Many studies have claimed that fire acts as the chief ecological factor cueing dormancy break in seeds with a water-impermeable seed coat, i.e. physical dormancy (PY), in Mediterranean ecosystems. However, a proposal is made that seasonal temperature changes must be viewed as more meaningful dormancy-breaking cues because: (1) fire is erratic and may break PY in seasons during which seedlings cannot complete their life cycle; (2) fire may not occur for long periods, thereby only providing an opportunity for dormancy break and germination once in every several years; and (3) if fire opens the specialized anatomical structures called ‘water gaps’, in seconds, their evolutionary role of detecting environmental conditions becomes irrational. Although fire breaks dormancy in a proportion of seeds, given the risk of seed mortality and the post-fire environment providing cues for dormancy break, it is suggested that fire might possibly be an exaptation.

Batches of engorged Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks (females, nymphs and larvae) were placed in gauze-covered vials in the field at monthly intervals and left to complete development. The ticks were placed in open areas and tree shaded areas; the latter being consistently cooler.

The duration of development varied seasonally and was inversely related to environmental temperature. The mean time to oviposition ranged from 5 days during the hot dry season to 25 days during the cool dry season. There was a high larval mortality during the larval to nymphal moult. However, the available data shows that the mean time to larval–nymphal moult ranged from less than 2 weeks during the hot dry season to 7 weeks in the cool season. The mean time to nymphal–adult moult ranged from less than 3 weeks in the hot season to over 13 weeks in the cool dry season. Egg hatching ranged between 3 weeks in the hot dry season and 15 weeks in the cool dry season.