Contemporary Fire Regimes of the Subtropical Everglades.

Abstract

Fire is a fundamental force that shapes ecosystems by influencing vegetation composition, succession, and structural diversity. Fire regimes, defined by fire frequency, intensity, and seasonality, vary across ecosystems and are critical in fire-dependent landscapes. In the Florida Everglades, fire is a key driver of ecological dynamics, interacting with hydrology and the structure of vegetation. This study defines contemporary fire regimes by describing fire patterns from 1978 to 2023, utilizing fire perimeter data from Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. Our findings reveal a highly variable annual burned area with a strong increasing trend. Prescribed fires were the foundation of trends in fire activity, as wildfires remained stable over the study period. Across the Everglades, fire return intervals differed between ecosystems, with upland ecosystems experiencing more frequent fires than wetland ecosystems. Our findings highlight the role of fire management in shaping modern fire regimes and underscore the importance of prescribed burns in maintaining ecosystem function and resilience in the Everglades.