Margot A. Schneider, Geoffrey J. Cary, Elle J. Bowd, Claire N. Foster
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Knowledge of how fire regimes influence flammability, and its role in shaping future fire regimes, exists mostly at species composition and ecosystem levels. The effect of fire regimes on fuel at the chemical level is poorly known.
Aim
We aimed to empirically investigate the association between recent fire history and forest foliage chemistry; and to explore potential implications for forest fuel flammability.
Methods
Using an orthogonal study design, we investigated the effects of fire frequency and time since fire on the chemical composition of Eucalyptus pilularis leaves from forest canopies and surface litter in south-eastern Australia.
Key results
We found high fire frequency (fire-return interval 10–13 years) was associated with higher C:N, C:P, and C:K ratios in E. pilularis surface litter, and higher C:P in canopy leaves.
Conclusions
Nutrients including nitrogen and phosphorous reduce flammability of plant tissues, and hence, the observed differences in leaf nutrients between high and low fire frequency sites could have important implications for future flammability of these forests.
Implications
Our study has demonstrated a relationship between fire frequency and leaf nutrient stoichiometry, which may act as a mechanism through which repeated fires could increase fuel flammability. This warrants further investigation in other environments.
期刊介绍:
International Journal of Wildland Fire publishes new and significant articles that advance basic and applied research concerning wildland fire. Published papers aim to assist in the understanding of the basic principles of fire as a process, its ecological impact at the stand level and the landscape level, modelling fire and its effects, as well as presenting information on how to effectively and efficiently manage fire. The journal has an international perspective, since wildland fire plays a major social, economic and ecological role around the globe.
The International Journal of Wildland Fire is published on behalf of the International Association of Wildland Fire.