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Contrasting effects of low-severity fire on stemflow production between coexisting pine and oak trees
Lei Su1, Liyuan Qi1, Wanlin Zhuang1
1International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecological Restoration, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China.
The Science of the Total Environment
|November 5, 2022
Summary
Low-severity fire significantly impacts forest stemflow. Oak trees showed reduced water funneling, while pine trees slightly increased it, altering water and nutrient transfer post-fire.
Area of Science:
- Forest Ecology
- Hydrology
- Fire Ecology
Background:
- Increasing fire events due to climate change impact forest ecosystems.
- Forest fires alter ecosystem structure and the hydrological cycle.
- The specific effects of fire on stemflow remain understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the short-term effects of low-severity fire on stemflow production.
- To compare the response of stemflow in coniferous (Pinus massoniana) and broadleaved (Quercus acutissima) trees.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a field experiment in a mixed forest ecosystem.
- Assessed stemflow percentage and funneling ratio in burned and unburned sites.
- Analyzed the influence of fire on tree bark morphology and canopy openness.
Main Results:
- Low-severity fire significantly decreased stemflow percentage and funneling ratio in Quercus acutissima.
- Pinus massoniana showed a slight, though not statistically significant, increase in stemflow production post-fire.
- Fire-induced changes in bark texture (oak) and increased canopy openness (pine) influenced stemflow dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Stemflow production responses to fire differ significantly between oak and pine species.
- Reduced stemflow efficiency in burned oak limits water and nutrient transfer to the soil.
- Fire disturbance can affect the post-fire competitiveness of certain tree species like Quercus acutissima.
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