RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 The footprint of large wildfires on the multifunctionality of fire-prone pine ecosystems is driven by the interaction of fire regime attributes
A1 Fernández Guisuraga, José Manuel
A1 Marcos Porras, Elena María
A1 Calvo Galván, María Leonor
A2 Ecologia
K1 Ecología. Medio ambiente
K1 Ecosystem multifunctionality
K1 Fire recurrence
K1 Fire severity
K1 Maritime pine
K1 Pinus pinaster
K1 Ecosystem functions trade-offs
K1 2417.13 Ecología Vegetal
K1 3106 Ciencia Forestal
AB [EN], BackgroundMediterranean ecosystems dominated by Pinus pinaster Ait. (maritime pine) are subject to a shift from fuel-limited to drought-driven fire regimes, characterized by an increasing wildfire extent, recurrence, and severity. Previous studies have not addressed the interacting effects of fire recurrence and severity on the ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) of maritime pine forests, although complex relationships between such fire regime attributes are expected. Here, we evaluated the medium-term effects of fire recurrence and severity on the EMF response of unmanaged, native pine ecosystems dominated by Pinus pinaster in the western Mediterranean Basin. We considered four key ecosystem functions computed from functional indicators (carbon regulation, decomposition, soil fertility, and plant production), which were pooled into an EMF construct. The fire regime effects on the trade-offs and synergies between the considered ecosystem functions were also analyzed.ResultsMultiple ecosystem functions responded differentially to fire recurrence and severity. Fire recurrence had a strong effect on soil fertility, decomposition, and plant production functions. No significant effects of fire severity on any of the individual functions were detected. However, both fire regime attributes interacted to determine soil fertility and decomposition functions, suggesting that their performance is only impaired by fire severity when fire recurrence is low. The differing responses to the fire regime attributes among ecosystem functions fostered a significant EMF response to fire severity and its interaction with fire recurrence, indicating that the effect of fire severity on EMF was stronger under low fire recurrence scenarios, even when relationships between individual functions and fire severity were weak. Fire recurrence caused significant trade-offs between functions to emerge. However, these trade-offs were not strong enough to differ significantly from the intrinsic trade-offs (i.e., regardless of the fire regime) of maritime pine ecosystems.ConclusionsOur results indicated the need to use an integrative approach to assess the response of ecosystem functioning to the fire regime in maritime pine ecosystems. Adaptive management responses are necessary towards the minimization of repeated burnings and the reduction of the fuel load in unmanaged maritime pine stands of the western Mediterranean Basin with similar characteristics to those analyzed in this study.
PB Springer
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10612/16647
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10612/16647
NO Fernández-Guisuraga, Marcos, E., and Calvo, L. (2023). The footprint of large wildfires on the multifunctionality of fire-prone pine ecosystems is driven by the interaction of fire regime attributes. Fire Ecology, 19, 32. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42408-023-00193-4
DS BULERIA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de León
RD 21-may-2024