How Do Seeds Germinate In Bushfires? Looking at the Power of Smoke!

As the temperatures have started to rise, so does the threat of bushfires across the nation. But can plants benefit from this? ‘The Phoenix Factor’ refers to the ways in which plant life can rebirth through synchronised seed germination that brings new life to a previously blackened landscape. Surprisingly, the smoke from bushfires plays a major role in this natural rebirth. Kingsley Dixon, Conservation Biologist and Restoration Ecologist from Curtin University, joined The Daily to tell us more about ‘The Phoenix Factor’ and the role smoke plays in bringing new life to burnt out landscapes.