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Search Results (411)

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Keywords = forest fire disturbance

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23 pages, 7350 KiB  
Article
Mechanisms of Spatial Coupling Between Plantation Species Distribution and Historical Disturbance in the Complex Topography of Eastern Yunnan
by Xiyu Zhang, Chao Zhang and Lianjin Fu
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(17), 2925; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17172925 - 22 Aug 2025
Abstract
Forest disturbance is a major driver shaping the structure and function of plantation ecosystems. Current research predominantly focuses on single forest types or landscape scales. However, species-level fine-scale assessments of disturbance dynamics are still scarce. In this study, we investigated Chinese fir ( [...] Read more.
Forest disturbance is a major driver shaping the structure and function of plantation ecosystems. Current research predominantly focuses on single forest types or landscape scales. However, species-level fine-scale assessments of disturbance dynamics are still scarce. In this study, we investigated Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata), Armand pine (Pinus armandii), and Yunnan pine (Pinus yunnanensis) plantations in the mountainous eastern Yunnan Plateau. We developed a Spatial Coupling Framework of Disturbance Legacy (SC-DL) to systematically elucidate the spatial associations between contemporary species distribution patterns and historical disturbance regimes. Using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, we reconstructed pixel-level disturbance trajectories by integrating long-term Landsat time series (1993–2024) and applying the LandTrendr algorithm. By fusing multi-source remote sensing features (Sentinel-1/2) with terrain factors, employing RFE, and performing a multi-model comparison, we generated 10 m-resolution species distribution maps for 2024. Spatial overlay analysis quantified the cumulative proportion of the historically disturbed area and the spatial aggregation patterns of historical disturbances within current species ranges. Key results include the following: (1) The model predicting disturbance year achieved high accuracy (R2 = 0.95, RMSE = 2.02 years, MAE = 1.15 years). The total disturbed area from 1993 to 2024 was 872.7 km2, exhibiting three distinct phases. (2) The random forest (RF) model outperformed other classifiers, achieving an overall accuracy (OA) of 95.17% and a Kappa coefficient (K) of 0.93. Elevation was identified as the most discriminative feature. (3) Significant spatial differentiation in disturbance types emerged: anthropogenic disturbances (e.g., logging and reforestation/afforestation) dominated (63.1% of total disturbed area), primarily concentrated within Chinese fir zones (constituting 70.2% of disturbances within this species’ range). Natural disturbances accounted for 36.9% of the total, with fire dominating within the Yunnan pine range (79.3% of natural disturbances in this zone) and drought prevailing in the Armand pine range (71.3% of natural disturbances in this zone). (4) Cumulative disturbance characteristics differed markedly among species zones: Chinese fir zones exhibited the highest cumulative proportion of disturbed area (42.6%), with strong spatial aggregation. Yunnan pine zones followed (36.5%), exhibiting disturbances linearly distributed along dry–hot valleys. Armand pine zones showed the lowest proportion (20.9%), characterized by sparse disturbances within fragmented, high-altitude habitats. These spatial patterns reflect the combined controls of topographic adaptation, management intensity, and environmental stress. Our findings establish a scientific basis for identifying disturbance-prone areas and inform the development of differentiated precision management strategies for plantations. Full article
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21 pages, 5608 KiB  
Article
Wildfires and Climate Change as Key Drivers of Forest Carbon Flux Variations in Africa over the Past Two Decades
by Lianglin Zhang and Zhenke Zhang
Fire 2025, 8(8), 333; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8080333 - 20 Aug 2025
Viewed by 232
Abstract
Forests play a vital role in the global carbon cycle; however, the carbon sink capacity of African forests is increasingly threatened by wildfires, rising temperatures, and ecological degradation. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest carbon fluxes across Africa from 2001 to [...] Read more.
Forests play a vital role in the global carbon cycle; however, the carbon sink capacity of African forests is increasingly threatened by wildfires, rising temperatures, and ecological degradation. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest carbon fluxes across Africa from 2001 to 2023, based on multi-source remote sensing and climate datasets. The results show that wildfires have significantly disrupted Africa’s carbon balance over the past two decades. From 2001 to 2023, fire activity was most intense in the woodland–savanna transition zones of Central and Southern Africa. In countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Mozambique, and Zambia, each recorded burned areas exceeding 500,000 km2, along with high recurrence rates (e.g., up to 0.7584 fires per year in South Sudan). These fire-affected regions often exhibited high ecological sensitivity and carbon density, which led to pronounced disturbances in carbon fluxes. Nevertheless, the Democratic Republic of the Congo maintained an average annual net carbon sink of 74.2 MtC, indicating a high potential for ecological recovery. In contrast, Liberia and Eswatini exhibited net carbon emissions in fire-affected areas, suggesting weaker ecosystem resilience. These findings underscore the urgent need to incorporate wildfire disturbances into forest carbon management and climate mitigation strategies. In addition, climate variables such as temperature and soil moisture also influence carbon fluxes, although their effects display substantial spatial heterogeneity. On average, a 1 °C increase in temperature leads to an additional 0.347 (±1.243) Mt CO2 in emissions, while a 1% increase in soil moisture enhances CO2 removal by 1.417 (±8.789) Mt. However, compared to wildfires, the impacts of these climate drivers are slower and more spatially variable. Full article
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11 pages, 2092 KiB  
Article
Regeneration and Herbivory Across Multiple Forest Types Within a Megafire Burn Scar
by Devri A. Tanner, Kordan Kildew, Noelle Zenger, Benjamin W. Abbott, Neil Hansen, Richard A. Gill and Samuel B. St. Clair
Fire 2025, 8(8), 323; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8080323 - 14 Aug 2025
Viewed by 368
Abstract
Human activities are increasing the occurrence of megafires that alter ecological dynamics in forest ecosystems. The objective of this study was to understand the impacts of a 610 km2 megafire on patterns of tree regeneration and herbivory across three forest types (aspen/fir, [...] Read more.
Human activities are increasing the occurrence of megafires that alter ecological dynamics in forest ecosystems. The objective of this study was to understand the impacts of a 610 km2 megafire on patterns of tree regeneration and herbivory across three forest types (aspen/fir, oak/maple, and pinyon/juniper). Seventeen transect pairs in adjacent burned/unburned forest stands (6 aspen/fir, 5 oak/maple, and 6 pinyon/juniper) were measured. Sapling density, meristem removal, and height were measured across the transect network over a three-year period from 2019 to 2021. Tree species able to resprout from surviving roots (oak and aspen) generally responded positively to fire while species that typically regenerate by seeding showed little post-fire regeneration. Browse pressure was concentrated on deciduous tree species and was greater in burned areas but the effect diminished over the three-year study period. Meristem removal by herbivores was below the critical threshold, resulting in vertical growth over time. Our results indicate that forest regeneration within the megafire scar was generally positive and experienced sustainable levels of ungulate browsing that were likely to result in forest recruitment success. Full article
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7 pages, 1359 KiB  
Article
Using Count Regression to Investigate Millennial-Scale Vegetation and Fire Response from Multiple Sites Across the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA
by Jennifer Watt, Brian F. Codding, Jordin Hartley, Carlie Murphy and Andrea Brunelle
Fire 2025, 8(8), 321; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8080321 - 14 Aug 2025
Viewed by 427
Abstract
The Northern Rocky Mountains, USA contain a vast forested landscape, managed primarily by the federal government. This region contains some of the highest elevations forests and most iconic endangered and threatened species in the contiguous United States. The influence of human impacts and [...] Read more.
The Northern Rocky Mountains, USA contain a vast forested landscape, managed primarily by the federal government. This region contains some of the highest elevations forests and most iconic endangered and threatened species in the contiguous United States. The influence of human impacts and climate change are evident on the landscape today, with larger and more frequent fires impacting vegetation composition and recovery. This project uses paleoecological data from six lake sediment cores to investigate what drives fire across this region over the Holocene. Count regression was used to predict charcoal influx as a function of Pinus pollen accumulation rates (PAR) and percent. The results show that fire activity increases significantly with Pinus pollen, and that baseline fire activity varies significantly across sites, largely following an elevation gradient. The results of this analysis illustrate a novel way to use paleoecological data to provide valuable information to federal agencies as they prepare for future management of these ecologically valuable areas. Full article
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26 pages, 9324 KiB  
Article
Effects of Prescribed Burning on Species Diversity of Understory in Pinus yunnanensis Forests of Southwestern China
by Xiaona Li, Yinxixue Pan, Huiping Pan, Han Yang, Ailing Yang, Jin Wang, Yuanjie Xu and Qiuhua Wang
Forests 2025, 16(8), 1312; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081312 - 12 Aug 2025
Viewed by 320
Abstract
The Pinus yunnanensis forest of southwestern China represents a unique and ecologically critical vegetation type, historically shaped by fire disturbances. To mitigate catastrophic wildfire risks, prescribed burning has been widely implemented as a management tool in these ecosystems. However, its effects on plant [...] Read more.
The Pinus yunnanensis forest of southwestern China represents a unique and ecologically critical vegetation type, historically shaped by fire disturbances. To mitigate catastrophic wildfire risks, prescribed burning has been widely implemented as a management tool in these ecosystems. However, its effects on plant community structure and biodiversity remain insufficiently quantified. To investigate the specific changes in plant community characteristics caused by prescribed burning, this study was conducted in the Pinus yunnanensis forest in Zhaobi Hill, Xinping county. Our results revealed that prescribed burning induced differential effects on understory communities while exerting negligible effects on canopy tree composition. In the shrub layer, the number of shrub species decreased from 26 to 20, accompanied by a complete extirpation of arboreal saplings. Dominance hierarchies shifted markedly, transitioning from Lithocarpus mairei and Pinus yunnanensis regeneration cohorts in unburned plots to fire-adapted species Duhaldea cappa and Craibiodendron stellatum. Concomitantly, the average height of shrubs had a significant reduction in burning plots. Contrastingly, the number of herb species increased from 30 to 37 in burning plots, with non-significant alterations in abundance, height, and importance values. Prescribed burning significantly decreases the α species diversity of shrubs, but only has minimal effects on the α species diversity indices of herbs. Overall, prescribed burning appears to be the primary factor affecting the species diversity index of shrubs, while altitude, forest structure, and soil nutrient content exert greater influences on the species diversity index of the herbaceous layer. Prescribed burning was the dominant factor shaping the community structure and species diversity of the shrub layer, and the missing saplings of trees in the shrub layer might influence future forest succession in the long term. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)
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25 pages, 11022 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Structural Differences in a Low-Stature Mediterranean-Type Shrubland Using Structure-From-Motion (SfM)
by Ramesh Bhatta, Manisha Das Chaity, Robert Ormal Chancia, Jasper Slingsby, Glenn Moncrieff and Jan van Aardt
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(16), 2784; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17162784 - 11 Aug 2025
Viewed by 338
Abstract
Structural traits of vegetation, derived from the three-dimensional distribution of plant elements, are closely linked to ecosystem functions such as productivity and habitat provision. While extensively studied in forest ecosystems, these traits remain understudied in low-stature systems such as Mediterranean-type shrublands. In this [...] Read more.
Structural traits of vegetation, derived from the three-dimensional distribution of plant elements, are closely linked to ecosystem functions such as productivity and habitat provision. While extensively studied in forest ecosystems, these traits remain understudied in low-stature systems such as Mediterranean-type shrublands. In this study we explore the use of structural metrics derived from small unmanned aerial system (UAS)-based 3D point clouds, generated using the structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry technique, to assess post-fire vegetation structure and biodiversity in the fynbos biome of the Cape Floristic Region (CFR), South Africa. Fynbos is a fire-adapted shrubland that represents nearly 80% of plant species in the CFR, making post-disturbance monitoring critical for conservation. We extracted three structural metrics—canopy height, top rugosity, and surface gap ratio—and achieved ~85% accuracy in classifying 5 × 5 m subplots by burn year using a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), with canopy height as the strongest predictor. Additionally, top rugosity and gap ratio significantly contributed to modeling percentage cover-based species diversity. Our findings demonstrate that UAS-derived structural metrics provide valuable information for characterizing vegetation recovery and biodiversity patterns in low-stature, fire-prone ecosystems. This approach can support ecological monitoring and inform conservation strategies in Mediterranean-type shrublands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Ecological Remote Sensing)
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15 pages, 1685 KiB  
Article
Wildfires and Palm Species Response in a Terra Firme Amazonian Social Forest
by Tinayra T. A. Costa, Vynicius B. Oliveira, Maria Fabíola Barros, Fernando W. C. Andrade, Marcelo Tabarelli and Ima C. G. Vieira
Forests 2025, 16(8), 1271; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081271 - 3 Aug 2025
Viewed by 446
Abstract
Tropical forests continue to experience high levels of habitat loss and degradation, with wildfires becoming a frequent component of human-modified landscapes. Here we investigate the response of palm species to the conversion of old-growth forests to successional mosaics, including forest patches burned during [...] Read more.
Tropical forests continue to experience high levels of habitat loss and degradation, with wildfires becoming a frequent component of human-modified landscapes. Here we investigate the response of palm species to the conversion of old-growth forests to successional mosaics, including forest patches burned during wildfires. Palms (≥50 cm height) were recorded once in 2023–2024, across four habitat classes: terra firme old-growth stands, regenerating forest stands associated with slash-and-burn agriculture, old-growth stands burned once and twice, and active cassava fields, in the Tapajós-Arapiuns Extractive Reserve, in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. The flammability of palm leaf litter and forest litter were also examined to assess the potential connections between palm proliferation and wildfires. A total of 10 palm species were recorded in this social forest (including slash-and-burn agriculture and resulting successional mosaics), with positive, negative, and neutral responses to land use. Species richness did not differ among forest habitats, but absolute palm abundance was greatest in disturbed habitats. Only Attalea spectabilis Mart. (curuá) exhibited increased relative abundance across disturbed habitats, including active cassava field. Attalea spectabilis accounted for almost 43% of all stems in the old-growth forest, 89% in regenerating forests, 90% in burned forests, and 79% in crop fields. Disturbed habitats supported a five-to-ten-fold increment in curuá leaves as a measure of habitat flammability. Although curuá litter exhibited lower flame temperature and height, its lower carbon and higher volatile content is expected to be more sensitive to fire ignition and promote the spread of wildfires. The conversion of old-growth forests into social forests promotes the establishment of palm-dominated forests, increasing the potential for a forest transition further fueled by wildfires, with effects on forest resilience and social reproduction still to be understood. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecosystem-Disturbance Interactions in Forests)
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16 pages, 2720 KiB  
Communication
Wildland and Forest Fire Emissions on Federally Managed Land in the United States, 2001–2021
by Coeli M. Hoover and James E. Smith
Forests 2025, 16(8), 1205; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081205 - 22 Jul 2025
Viewed by 339
Abstract
In the United States, ecosystems regularly experience wildfires and as fire seasons lengthen, fires are becoming a more important disturbance. While all types of disturbance have impacts on the carbon cycle, fires result in immediate emissions into the atmosphere. To assist managers in [...] Read more.
In the United States, ecosystems regularly experience wildfires and as fire seasons lengthen, fires are becoming a more important disturbance. While all types of disturbance have impacts on the carbon cycle, fires result in immediate emissions into the atmosphere. To assist managers in assessing wildland fire impacts, particularly on federally managed land, we developed estimates of area burned and related emissions for a 21-year period. These estimates are based on wildland fires defined by the interagency Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity database; emissions are simulated through the Wildland Fire Emissions Inventory System; and the classification of public land is performed according to the US Geological Survey’s Protected Areas Database of the United States. Wildland fires on federal land contributed 62 percent of all annual CO2 emissions from wildfires in the United States between 2001 and 2021. During this period, emissions from the forest fire subset of wildland fires ranged from 328 Tg CO2 in 2004 to 37 Tg CO2 in 2001. While forest fires averaged 38 percent of burned area, they represent the majority—59 to 89 percent of annual emissions—relative to fires in all ecosystems, including non-forest. Wildland fire emissions on land belonging to the federal government accounted for 44 to 77 percent of total annual fire emissions for the entire United States. Land managed by three federal agencies—the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Fish and Wildlife Service—accounted for 93 percent of fire emissions from federal land over the course of the study period, but year-to-year contributions varied. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Natural Hazards and Risk Management)
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16 pages, 2417 KiB  
Communication
Owl Habitat Use and Diets After Fire and Salvage Logging
by Angelina J. Kelly, Frank I. Doyle and Karen E. Hodges
Fire 2025, 8(7), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8070281 - 16 Jul 2025
Viewed by 654
Abstract
Megafires are transforming western boreal forests, and many burned forests are salvage logged, removing more structure from landscapes and delaying forest regeneration. We studied forest-dwelling owls in a post-fire and salvage-logged landscape in central British Columbia, Canada, in 2018–2019 after the 2010 Meldrum [...] Read more.
Megafires are transforming western boreal forests, and many burned forests are salvage logged, removing more structure from landscapes and delaying forest regeneration. We studied forest-dwelling owls in a post-fire and salvage-logged landscape in central British Columbia, Canada, in 2018–2019 after the 2010 Meldrum Creek Fire and the 2017 Hanceville Fire. We examined owl habitat selection via call surveys compared to the habitats available in this landscape. Owl pellets were dissected to determine owl diets. We detected six owl species, of which Northern Saw-whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus) were the most common. Owls had weak and variable habitat selection within an 800 m radius of detections; all species used some burned area. Great Gray Owls (Strix nebulosa) and Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginanus) obtained more prey from mature forests (e.g., red-backed voles, Myodes gapperi, snowshoe hares, Lepus americanus) than other owls did, whereas other owls primarily consumed small mammals that were common in burned or salvaged areas. These results indicate a diverse community of owls can use landscapes within a decade after wildfire, potentially with some prey switching to take advantage of prey that use disturbed habitats. Despite that, owl numbers were low and some owls consumed prey that were not available in salvage-logged areas, suggesting that impacts on owls were more severe from the combination of fire and salvage logging than from fire alone. Full article
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17 pages, 36560 KiB  
Article
Comparative Calculation of Spectral Indices for Post-Fire Changes Using UAV Visible/Thermal Infrared and JL1 Imagery in Jinyun Mountain, Chongqing, China
by Juncheng Zhu, Yijun Liu, Xiaocui Liang and Falin Liu
Forests 2025, 16(7), 1147; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16071147 - 11 Jul 2025
Viewed by 257
Abstract
This study used Jilin-1 satellite data and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-collected visible-thermal infrared imagery to calculate twelve spectral indices and evaluate their effectiveness in distinguishing post-fire forest areas and identifying human-altered land-cover changes in Jinyun Mountain, Chongqing. The research goals included mapping wildfire [...] Read more.
This study used Jilin-1 satellite data and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-collected visible-thermal infrared imagery to calculate twelve spectral indices and evaluate their effectiveness in distinguishing post-fire forest areas and identifying human-altered land-cover changes in Jinyun Mountain, Chongqing. The research goals included mapping wildfire impacts with M-statistic separability, measuring land-cover distinguishability through Jeffries–Matusita (JM) distance analysis, classifying land-cover types using the random forest (RF) algorithm, and verifying classification accuracy. Cumulative human disturbances—such as land clearing, replanting, and road construction—significantly blocked the natural recovery of burn scars, and during long-term human-assisted recovery periods over one year, the Red Green Blue Index (RGBI), Green Leaf Index (GLI), and Excess Green Index (EXG) showed high classification accuracy for six land-cover types: road, bare soil, deadwood, bamboo, broadleaf, and grass. Key accuracy measures showed producer accuracy (PA) > 0.8, user accuracy (UA) > 0.8, overall accuracy (OA) > 90%, and a kappa coefficient > 0.85. Validation results confirmed that visible-spectrum indices are good at distinguishing photosynthetic vegetation, thermal bands help identify artificial surfaces, and combined thermal-visible indices solve spectral confusion in deadwood recognition. Spectral indices provide high-precision quantitative evidence for monitoring post-fire land-cover changes, especially under human intervention, thus offering important data support for time-based modeling of post-fire forest recovery and improvement of ecological restoration plans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildfire Behavior and the Effects of Climate Change in Forests)
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23 pages, 5328 KiB  
Article
TSSA-NBR: A Burned Area Extraction Method Based on Time-Series Spectral Angle with Full Spectral Shape
by Dongyi Liu, Yonghua Qu, Xuewen Yang and Qi Zhao
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(13), 2283; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17132283 - 3 Jul 2025
Viewed by 422
Abstract
Wildfires threaten ecosystems, biodiversity, and human livelihood while exacerbating climate change. Accurate identification and monitoring of burned areas (BA) are critical for effective post-fire recovery and management. Although satellite multi-spectral imagery offers a practical solution for BA monitoring, existing methods often prioritize specific [...] Read more.
Wildfires threaten ecosystems, biodiversity, and human livelihood while exacerbating climate change. Accurate identification and monitoring of burned areas (BA) are critical for effective post-fire recovery and management. Although satellite multi-spectral imagery offers a practical solution for BA monitoring, existing methods often prioritize specific spectral bands while neglecting full spectral shape information, which encapsulates overall spectral characteristics. This limitation compromises adaptability to diverse vegetation types and environmental conditions, particularly across varying spatial scales. To address these challenges, we propose the time-series spectral-angle-normalized burn index (TSSA-NBR). This unsupervised BA extraction method integrates normalized spectral angle and normalized burn ratio (NBR) to leverage full spectral shape and temporal features derived from Sentinel-2 time-series data. Seven globally distributed study areas with diverse climatic conditions and vegetation types were selected to evaluate the method’s adaptability and scalability. Evaluations compared Sentinel-2-derived BA with moderate-resolution products and high-resolution PlanetScope-derived BA, focusing on spatial scale and methodological performance. TSSA-NBR achieved a Dice Coefficient (DC) of 87.81%, with commission (CE) and omission errors (OE) of 8.52% and 15.58%, respectively, demonstrating robust performance across all regions. Across diverse land cover types, including forests, grasslands, and shrublands, TSSA-NBR exhibited high adaptability, with DC values ranging from 0.53 to 0.97, CE from 0.03 to 0.27, and OE from 0.02 to 0.61. The method effectively captured fire scars and outperformed band-specific and threshold-dependent approaches by integrating spectral shape features with fire indices, establishing a data-driven framework for BA detection. These results underscore its potential for fire monitoring and broader applications in detecting surface anomalies and environmental disturbances, advancing global ecological monitoring and management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Ecological Remote Sensing)
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21 pages, 2738 KiB  
Article
Effects of Fire on Soil Bacterial Communities and Nitrogen Cycling Functions in Greater Khingan Mountains Larch Forests
by Yang Shu, Wenjie Jia, Pengwu Zhao, Mei Zhou and Heng Zhang
Forests 2025, 16(7), 1094; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16071094 - 2 Jul 2025
Viewed by 417
Abstract
Investigating the effects of fire disturbance on soil microbial diversity and nitrogen cycling is crucial for understanding the mechanisms underlying soil nitrogen cycling. This study examined the fire burn site of the Larix gmelinii forest in the Greater Khingan Mountains, Inner Mongolia, to [...] Read more.
Investigating the effects of fire disturbance on soil microbial diversity and nitrogen cycling is crucial for understanding the mechanisms underlying soil nitrogen cycling. This study examined the fire burn site of the Larix gmelinii forest in the Greater Khingan Mountains, Inner Mongolia, to analyze the impact of varying fire intensities on soil nitrogen, microbial communities, and the abundance of nitrogen cycle-related functional genes after three years. The results indicated the following findings: (1) Soil bulk density increased significantly following severe fires (7.06%~10.84%, p < 0.05), whereas soil water content decreased with increasing fire intensity (6.62%~19.42%, p < 0.05). The soil total nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen levels declined after heavy fires but increased after mild fires; (2) Mild fire burning significantly increased soil bacterial diversity, while heavy fire had a lesser effect. Dominant bacterial groups included Xanthobacteraceae, norank_o_norank_c_AD3, and norank_o_Elsterales. Norank_o_norank_c_AD3 abundance decreased with burn intensity (7.90% unburned, 3.02% mild fire, 2.70% heavy fire). Conversely, norank_o_Elsterales increased with burning (1.23% unburned, 5.66% mild fire, 5.48% heavy fire); (3) The abundance of nitrogen-fixing nifH functional genes decreased with increasing fire intensity, whereas nitrification functional genes amoA-AOA and amoA-AOB exhibited the opposite trend. Light-intensity fires increased the abundance of denitrification functional genes nirK, nirS, and nosZ, while heavy fires reduced their abundance; (4) The correlation analysis demonstrated a strong association between soil bacteria and denitrification functional genes nifH and amoA-AOA, with soil total nitrogen being a key factor influencing the nitrogen cycle-related functional genes. The primary bacterial groups involved in soil nitrogen cycling were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Chloroflexi. These findings play a critical role in promoting vegetation regeneration and rapid ecosystem restoration in fire-affected areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Soil)
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14 pages, 1640 KiB  
Article
Ecological Drivers and Community Perceptions: Conservation Challenges for the Critically Endangered Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) in Jalthal Forest, Eastern Nepal
by Kamala Limbu, Asmit Subba, Nishan Limbu, Laxman Khanal and Randall C. Kyes
Diversity 2025, 17(7), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070458 - 28 Jun 2025
Viewed by 2905
Abstract
The elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), a Critically Endangered (CR) species, faces numerous threats across its range. Yet, the ecological and anthropogenic factors affecting its conservation in fragmented habitats remain poorly understood. This study integrated field surveys and community questionnaires to assess [...] Read more.
The elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), a Critically Endangered (CR) species, faces numerous threats across its range. Yet, the ecological and anthropogenic factors affecting its conservation in fragmented habitats remain poorly understood. This study integrated field surveys and community questionnaires to assess the distribution drivers and local perceptions, such as attitudes, knowledge, conservation practices, and perceived threats, in the Jalthal Forest, one of the last remnants of suitable habitat for the elongated tortoise in eastern Nepal. Using ArcMap, we established 138 randomly selected grids (500 m × 500 m) to evaluate the environmental covariates of tortoise occurrence and anthropogenic pressures. Generalized linear models revealed that tortoise occurrence was negatively associated with dense ground cover (β = −3.50, p = 0.017) and human disturbance (β = −8.11, p = 0.019). Surveys of local residents from community forest user groups (n = 236 respondents) indicated strong local support for tortoise conservation (69% willing to protect the species). Despite this, the respondents identified persistent threats, including hunting for bushmeat and traditional medicine (74%), habitat degradation (65%), and forest fires. While 60% of the respondents recognized the threatened species status, significant knowledge gaps regarding that status and ongoing illegal exploitation persisted. These findings underscore the need for targeted habitat management, reduced anthropogenic pressures, and community-led initiatives to align local attitudes with conservation actions. This study provides critical baseline data for conserving the elongated tortoise in human-modified landscapes and emphasizes the necessity of integrated ecological and socio-cultural strategies for its long-term survival. Full article
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15 pages, 2224 KiB  
Article
Fire Impact on Diversity and Forest Structure of Castanea sativa Mill. Stands in Managed and Oldfield Areas of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)
by Cristina González-Montelongo, José Zoilo Hernández, Domingo Ríos, María Encarnación Velázquez-Barrera and José Ramón Arévalo
Forests 2025, 16(7), 1062; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16071062 - 26 Jun 2025
Viewed by 454
Abstract
Wildfires are integral to many forest ecosystems, yet their ecological effects are often influenced by historical land use and management. In this study, we assess the short-term impacts of fire and management on Castanea sativa Mill. stands in the fayal-brezal zone of northern [...] Read more.
Wildfires are integral to many forest ecosystems, yet their ecological effects are often influenced by historical land use and management. In this study, we assess the short-term impacts of fire and management on Castanea sativa Mill. stands in the fayal-brezal zone of northern Tenerife (Canary Islands), where traditional agroforestry systems have been widely abandoned. We established 12 transects across four stands: managed-burned, managed-unburned, oldfield-burned, and oldfield-unburned. We analyzed forest structure, understory species richness and composition, and soil nutrient content one year after a large wildfire. Forest structure has primarily been determined by management history, with oldfield plots showing greater tree density, basal area, and basal sprouting. Fire has had a limited effect on tree mortality, affecting ~10% of individuals on average. Understory species richness was significantly higher in managed plots, particularly those affected by fire, suggesting a positive interaction between disturbance and management. Species composition differed significantly among treatments, with Indicator Species Analysis identifying distinct taxa associated with each condition. Fire in oldfield plots led to increased compositional similarity with managed stands, indicating fire’s potential homogenizing effect. Principal Component Analysis of soil nutrients did not reveal clear treatment-related patterns, which was probably due to microenvironmental variability and the short post-fire interval. Overall, our results highlight the dominant role of land-use legacy in structuring these forests, with fire acting as a secondary but influential driver, revealing significant changes in species composition as well as in species richness. These findings have direct relevance for conservation and restoration strategies as well as for maintenance in these stands of Castanea sativa. They should also encourage managers of these protected areas, where land abandonment and fire are increasingly shaping forest dynamics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecosystem-Disturbance Interactions in Forests)
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18 pages, 4244 KiB  
Article
Fire and Logging Decrease Soil CO2 Efflux in Siberian Central Taiga Forests
by Elena A. Kukavskaya, Alexey V. Panov, Anastasia V. Makhnykina and Pavel Y. Groisman
Forests 2025, 16(7), 1057; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16071057 - 25 Jun 2025
Viewed by 304
Abstract
Extensive wildfires and logging have affected the Russian boreal forests in recent decades. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests are widespread in Russia and are one of the most disturbed tree species in Siberia. However, the effects of disturbance on soil CO [...] Read more.
Extensive wildfires and logging have affected the Russian boreal forests in recent decades. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests are widespread in Russia and are one of the most disturbed tree species in Siberia. However, the effects of disturbance on soil CO2 efflux in the vast Siberian forests are still poorly understood. We used the LI 8100A infrared gas analyzer to study changes in soil CO2 efflux into the atmosphere in mature Scots pine forests in the Siberian central taiga five–six years following fires and logging. Measurements of soil CO2 efflux rates were performed on sites where automatic weather stations have been continuously operational since 2022, which gives us temporal patterns of meteorological fluctuations across forests with different disturbance histories. We found significant differences in soil efflux rates depending on the site and disturbance characteristics. In the undisturbed dry lichen-dominated forest, CO2 efflux was 4.8 ± 2.1 µmol m−2 s−1, while in the wet moss-dominated forest it was 2.3 ± 1.3 µmol m−2 s−1, with soil efflux in Sphagnum sp. being twofold of that in feather moss. Both fire and logging significantly reduced CO2 efflux, with a smaller reduction in soil CO2 efflux observed in the moss-dominated plots (5%–40%) compared to the lichen-dominated plots (36%–55%). The soil efflux rate increased exponentially with increasing topsoil temperatures in lichen-dominated Scots pine sites, with disturbed plots showing less dependence compared to undisturbed forest. In the wet moss-dominated Scots pine forest, we found no significant dependence of soil efflux on temperature for all disturbance types. We also found a positive moderate relationship between soil efflux and forest floor depth in both lichen- and moss-dominated Scots pine forests across all the plots studied. Our findings advance the understanding of the effects of fire and logging on the carbon cycle and highlight the importance of accounting for disturbance factors in Earth system models due to changing climate and anthropogenic patterns. Full article
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