Results/Conclusions We found that after a simulated wild fire T. monspessulana germination increases significantly, being the heating of seeds the most important factor above the destruction of litter cover. We found an optimal temperature range between 90 and 100 ºC, above 140 C all seeds died. In the controlled burns, temperatures similar to the optimal for germination are reached at 2 cm of depth. Although, this area of the soil profile does not have the highest concentration of seeds, the large seed densities (ca. 7000 seed/m²) sustain an intense regeneration after fire. In low severity fire treatments, the seedling emergence of T. monspessulana was not different from the control. However, this fire treatment decreased both the mean number of native species emerged and the mean number of native seedlings emerged. We believe that this difference among the invasive shrub and the native plants is responsible for the success of the species, especially given the high rate of human-induced fires in the area. Funding provided by Fondecyt 1070488, ICM P05-002 and PFB-23.