Fire-sensitive species dominate seed rain in a long unburned Cerrado: implications for plant community diversity and woody encroachment in savannas

Woody encroachment is becoming common in tropical savannas. Seed rain data and seed addition experiments in a long unburned Brazilian savanna indicate that abundant seed rain of fire-sensitive species can surpass limitations to recruitment and lead to woody encroachment. Thus, active fire management may be required to maintain savanna diversity.