Resprouting as a key functional trait: how buds, protection and resources drive persistence after fire

Summary Resprouting as a response to disturbance is now widely recognized as a key functional trait among woody plants and as the basis for the persistence niche. However, the underlying mechanisms that define resprouting responses to disturbance are poorly conceptualized. Resprouting ability is constrained by the interaction of the disturbance regime that depletes the buds and resources needed to fund resprouting, and the environment that drives growth and resource allocation. We develop a b uds‐ p rotection‐ r esources ( BPR ) framework for understanding resprouting in fire‐prone ecosystems, based on bud bank location, bud protection, and how buds are resourced. Using this framework we go beyond earlier…