forms homogeneous carpets with close to 100% cover. One plot of each pair was burned and the other one was cut. Initial biomass was estimated as dry weight from the cut plots. A 50 cm dia meter circular sampling quadrat, divided into two concentric circles, was u sed in order to determine cover recovery and the way in which this occurred (predominantly by colonization from outside or uniformly over the whole su rface). Initial recovery was very fast after both disturbances, exceeding 3 0% cover from the fourth month. Recovery of aboveground biomass was also si milar on comparing both types of disturbance, but statistically significant differences with respect to initial values were detected.