Schafffiauser A. auteur aut IRD Curt T. auteur aut IRD Tatoni Thierry auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng We examined the effects of fire recurrence on a mosaic structure of Quercus suber and Erica-Cistus shrubland communities of Southeastern France in order to improve the understanding of fire-vegetation interplay. Plant communities that were similar in 1959 (woodlands on shrublands called maquis on acidic soils) were compared along a gradient of fire recurrence, from 0 to 4 fires, with different time intervals between fires. The results showed that understory cover increased roughly with fire recurrence, whereas tree height, cover, density, stand basal area and litter depth decreased. Different fire recurrences along the past decades led to different vegetation types. High fire recurrence corresponded to maquis and sparse cork-oak woodlands while pure oak woodlands established in the absence of fire during the same period. In all, the diversity of tree diameter decreased with fire recurrence. High fire recurrence (3 or 4 fires in 50 years) led to a simple vertical structure of vegetation with a mono-layered shrub cover and few Quercus suber trees. In contrast, spatial connections between plants were maximal at longer time intervals, leading to a multi-layered vegetation. We finally discuss the potential implications of past fires on the behavior of future fires in the perspective of a sustainable management of these Mediterranean ecosystems. specialized Fire recurrence Structural diversity Acidic soils Maquis Cork oak woodlands (Quercus suber L.) 082 262 5 730-738 2011 0378-1127 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/PAR00007805 10.1016/j.foreco.2011.05.003 0378-1127 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/PAR00007805 IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2011-09-01 2017-08-23 PAR00007805 fre