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Decadal changes in fire frequencies shift tree communities and functional traits.

Adam F A Pellegrini1,2, Tyler Refsland3, Colin Averill4

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Altered fire regimes significantly impact tree communities, reducing density and basal area. Ecosystem sensitivity to fire varies with climate and species, influencing nutrient cycling and plant traits.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Global Change Biology
  • Forestry

Background:

  • Global change is causing persistent shifts in fire regimes worldwide.
  • Understanding tree community sensitivity to altered fire frequencies is crucial for predicting ecosystem changes.
  • The factors influencing this sensitivity remain poorly understood across diverse ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the overall effects of fire on tree communities.
  • To identify factors controlling tree community sensitivity to multi-decadal fire regime alterations.
  • To examine these effects across savanna and forest ecosystems in tropical and temperate regions.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 29 sites with documented multi-decadal changes in fire frequency.
  • Compared tree stem density and basal area in burned versus unburned plots over 50 years.
  • Analyzed functional traits of trees in relation to soil nutrients and fire frequency.

Main Results:

  • An average fire frequency (one fire every three years) reduced tree stem density by 48% and basal area by 53% over 50 years.
  • The most significant changes were observed in savanna ecosystems and areas with pronounced wet or dry seasons.
  • Frequent burning favored trees with low nitrogen and phosphorus content and efficient nitrogen acquisition via ectomycorrhizal symbioses, indicating fire-driven nutrient impacts.

Conclusions:

  • Tree community responses to altered fire regimes are complex, influenced by climate, vegetation, and fire behavior.
  • The coupling between fire-induced nutrient loss and plant functional traits is a key determinant of tree sensitivity.
  • Predicting future ecosystem structure requires integrating fire characteristics, climate, and plant trait responses.