Stages of plant succession in Fagus sylvatica L and Pinus sylvestris L Forests of Tejera Negra Natural Park (Central Spain), three years after fire

In August 1991 a fire in Tejera Negra Natural Park (Guadalajara Province, Central Spain) burned 300 ha. A study of the stages of succession in Fagus sylvatica L. and Pinus sylvestris L. forests was carried out during the first 3 years after the fire (1992-1994) in order to evaluate the dynamics of floristic richness, vegetation cover, diversity, plant density, and fugacity of the colonizing species by sampling of 10 permanent plots. Two years after the fire, vegetation cover in the burnt plots was similar to that of unburnt plots. However, floristic richness, diversity, and fugacity values were significantly higher in the burnt plots. At the end of the study, Fagus sylvatica was replaced by Genista florida shrubs and Pinus sylvestris was replaced by Cytisus scoparius.