Long-term understory recovery after mechanical fuel reduction in Mediterranean cork oak forests

▶ Understory recovery involved a long-term shift between contrasting plant communities. ▶ Pioneer seeder and dry-fruited shrubs recovered quickly and dominated for 20-30 years. ▶ They were slowly replaced (>40 years) by large resprouters and fleshy-fruited species. ▶ A complex multi-layered understory developed slowly for >50 years. ▶ Untreated stands are needed to retain ecological heterogeneity in Mediterranean forests.