Submit to Fire Review for Fire Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Effects of Fires on Forest Ecosystems

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2024) | Viewed by 20848

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Raffaella Lovreglio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Nuoro Forestry School, Department of Agriculture, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Interests: fire; ecology; forest conservation; silviculture; fire ecology; vegetation; forest ecology; ecological restoration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The growing risk of megafires and the loss of diversity and soil degradation, especially in areas with a Mediterranean climate, could be monitored and impacts limited through the application of different forest management strategies. Fire and fire ecology are among the best-studied topics in contemporary ecosystem ecology. Understanding fire effects and underlying principles is critical to reducing the risk of uncharacteristic wildfires and for the proper use of fire as an effective management tool toward management goals. In this context, a Special Issue is suggested which will consider the assessment of post-fire natural regeneration and fire effects, the short/medium-term monitoring of natural regeneration and soil and vegetation treatment techniques, the reproductive capacity of natural regeneration post-fire regeneration in resilient species and the role of forests as a key part of the carbon cycle. This includes different post-fire responses to fires with different degrees of severity, the theoretical and practical concept of forest vulnerability to fire and the consideration of post-fire forest management as a useful tool for the modification of stand structure as well as the optimization of economic return, biodiversity, recreational value and the microenvironment. Clearly, fire can shape ecosystem composition, structure and functions by selecting fire-adapted species and removing other susceptible species, releasing nutrients from the biomass and improving nutrient cycling, affecting soil properties through changing soil microbial activities and water relations, and creating heterogeneous mosaics, which in turn, can further influence fire behavior and ecological processes. Fire as a destructive force can rapidly consume a large amount of biomass and cause negative impacts such as post-fire soil erosion and water runoff, and air pollution; however, as a constructive force, fire is also responsible for maintaining the health and perpetuity of certain fire-dependent ecosystems. The effects of fire on an ecosystem depend on the fire regime, vegetation type, climate, physical environments and the scale of time and space of assessment. More ecosystem-specific studies are needed in the future, especially those focusing on temporal and spatial variations of fire effects through long-term experimental monitoring and modeling.

This Special Issue aims to collect the most interesting scientific contributions in the context of a broad and fundamental research topic to apply post-fire restoration and recovery techniques in areas heavily damaged by fire. Original research articles and reviews are welcome in this Special Issue. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Ecology;
Fire ecology;
Forestry, Hydraulic forestry management;
Restoration and recovery of the post-fire vegetation-soil system.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Raffaella Lovreglio
Guest Editor

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

fire
effects of fire
post fire impacts
fire damage on vegetation and soil
recovery and post fire restoration

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (14 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

19 pages, 5918 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Attica: A Hot Spot for Forest Fires in Greece

by Margarita Arianoutsou, George Athanasakis, Dimitrios Kazanis and Anastasia Christopoulou

Fire 2024, 7(12), 467; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7120467 - 6 Dec 2024

Viewed by 492

Abstract

(1) Background: Forest fires are widespread in Mediterranean-climate regions and are becoming very common in urban and peri-urban areas. (2) Methods: Wildfires in Attica since 1977 are mapped and types of vegetation burned are reported. (3) Results: Fires are becoming larger. During the period of study (1977–2024), 45% of the burned area was covered with Pinus halepensis forests, 1.4% with Abies cephalonica forests, and 18.5% with shrublands. A relatively high percentage of the burned area (BA) affected more than once consisted of pine forests (65%). Ten percent of the total BA lies within the boundaries of the Natura 2000 network, Europe’s most important network of protected areas, of which 38.9% was burned. At the interannual scale, the BA in Attica is negatively correlated with relative humidity, while reduced precipitation may contribute to the expansion of wildfires. (4) Conclusions: Fires are becoming larger over time, with low humidity increasing the higher fire risk. Since the changing climate is expected to create more severe and uncontrollable conditions, mitigation and adaptation measures should be planned and be introduced immediately. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Fires on Forest Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1072 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using Paleoecological Methods to Study Long-Term Disturbance Patterns in High-Elevation Whitebark Pine Ecosystems

by Jordin Hartley, Jennifer Watt and Andrea Brunelle

Fire 2024, 7(11), 411; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7110411 - 12 Nov 2024

Viewed by 547

Abstract

Pinus albicaulis (whitebark pine) is a keystone species, providing food and habitat to wildlife, in high-elevation ecological communities. In recent years, this important species has been negatively impacted by changes in fire regimes, increased Dendroctonus ponderosae (mountain pine beetle) outbreaks associated with human landscape and climate modification, and the continued impact of the non-native Cronartium ribicola (white pine blister rust). This research investigates changes in fire occurrence, the establishment of Pinus albicaulis, and fuel availability at a high-elevation site in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho, USA. Charcoal and pollen analyses were used to reconstruct fire and vegetation patterns for Phyllis Lake, Idaho, USA, over the past ~8200 cal y BP. We found that significant fire episodes occurred when the pollen accumulation rates (PARs) indicated more arboreal fuel availability, and we identified that Pinus albicaulis became well established at the site ~7200 cal y BP. The high-elevation nature of Phyllis Lake (2800 m) makes this record unique, as there are not many paleorecords at this high elevation from the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA. Additional high-elevation sites in Pinus albicaulis habitats will provide critical insight into the long-term dynamics of this threatened species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Fires on Forest Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 5986 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Role of Forest Grazing in Reducing Fire Severity: A Mitigation Strategy

by Raffaella Lovreglio, Julian Lovreglio, Gabriele Giuseppe Antonio Satta, Marco Mura and Antonio Pulina

Fire 2024, 7(11), 409; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7110409 - 8 Nov 2024

Viewed by 1045

Abstract

This study investigates the role of prescribed grazing as a sustainable fire prevention strategy in Mediterranean ecosystems, with a focus on Sardinia, an area highly susceptible to wildfires. Using FlamMap simulation software, we modeled fire behavior across various grazing and environmental conditions to assess the impact of grazing on fire severity indicators such as flame length, rate of spread, and fireline intensity. Results demonstrate that grazing can reduce fire severity by decreasing combustible biomass, achieving reductions of 25.9% in fire extent in wet years, 60.9% in median years, and 45.8% in dry years. Grazed areas exhibited significantly lower fire intensity, particularly under high canopy cover. These findings support the integration of grazing into fire management policies, highlighting its efficacy as a nature-based solution. However, the study’s scope is limited to small biomass fuels (1-h fuels); future research should extend to larger fuel classes to enhance the generalizability of prescribed grazing as a fire mitigation tool. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Fires on Forest Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 4204 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Drivers of Pinus halepensis Plant Community Structure across a Post-Fire Chronosequence

by Dimitris Kazanis, Sofie Spatharis, Giorgos D. Kokkoris, Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos and Margarita Arianoutsou

Fire 2024, 7(9), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7090331 - 22 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1317

Abstract

The Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) forests prevailing in the western part of the Mediterranean Basin are amongst the most severely affected by fire due to their inherent flammability. Our understanding of the environmental factors driving post-fire community dynamics is currently limited by the lack of time-series data at temporal scales. In this present study, we analyzed a chronosequence of Greek Aleppo pine forests spanning a post-fire period of 65 years. Our goal is to explore the role of post-fire age, altitude, exposure, slope level, parent-rock material, rock cover, and cover of evergreen sclerophyllous shrubs (maquis) on plant assemblage diversity (species richness and Menhinick’s diversity index) and composition. Post-fire age had a significant effect on taxonomic distinctness and community turnover but not on species richness. Taxonomic distinctness increased with post-fire age due to a higher prevalence of the families Fabaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae during the early post-fire period. Maquis cover was significantly associated with Menhinick’s diversity index, taxonomic distinctness, and community turnover. Exposure and slope influenced only Menhinick’s diversity index. The turnover in species composition was primarily driven by the geographical proximity of the forests and secondarily by post-fire age and the maquis cover. This highlights the importance of the initial floristic composition in the process of autosuccession after a fire in Mediterranean-climate ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Fires on Forest Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 2325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wildfire Effects on the Soil Respiration and Bacterial Microbiota Composition in Mediterranean-Type Ecosystems

by Panagiotis Dalias, Eleftherios Hadjisterkotis, Michalis Omirou, Ourania Michaelidou, Ioannis M. Ioannides, Damianos Neocleous and Anastasis Christou

Fire 2024, 7(7), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7070213 - 26 Jun 2024

Viewed by 1430

Abstract

This work provides insights into the effect of fire on soil processes in Mediterranean-type ecosystems in Cyprus. Soil samples from mountainous sites that were subjected to a summer wildfire and adjacent control samples were collected. Incubations were used to estimate basal respiration and isolate soil CO₂ release of heterotrophic microorganisms from autotrophic root respiration and heterotrophic respiration from litter decomposition. Physicochemical property changes, bacteria community changes using DNA extraction and 16S rRNA gene analysis, and the effects of ash and fresh litter addition were studied to reveal the microbial composition and the post-fire soil function. Laboratory incubation showed that burned soils constantly showed higher microbial respiration rates compared with control unburned areas, even six months after a fire. Adding ash to unburned samples increased microbial respiration, suggesting that increased nutrient availability positively corelates with the increased release of CO₂ from fire-affected soil. Elevated temperatures due to the wildfire exerted significant effects on the composition of soil bacterial microbiota. Nevertheless, the wildfire did not affect the alpha-diversity of soil bacteria. New communities of microorganisms are still able to decompose fresh plant material after a fire, but at a slower rate than natural pre-fire populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Fires on Forest Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 6901 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fires and Clear-Cuttings as Local Areas of Arthropod Diversity in Polar Regions: Khibiny Mountains

by Irina V. Zenkova, Alla A. Ditts, Irina M. Shtabrovskaya and Anna A. Nekhaeva

Fire 2024, 7(6), 203; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7060203 - 17 Jun 2024

Viewed by 854

Abstract

The well-known phenomenon of attracting untypical animals to disturbed territories has been poorly investigated in the polar mountains. We studied arthropod diversity in self-healing industrial clear-cuts and burn areas in the Khibiny Mountains, Kola Polar region. Fieldworks were conducted at four sites, including a control mountain taiga forest and its three transformed variants: burnt forest, uncleared clear-cut, and twice-disturbed burnt clear-cut. Arthropods were collected using formalin traps 2–3, 5–6, and 8–9 years after industrial deforestation in 2012 and an extensive grass-roots fire in 2013. Out of 124 identified species (spiders—61; ground beetles—41; and rove beetles—22), 79 (or 64%) were collected in disturbed, primarily burned areas and were absent in control forest. We note ten species of rove beetles, nine species of ground beetles, and eight species of spiders for the first time in the well-studied arthropod fauna of the Khibiny Mts. We found that grass-root fires transform the soil vegetation covers in the polar mountain forests more powerfully in comparison with extensive deforestation and attract a greater diversity of arthropods with different preferences, enriching the fauna of the polar mountains and the Subarctic region as a whole. The attraction effect persists for, at least, a decade after the violations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Fires on Forest Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1330 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Promoting Optimal Habitat Availability by Maintaining Fine-Grained Burn Mosaics: A Modelling Study in an Australian Semi-Arid Temperate Woodland

by Ben J. French, Brett P. Murphy and David M. J. S. Bowman

Fire 2024, 7(6), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7060172 - 21 May 2024

Viewed by 1074

Abstract

The pyrodiversity–biodiversity (P–B) hypothesis posits that spatiotemporally variable fire regimes increase wildlife habitat diversity, and that the fine-grained mosaics resulting from small patchy fires enhance biodiversity. This logic underpins the patch mosaic burning (PMB) paradigm and reinforces the benefits of Indigenous fire management, which tends to promote pyrodiversity. However, tests of the P–B hypothesis and PMB paradigm are few. One of the most comprehensive field evaluations—a snapshot study of pre-existing fire mosaics in south-east Australian semi-arid mallee eucalypt woodlands—found little support. To explore the longer-term effects of fire mosaic grain size on habitat availability and biodiversity, we combined published data from the mallee study with a simple fire simulation. We simulated 500 years of landscape burning under different fire sizes. In the resulting mosaics, we assessed the proportional mixture and patch configuration of successional habitat states, then summarised habitat availability through time using a composite index based on the published fire history responses of 22 vertebrate taxa from the mallee study. Small fires formed fine-grained mosaics with a stable habitat mixture and with habitat diversity occurring at fine scales. Large fires formed coarse-grained mosaics with the opposite properties. The fine-grained mosaics maintained optimal habitat availability for vertebrate diversity over 500 years, while the fluctuating habitat mixture in the coarse-grained mosaics was unlikely to maintain maximum vertebrate diversity. Broadly, our results support the P–B hypothesis and justify further field-testing and evaluation of PMB programs to manage both pyrodiversity and biodiversity in the mallee and other flammable landscapes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Fires on Forest Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1343 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Medium-Term Comparative Effects of Prescribed Burning and Mechanical Shredding on Soil Characteristics in Heathland and Shrubland Habitats: Insights from a Protected Natural Area

by Rosa M. Cadenas, Fernando Castedo-Dorado and Luz Valbuena

Fire 2024, 7(5), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7050160 - 5 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1588

Abstract

Parts of the Cantabrian Mountains (N Spain) have been colonized by woody species in the past six or seven decades as a result of a decline in livestock activity and changes in the fire regime. Various management strategies have been used to prevent the expansion of shrubs and recover grassland ecosystems for grazing activities. However, it is not clear how different vegetation treatments affect soils, which are crucial in supporting life and providing nutrients in these ecosystems. The aim of the present study was to compare the dynamics of the physicochemical and biological soil properties after two vegetation treatments: prescribed burning and shredding. Samples were obtained from plots representing alkaline and acidic soils dominated by gorse shrub (Genista hispanica subsp. occidentalis) and heath (Calluna vulgaris) plant communities, respectively. The soil samples were collected immediately before and after the treatments and one and two years later. The level of available P varied depending on the soil pH, and it only increased after the treatments in the acidic soils in the heathland community. The total N and available P concentrations were higher after the prescribed burning, and the enzymatic activity tended to be higher after the shredding treatment. Despite the significant effects on some soil variables, prescribed burning and shredding did not have important short- and medium-term effects on the chemical and soil enzymatic properties. These treatments can therefore be considered sustainable vegetation management tools, at least in the medium term. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Fires on Forest Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 3982 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Short-Interval, High-Severity Wildfire Depletes Diversity of Both Extant Vegetation and Soil Seed Banks in Fire-Tolerant Eucalypt Forests

by Sabine Kasel, Thomas A. Fairman and Craig R. Nitschke

Fire 2024, 7(4), 148; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7040148 - 19 Apr 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2158

Abstract

Many plant species are well-adapted to historical fire regimes. An increase in the severity, frequency, and extent of wildfires could compromise the regenerative capacity of species, resulting in permanent shifts in plant diversity. We surveyed extant vegetation and soil seed banks across two forest types with contrasting historical fire regimes—Shrubby Dry Forest (fire return interval: 10–20 years) and Sub-Alpine Woodland (50–100 years). Over the past 20 years, both forests have been subject to repeated, high-severity wildfires at intervals significantly shorter than their historical return intervals. We examined the soil seed bank response to fire-cued germination, and whether the plant diversity in soil seed banks and extant vegetation demonstrated similar responses to short-interval, high-severity wildfires. The soil seed bank demonstrated a positive response to heat in combination with smoke, and for the Sub-Alpine Woodland, this was limited to sites more frequently burnt by fire. With an increase in fire frequency, there was a decline in species richness and Shannon’s Diversity and a shift in species composition in both extant vegetation and the soil seed bank. The fire frequency effects on the relative richness of trait associations were restricted to the Shrubby Dry Forest, and included an increase in short-lived obligate seeders, wind-dispersed species, and ant-dispersed shrubs in burnt relative to long unburnt sites in both extant vegetation and the soil seed bank. Graminoids were the most abundant component of the soil seed banks of Sub-Alpine Woodlands, and this increased with more frequent fire, with a similar trend (p = 0.06) in extant vegetation. Clear shifts in plant diversity in both soil seed banks and extant vegetation in forest types with contrasting historical fire regimes suggest that emerging fire regimes are pushing ecosystems beyond their historical range of variability, including potentially more flammable states and a decline in the buffering capacity of soil seed banks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Fires on Forest Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 9940 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The House Is Burning: Assessment of Habitat Loss Due to Wildfires in Central Mexico

by Carlos Alberto Mastachi-Loza, Jorge Paredes-Tavares, Rocio Becerril-Piña, María de Lourdes Ruiz-Gómez, Carlos Alejandro Rangel Patiño and Carlos Diaz-Delgado

Fire 2024, 7(4), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7040134 - 12 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1772

Abstract

Fire suppression and climate change have increased the frequency and severity of wildfires, but the responses of many organisms to wildfire are still largely unknown. In this study, we assessed the risk of habitat loss for amphibians, mammals, and reptiles caused by wildfires in central Mexico. We accomplished this by: (1) determining the likelihood of wildfire occurrence over a 12-year period using historical records and the Poisson probability mass function to pinpoint the most susceptible areas to wildfire; (2) evaluating species exposure by identifying natural land use that aligns with the potential distribution areas of biodiversity; (3) assessing species vulnerability based on the classifications established by the IUCN and CONABIO. Our findings have unveiled three regions exhibiting a concentration of high-risk values. Among these, two are positioned near major urban centers, while the third lies in the southeastern sector of the Nevado de Toluca protection area. Amphibians emerged as the taxonomic group most severely impacted, with a substantial number of species falling within the Critically Endangered and Endangered categories, closely followed by mammals and reptiles. Furthermore, we have identified a correlation between the location of risk zones and agricultural areas. This study revealed hotspots that can offer valuable guidance for strategic initiatives in fire-prone regions associated to the potential distribution of amphibians, mammals, and reptiles. Moreover, future studies should contemplate integrating field data to enhance our comprehension of the actual effects of wildfires on the spatial distribution of these animal groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Fires on Forest Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2334 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Tree Density Increases after Fire Exclusion in the Northern Front Range and Great Plains, Colorado, USA

by Brice B. Hanberry, Jacob M. Seidel and Phillip DeLeon

Fire 2024, 7(4), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7040103 - 22 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1373

Abstract

Since Euro-American settlement and associated fire exclusion, grasslands and open forests have converted to forests throughout the United States. Contributing to the weight of evidence, we determined if forestation also occurred in forests and grasslands of Colorado. Our study extent encompassed landscapes of the 0.5 million ha Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in the northern Front Range (eastern side) of the southern Rocky Mountains and the 1 million ha Weld County, which contains Pawnee National Grassland, in the Great Plains grasslands. We quantified tree composition, cover, and densities from historical (years 1863 to 1886) tree surveys, current surveys (2002 to 2011), and land cover (2016) to identify departures. In the Arapaho and Roosevelt, historical lack of tree presence and overall low tree densities suggested an open landscape, due to about 70% of 7134 survey points without two trees within 60 m. The treed landscape, which was not continuously forested, had density estimates of about 153 trees/ha. In contrast, the current landscape was 68% forested with high tree densities; fire-dependent pines decreased relative to subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) increases. In Weld County, seven trees were surveyed historically, whereas currently, woody cover totaled 2555 ha. Uniquely applying historical surveys at landscape scales, we documented an open landscape in the northern Front Range, unlike previous research, and rare tree presence in the relatively understudied grasslands of Colorado. Forestation corresponded with changes in U.S. grasslands and forests following Euro-American settlement and associated fire exclusion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Fires on Forest Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1178 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Interacting Influence of Fire and Tree Characteristics on Douglas-Fir Beetle Host-Tree Selection Five Years Post-Fire

by Matt Young, Michael Remke and Julie Korb

Fire 2024, 7(3), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7030064 - 23 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1689

Abstract

Fire injury stresses Douglas-fir trees (Pseudotsuga menziesii) that survive a wildfire event, allowing subsequent Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae) infection to kill trees that may have otherwise survived. This study aimed to determine how fire injury, stand, and tree characteristics drive Douglas-fir beetle host tree selection five years post-fire. We paired 28 adjacent beetle-infected and uninfected stands (infected N = 14) and 140 Douglas-fir trees (infected N = 70) within the 416 Fire burn area in Southwest Colorado. We found no statistically significant differences between infected and uninfected stand characteristics. Individual tree height, DBH, and bark char severity index were significantly higher in infected versus uninfected trees. We created a regression decision tree model to determine the influence of fire injury and tree characteristics on the probability of infection. Trees with a height ≥ 27 m, bark char height < 2.3 m, and DBH < 80 cm had the greatest probability of attack (100%). Trees with a height < 27 m, bark char severity index < 5.5, and DBH < 49 cm had the lowest probability of attack (3.7%). Understanding the influence of fire on Douglas-fir beetle host selection allows land managers to model potential epidemic outbreaks and guide proactive management actions that may reduce beetle outbreak severity or preserve high-value trees not killed by fire. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Fires on Forest Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 3989 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Birds of the Burn: Avian Community and Functional Guild Variation Five Years Post-Fire in Warm–Dry Mixed Conifer, Southwest Colorado

by Luke A. Scott and Julie E. Korb

Fire 2024, 7(3), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7030062 - 21 Feb 2024

Viewed by 2539

Abstract

Birds contribute to the trophic interactions within mixed conifer ecosystems and provide a suite of services, such as nutrient transport, seed dispersal, habitat creation, and insect regulation. Avian communities vary in response to the structure and composition of their habitat, which may be drastically altered by fire, the predominant disturbance of western mixed conifer forests. We conducted avian point count surveys during the peak breeding season, five years post-fire, across four burn severities (unburned, low, moderate, and high) within the 416 Fire perimeter, a 55,000-acre mixed-severity fire that burned near Durango, Colorado in 2018. Avian communities in each burn severity were evaluated for richness, diversity, differentiation, indicator species, and functional guild composition. Species assemblages were significantly different across all burn severities, excluding the low to moderate areas comparison, with differentiation driven by live tree and snag density. Avian species’ richness and diversity were not significantly different across burn severities, highlighting the importance of utilizing multivariate community analysis. Unburned and high-burn areas had significant variation in functional guilds and numerous indicator species. This study provides evidence of avian community differentiation by burn severity, suggesting that management practices promoting heterogenous stand structure in warm–dry mixed conifer will positively influence avian biodiversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Fires on Forest Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

16 pages, 5519 KiB

Open AccessReview

Current Status of Research on Wildland Fire Impacts on Soil Environment and Soil Organisms and Hotspots Visualization Analysis

by Zhichao Cheng, Song Wu, Dan Wei, Hong Pan, Xiaoyu Fu, Xinming Lu and Libin Yang

Fire 2024, 7(5), 163; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7050163 - 7 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1434

Abstract

Ecosystems are frequently disturbed by fires that have an important impact on the soil environment and the composition of soil organisms. In order to provide a baseline for the current research and identify trends on the effects of wildland fire on soil environment and biological changes, the available literature was identified from the Web of Science database, covering the period from 1998/1998/1999 (the year of the earliest publication in this field) to 2023. A bibliometric analysis was performed and the data were visually displayed for the number of publications, countries, authors, research institutions, and keywords representing research hotspots. Specifically, the effects of wildland fire on the soil environment, on soil microorganisms and on soil fauna were analyzed. The results show that the annual number of publications describing effects of wildland fire on the soil environment and on soil microorganisms are increasing over time, while those describing effects on soil fauna are fewer and their number remains constant. The largest number of papers originate from the United States, with the United States Department of Agriculture as the research institution with the largest output. The three authors with the largest number of publications are Stefan H. Doerr, Manuel Esteban Lucas-Borja and Jan Jacob Keizer. The research hotspots, as identified by keywords, are highly concentrated on wildfire, fire, organic matter, and biodiversity, amongst others. This study comprehensively analyzes the current situation of the research on the effects of wildland fire on changes in the soil environment and organisms, and provides reference for relevant scientific researchers in this trend and future research hotspots. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Fires on Forest Ecosystems)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Effects of Fires on Forest Ecosystems

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (14 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI