The article "Fire as an evolutionary pressure shaping plant traits" by J.E. Keeley et al. explores the role of fire in shaping plant traits and their evolutionary adaptations. The authors argue that plants are not directly adapted to fire but to specific fire regimes, which include factors such as fire frequency, intensity, and fuel consumption. They highlight that species can be threatened when these regimes change due to human activities. The article discusses various adaptive traits in fire-prone environments, such as thick bark, self-pruning, serotiny, and heat-shock triggered germination, and examines whether these traits are adaptations to fire or exaptations from other environmental factors. The authors critique a recent publication by S. Don Bradshaw et al., which misinterprets the evolution of plant traits and confuses adaptive traits with adaptations to frequent fires. They emphasize that fire has been a significant factor throughout the history of land plant evolution, dating back to the Silurian period, and that traits like serotiny and resprouting have likely evolved in response to fire. The article also addresses the complexity of distinguishing between adaptations and exaptations, noting that many traits may have multiple origins and functions. Finally, the authors conclude that while the origin of traits is important for understanding their evolutionary history, it is not necessarily relevant to current management decisions in fire-prone ecosystems.The article "Fire as an evolutionary pressure shaping plant traits" by J.E. Keeley et al. explores the role of fire in shaping plant traits and their evolutionary adaptations. The authors argue that plants are not directly adapted to fire but to specific fire regimes, which include factors such as fire frequency, intensity, and fuel consumption. They highlight that species can be threatened when these regimes change due to human activities. The article discusses various adaptive traits in fire-prone environments, such as thick bark, self-pruning, serotiny, and heat-shock triggered germination, and examines whether these traits are adaptations to fire or exaptations from other environmental factors. The authors critique a recent publication by S. Don Bradshaw et al., which misinterprets the evolution of plant traits and confuses adaptive traits with adaptations to frequent fires. They emphasize that fire has been a significant factor throughout the history of land plant evolution, dating back to the Silurian period, and that traits like serotiny and resprouting have likely evolved in response to fire. The article also addresses the complexity of distinguishing between adaptations and exaptations, noting that many traits may have multiple origins and functions. Finally, the authors conclude that while the origin of traits is important for understanding their evolutionary history, it is not necessarily relevant to current management decisions in fire-prone ecosystems.