PLANTS - Smoke in the water: Understanding the effects of smoke compounds on seed germination

Although seemingly destructive, wildfires help to maintain biodiversity and are an important element of many ecosystems throughout the world. Not only do fires discourage non-native and invasive species from becoming established, but the quick release of nutrients, heat, and compounds found in ash and smoke play an important role in the life cycle of the native flora. For plants that are adapted to ecosystems where fire is a regular occurrence—su ...

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-02-effects-compounds-seed-germinati