Submit to Fire Review for Fire Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Effects of Wildfire on Biodiversity

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Fire (ISSN 2571-6255).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 39648

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Eva K. Strand

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Fire Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1133, Moscow, ID 83844-1133, USA
Interests: landscape ecology; geospatial analysis; plant community ecology; fire ecology; landscape dynamics; ecosystem processes

Dr. Darcy H. Hammond

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor

Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Fire Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
Interests: ecology; restoration ecology; fire ecology; landscape ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Wildfire size and frequency is increasing across Earth’s ecosystems, presenting us with a fire paradox. It is well documented that wildfires were more common in many ecosystems across the globe a couple of centuries ago compared to present time. Today, we are alarmed by the increase in fire frequency and burned area, although the magnitude is not yet approaching the area historically burned in most regions. We are caught in the complex task of defining effects of fire on ecosystems and biodiversity, entangled in fire regime characteristics such as fire frequency, severity, season of burn, fire size, and variability in time and space. A central question to ecologists, fire scientists, and natural resource managers is the impact changes in fire regime characteristics have on Earth’s biodiversity, both locally and regionally. Huston’s intermediate disturbance hypothesis suggests that local species diversity is maximized when disturbance is neither too rare nor too frequent, but how do we identify where and when, and at what scale, wildfires are too rare or too frequent?

The goal of this Special Issue is to compile a set of scientific articles describing how wildfire has impacted diversity in the ecosystem where they occurred. We invite articles that present measured or modeled effects of wildfire on diversity across various scales and dimensions of fire regime metrics and biological taxa, including but not limited to:

Effects of wildfire on diversity of any taxa in any ecosystem
Relationships between fire effects and abiotic factors such as climate
Predictions of changes in fire effects as a result of a changing climate
Effects of scale in the interpretation of fire effects on biodiversity
Consequences of larger burned area for the composition of communities and landscapes
Consequences of wildfire on biogeochemistry, such as the global carbon cycle

Dr. Eva K. Strand
Dr. Darcy H. Hammond
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fire is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

wildfire
fire effects
biodiversity
fire regimes
disturbance
climate change
biotic community
landscape composition

Published Papers (13 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

13 pages, 1126 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Foraging Behavior Response of Small Mammals to Different Burn Severities

by Marina Morandini, Maria Vittoria Mazzamuto and John L. Koprowski

Fire 2023, 6(9), 367; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fire6090367 - 21 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1726

Abstract

Wildfires cause profound challenges for animals to overcome due to their reliance on vegetation. This study addresses the impact of three levels of forest burn severity (unburned, low, and high burn severity) on the foraging behavior of small mammals in the Pinaleño Mountains (AZ, USA) using the giving up density (GUD) experiment approach. Overall, burn severity affected the foraging behavior of small mammals that spent less time foraging in high burn severity patches. Vegetation characteristics influenced GUD differently based on the level of burn severity. Higher canopy cover was perceived as areas with a higher predation risk (higher GUD) in unburned and low burn severity patches, while cover provided by logs and shrubs decreased the GUD (increased foraging). This suggests a complicated interaction between horizontal (logs, grass, shrub cover) and vertical vegetation cover in relation to burn severity. Fires affected the foraging behavior of the small mammals but did not impact all species in the same way. Generalists, such as Peromyscus sp. and Tamias dorsalis, seemed to forage across all burn severities, while specialist species, such as tree squirrels, tended to avoid the high burn severity patches. Clarifying the complex impacts of fires on small mammals’ foraging behaviors contributes to our understanding of the intricate interactions, at micro-habitat levels, between vegetation structure and the behavioral responses of animals and it can help managers to plan actions to reduce the negative impacts of wildfires. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Wildfire on Biodiversity)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1304 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Response of Different Soil Arthropod Communities to Fire: A Case Study from Northwestern Africa

by Mounia EL Khayati, Brahim Chergui, Pablo Barranco, Soumia Fahd, José L. Ruiz, Ahmed Taheri and Xavier Santos

Fire 2023, 6(5), 206; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fire6050206 - 16 May 2023

Viewed by 1459

Abstract

In recent decades, forest fires in the Mediterranean basin have been increasing in frequency, intensity, and the area burnt. Simultaneously, insects, a group with extraordinary biodiversity that provides vital ecosystem services such as pollination and decomposition, are undergoing a precipitous decline. Unfortunately, the impact of fire on arthropod communities has been poorly addressed despite the high diversity of taxonomic and functional arthropod groups. Responses to fire can differ considerably, depending on the life history and functional traits of the species. In the present study, we investigate the short-term impact of fire (three years after a blaze) on the abundance and species composition of soil arthropods in a burnt pine forest located in Ceuta (Spain, northwestern Africa). Soil arthropods were collected from pitfall traps in burnt and unburnt pine forest sampling points. In terms of total abundance per taxonomic order, Blattodea and Diptera were the only orders seemingly affected by the fire, whereas other arthropod groups (e.g., Araneae, Coleoptera, and Isopoda) showed no differences. In terms of species composition, Coleoptera and Formicidae (Hymenoptera) communities differed between burnt and unburnt sampling points, having more species associated with burnt areas than with unburnt ones. In burnt areas, some species from open areas built nests, fed in/on the ground, and dispersed over longer distances. Within the unburnt plots, we found more species in vegetated habitats, particularly those with shorter dispersal distances. We conclude that arthropod communities differ between burnt and unburnt sites and that the response of each taxon appears to be related to particular functional traits such as habitat preference (from open to forested landscapes) and ecological specialization (from generalist to specialist species). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Wildfire on Biodiversity)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 3979 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do Fire Cues Enhance Germination of Soil Seed Stores across an Ecotone of Wet Eucalypt Forest to Cool Temperate Rainforest in the Central Highlands of South-Eastern Australia?

by Samuel Younis and Sabine Kasel

Fire 2023, 6(4), 138; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fire6040138 - 30 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1756

Abstract

Soil seed banks play an important role in plant species persistence in fire-prone systems. Response to fire related germination cues often reflect historical fire regimes and can be important in maintaining ecotones between different forest types. We assessed the effects of heat and/or smoke on the soil stored seed banks across an ecotone of eucalypt to rainforest overstorey comprising wet forest, cool temperate mixed forest, and cool temperate rainforest in south-eastern Australia. Soils from five replicates of each forest type were subjected to very low (45 °C), low (65 °C) and high (90 °C) heat with or without two different smoke treatments: –smoke-infused vermiculite, and karrikinolide—a phytoreactive compound derived from smoke. Soils were placed in a glasshouse and germinants were identified and counted at weekly intervals. Response to fire cues was consistent among forest types despite underlying differences in the diversity of soil seed banks. There was no overall response of species richness, abundance, or composition to fire cues. Phanerophytes and ant-dispersed species with hard seed coats demonstrated positive response, and endozoochores negative response, to high heat independent of smoke. Endozoochores were concentrated (albeit at low densities) in cool temperate rainforest with no overall effect of seral affiliation on response to fire cues. Given the lack of response to karrikinolide, response to soil disturbance would most likely be associated with mechanical seed abrasion and/or exposure to increased light availability than to non-fire related production of smoke products. Forest type was a stronger determinant of floristics in the germinated soil seed bank than simulated fire related germination cues. Both smoke treatments had little influence on floristics in the germinated seed bank suggesting other, non-fire disturbances such as treefalls and soil turnover by fauna may be more important for germination for many of the species in these forest types. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Wildfire on Biodiversity)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 4471 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Large-Fire Ignitions Are Higher in Protected Areas than Outside Them in West-Central Spain

by Gonzalo Arellano-del-Verbo, Itziar R. Urbieta and José M. Moreno

Fire 2023, 6(1), 28; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fire6010028 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2402

Abstract

Managing protected areas requires knowing what factors control fire ignitions and how likely they are compared to non-protected ones. Here, we modelled fire ignition likelihood in west-central Spain as a function of biophysical and anthropogenic variables in 172 protected areas (PA) of the Natura 2000 network, their buffer zones (BZ, 1500 m area surrounding PA), and non-protected areas (NP). Ignition coordinates from fire statistics (2001–2015 period) were overlaid over maps of relevant biophysical and socioeconomic variables. Models were built for four different fire sizes, small (1–5 ha), medium (5–50 ha), large (50–500 ha), and very large (≥500 ha), using Maxent software. Additionally, PA were classified based on their land use and land cover types by cluster analysis. Mean ignition probabilities were compared between PA, BZ and NP, as well as among different types of PA, by generalized linear models. Maxent models’ accuracy increased as fires were of larger size. Ignitions of small fires were associated with anthropogenic variables, while those of larger fires were more associated with biophysical ones. Ignition likelihood for the small and medium fire sizes was highest in BZ, while being the lowest in PA. Conversely, the likelihood of large and, particularly, very large fires was highest in PA. Mean ignition likelihood varied among types of PA, being highest for very large fires in PA, dominated by pine and mixed forests. Our results support the hypothesis that PAs are at the highest risk of large fire ignition, but BZ were also at high risk for the rest of the fire sizes. This largely reflects the more hazardous nature of PA landscapes. This work provides the needed tools to identify critical fire ignition areas within and nearby protected areas, which should be considered in their conservation and management plans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Wildfire on Biodiversity)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 16675 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tree Species Composition and Diversity in Fire-Affected Areas of Miombo Woodlands, Central Mozambique

by Victorino Américo Buramuge, Natasha Sofia Ribeiro, Lennart Olsson, Romana Rombe Bandeira and Sá Nogueira Lisboa

Fire 2023, 6(1), 26; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fire6010026 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1788

Abstract

Fire strongly impacts the composition and structure of ecosystems, with consequences yet to be understood. We used Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data to map fire frequency and fire intensity and investigate their effects on miombo woodlands (MW) of central Mozambique. Tree species diversity was evaluated and compared using rarefaction curves. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination was used to identify patterns of species composition occurrence. The indicator value index method was applied to verify the occurrence of fire indicator species. In general, tree communities responded differently to varied fire regimes. We found low tree density in Intermediate fire frequency and intensity (IfIi) (180 trees ha⁻¹) and High-frequency and Low intensity (HfLi) (316 trees ha⁻¹) areas. The IfIi fire regime had the lowest carbon stocks (9.1 Mg ha⁻¹), when compared to the rest of fire regimes. The species diversity decreased as fire intensity increased. IfIi areas had the maximum species diversity. The NMDS showed a varied species composition according to fire regime. We found a strong relationship between the species diversity and composition, and the pattern of fire occurrence in each fire regime. Our results are critical in supporting fire management policies and understanding fire regimes and their effects on miombo trees’ structure and composition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Wildfire on Biodiversity)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3133 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Demographic Response of Grass Species to Fire Treatments in a Guinean Savanna

by Kouamé Fulgence Koffi, Aya Brigitte N’Dri, Tharaniya Srikanthasamy, Jean-Christophe Lata, Souleymane Konaté, Marcel Konan and Sébastien Barot

Fire 2022, 5(6), 193; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fire5060193 - 16 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1366

Abstract

Fighting tree encroachment using fire promotes C4 perennial grasses but likely affects their demography according to the fire date during the dry season. We analyzed the impact of four fire treatments (early, middle, late and no fire) on the demography of the four dominant perennial grasses (Andropogon canaliculatus, Andropogon schirensis, Hyparrhenia diplandra and Loudetia simplex) in a Guinean savanna of West Africa (Lamto, Côte d’Ivoire). We carried out a yearly demographic monitoring of each grass individual during five years (2015–2019) on three plots by treatment and parametrized a size-classified matrix model with five circumference classes. The results showed that A. schirensis, H. diplandra and L. simplex declined (λ < 1.0) under late fire and will disappear after 10 years, as did L. simplex under the middle fire. Stasis influenced the most λ values and stable class distribution was nearly achieved in all species under all treatments. The size of L. simplex should increase under early and late fires. Our results suggest that late fire is the most detrimental fire regime for grasses in this Guinean area, contrary to early and middle fires, which could be recommended to savanna managers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Wildfire on Biodiversity)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2215 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Topographic Factors Drive Short-Term Understory Revegetation in Burned Areas

by Zhixue He, Lei Wang, Jun Luo, Bin Zhang, Qingchun Deng and Hui Liu

Fire 2022, 5(5), 171; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fire5050171 - 20 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1327

Abstract

Fire is a disturbance factor in forest ecosystems which has an important influence on vegetation succession. In order to reveal the natural recovery characteristics of the understory vegetation and its response to topographic factors (elevation, slope position, aspect and slope) after fire in subtropical forests, a typical subtropical forest (Xide County, China) was selected as the study area. Based on quadrat surveys and correlation analyses, the main results of this study were as follows. (1) Within four months after a fire, a total of 71 species, 52 genera and 20 families of understory vegetation species were increased, representing a rapid recovery after a fire. The total number of genera and species of understory vegetation increased by 157% and 209%, respectively. (2) Different burning intensities had different effects on the recovery of vegetation species diversity. The change in Margalef richness index was the most significant, increasing by 5.44 and 5.16 in lightly and severely burned areas, respectively. (3) The vegetation community could be divided into six types after restoration. (4) Elevation and slope were significantly correlated with the diversity and distribution characteristics of understory vegetation in the burned area. This study is useful to understand the characteristics of the short-term natural recovery of understory vegetation in subtropical forests after fire, to identify the relationship between vegetation and topographic factors in burned areas, and to provide a scientific basis for vegetation recovery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Wildfire on Biodiversity)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3073 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Fire and Fodder Reversal Phenomenon: Vertebrate Herbivore Activity in Burned and Unburned Tasmanian Ecosystems

by David J. Heaton, Melinda T. McHenry and Jamie B. Kirkpatrick

Fire 2022, 5(4), 111; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fire5040111 - 01 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3192

Abstract

Very few multi-species or ecosystem comparisons of post-fire vertebrate herbivore activity and food preference exist to inform fire management and conservation strategies. We inferred post-fire (1–3 years) native and introduced vertebrate herbivore activity and attraction to six diverse temperate vegetation communities (grassland to rainforest) from scat counts. We hypothesised that where fire reduced herbaceous and grassy vegetation (‘fodder’), vertebrate herbivores would decline, and that post-fire preferences of native versus exotic herbivores would differ significantly. Instead, we found evidence for a ‘fire and fodder reversal phenomenon’ whereby native macropod and exotic deer scats were more abundant after fire in consistently ‘fodder-poor’ vegetation types (e.g., heath) but less abundant after fire in previously fodder-rich vegetation communities (e.g., grassland). Fodder cover predicted native macropod, wombat, and introduced deer activity and bare ground cover was strongly associated with introduced herbivore activity only, with the latter indicating post-fire competition for food sources due to their abundance in high-altitude open ecosystems. We, therefore, found environmental and vegetation predictors for each individual species/group and suggest broadscale multi-environment, multispecies observations to be informative for conservation management in potentially overlapping post-fire niches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Wildfire on Biodiversity)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1415 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ground-Dwelling Arachnids and Fire Disturbance: A Case Study in Northeastern Patagonia (Argentina)

by Fernando Joaquín Martínez, Germán Horacio Cheli, Cristian José Grismado and Alejandro Jorge Bisigato

Fire 2022, 5(4), 91; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fire5040091 - 04 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2245

Abstract

Fire is one of the main disturbances in northeastern Patagonia. Wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe, threatening the sustainability of local ecosystems. Arachnids respond markedly to environmental modifications and can regulate processes linked to lower trophic levels. Assessing changes in arachnid diversity is useful to understand the effect of fire on animal assemblages and ecosystem functionality. The aim of this study was to analyze the response of the ground-dwelling arachnid assemblage to fire disturbance. Eight sampling sites were selected: four burned and four unburned. Arachnids were sampled using pitfall traps. The taxonomic and functional structure of the assemblage was found to differ between burned and unburned areas. This change was related to major taxa turnover. On the other hand, the alpha diversity did not differ significantly according to fire disturbance. The abundance of specialist spiders decreased significantly in burned areas, possibly related to post-fire changes in the composition and structure of the plant community. In addition, significant species indicators of unburned and burned sites were found. The results of this study are useful for ecosystem management and the development of biodiversity conservation strategies in northeastern Patagonia, an area severely affected by fires. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Wildfire on Biodiversity)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 8352 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Fires on Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and Priority Bird Species for Conservation in Bolivia

by Oswaldo Maillard, Sebastian K. Herzog, Rodrigo W. Soria-Auza and Roberto Vides-Almonacid

Fire 2022, 5(1), 4; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fire5010004 - 04 Jan 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6191

Abstract

Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are sites that contribute significantly to the protection of the planet’s biodiversity. In this study, we evaluated the annual burned areas and the intensity of the fires that affected Bolivia and its 58 KBAs (23.3 million ha) over the last 20 years (2001–2020). In particular, we analyzed the impact of wildfires on the distribution of Bolivian birds at the levels of overall species richness, endemic species and threatened species (Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable). We found that at the KBA level, the cumulative area of wildfires was 21.6 million ha, while the absolute area impacted was 5.6 million ha. The KBAs most affected by the wildfires are located in the departments of Beni and Santa Cruz; mainly in the KBAs Área Natural de Manejo Integrado San Matías, Oeste del río Mamoré, Este del río Mamoré, Noel Kempff Mercado and Área Natural de Manejo Integrado Otuquis. The wildfires impacted the distribution of 54 threatened species and 15 endemic species in the KBAs. Based on the results of this study, it is a priority to communicate to Bolivian government authorities the importance of KBAs as a strategy for the conservation of the country’s biodiversity and the threats resulting from anthropogenic fires. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Wildfire on Biodiversity)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2067 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Influences on Density and Height Growth of Natural Ponderosa Pine Regeneration following Wildfires

by Darcy H. Hammond, Eva K. Strand, Penelope Morgan, Andrew T. Hudak and Beth A. Newingham

Fire 2021, 4(4), 80; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fire4040080 - 21 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3682

Abstract

Over the past century the size and severity of wildfires, as well as post-fire recovery processes (e.g., seedling establishment), have been altered from historical levels due to management policies and changing climate. Tree seedling establishment and growth drive future overstory tree dynamics after wildfire. Post-fire tree regeneration can be highly variable depending on burn severity, pre-fire forest condition, tree regeneration strategies, and climate; however, few studies have examined how different abiotic and biotic factors impact seedling density and growth and the interactions among those factors. We measured seedling density and height growth in the period 2015–2016 on three wildfires that burned in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests in the period 2000–2007 across broad environmental and burn severity gradients. Using a non-parametric multiplicative regression model, we found that downed woody fuel load, duff depth, and fall precipitation best explained variation in seedling density, while the distance to nearest seed tree, a soil productivity index, duff depth, and spring precipitation as snow best explained seedling height growth. Overall, results highlight the importance of burn severity and post-fire climate in tree regeneration, although the primary factors influencing seedling density and height growth vary. Drier conditions and changes to precipitation seasonality have the potential to influence tree establishment, survival, and growth in post-fire environments, which could lead to significant impacts for long-term forest recovery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Wildfire on Biodiversity)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 2472 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mixed-Severity Wildfire as a Driver of Vegetation Change in an Arizona Madrean Sky Island System, USA

by Helen M. Poulos, Michael R. Freiburger, Andrew M. Barton and Alan H. Taylor

Fire 2021, 4(4), 78; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fire4040078 - 20 Oct 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4053

Abstract

Fire is a powerful natural disturbance influencing vegetation patterns across landscapes. Recent transitions from mixed-species forests to post-fire shrublands after severe wildfire is an increasingly prevalent phenomenon in pine-oak and conifer forest ecosystems in southwestern North America. However, we know little about how variation in fire severity influences other common forest types in the region. In this study, we evaluated fire-induced changes in woody plant community composition and forest structure in Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona in the United States that hosts a diverse set of vegetation types. Cluster analysis of the pre-fire vegetation data identified three dominant pre-fire vegetation types including juniper woodland, piñon forest, and pine-oak forest. All vegetation types experienced significant tree mortality across a wide range of size classes and species, from forests to shrublands. The magnitude of change within sample plots varied with fire severity, which was mediated by topography. Significant shifts in dominance away from coniferous obligate seeder trees to resprouting hardwoods and other shrubs occurred across all vegetation types in response to the fire. Regeneration from seed can be episodic, but projected increases in aridity and fire frequency may promote continued dominance by hardwoods and fire- and drought-resistant shrub communities, which is a regional forest management concern as wildfire size and severity continue to increase throughout the southwestern USA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Wildfire on Biodiversity)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1203 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Wildfire and the Presence of the Invasive Paulownia tomentosa on the Regeneration of Native Tree Species in North-Central Appalachia

by Roger Williams and Haibin Wang

Fire 2021, 4(3), 60; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/fire4030060 - 06 Sep 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3347

Abstract

A wildfire occurred in Shawnee State Forest located in southern Ohio that consumed 1215 hectares. Based on earlier forest inventories it was known that paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa), a non-native invasive tree species, occurred in the forest. The objective of this study was to determine if paulownia heavily colonized areas two years after the fire where the burn occurred, and if its presence had a negative impact on the regeneration (<137 cm height) of native species—red and white oaks (Quercus sp.), red maple (Acer rubrum), and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). Two years after the fire, paulownia had invaded the burned areas but not at significantly higher densities than occurred in the unburned areas. Fire significantly reduced the number of regenerating stems of white oak and red maple two years after the fire, whereas the number of regenerating stems of red oak increased slightly and that of yellow-poplar increased significantly. In areas where paulownia occurred that experienced wildfire, all species studied displayed a reduction in the number of regenerating stems compared to paulownia’s absence in the burn areas. Where paulownia occurred in areas not affected by the wildfire, all the native species studied displayed a reduction in the number of regenerating stems. The average heights of red oak, white oak, and red maple were significantly taller when growing in areas affected by the wildfire due to a more open canopy. However, there was no significant change in the average heights of yellow-poplar. The presence of paulownia in both the burned and unburned areas reduced the number of regenerating stems of the native species studied. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Wildfire on Biodiversity)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Effects of Wildfire on Biodiversity

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (13 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI