Transient Post-Fire Growth Recovery of Two Mediterranean Broadleaf Tree Species
Fires affect forest dynamics in seasonally dry regions such as the Mediterranean Basin. There, fire impacts on tree growth have been widely characterized in conifers, particularly pine species, but we lack information on broadleaf tree species that sprout after fires. We investigated post-fire radia...
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MDPI AG
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Fire |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/7/11/400 |
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| author | J. Julio Camarero Cristina Valeriano Miguel Ortega |
| author_facet | J. Julio Camarero Cristina Valeriano Miguel Ortega |
| author_sort | J. Julio Camarero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fires affect forest dynamics in seasonally dry regions such as the Mediterranean Basin. There, fire impacts on tree growth have been widely characterized in conifers, particularly pine species, but we lack information on broadleaf tree species that sprout after fires. We investigated post-fire radial growth responses in two coexisting Mediterranean hardwood species (the evergreen <i>Quercus ilex</i>, the deciduous <i>Celtis australis</i>) using tree-ring width data. We compared growth data from burnt and unburnt stands of each species subjected to similar climatic, soil and management conditions. We also calculated climate–growth relationships to assess if burnt stands were also negatively impacted by water shortage, which could hinder growth recovery. Tree-ring data of both species allowed us to quantify post-fire growth enhancements of +39.5% and +48.9% in <i>Q. ilex</i> and <i>C. australis</i>, respectively, one year after the fire. Dry spring climate conditions reduced growth, regardless of the fire impact, but high precipitation in the previous winter enhanced growth. High June radiation was negatively related to the growth of unburnt <i>Q. ilex</i> and burnt <i>C. australis</i> stands, respectively. Post-fire growth enhancement lasted for five years after the fire and it was a transitory effect because the growth rates of burnt and unburnt stands were similar afterwards. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e8c9114cfc1e4e789a80c427fbcebd3a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2571-6255 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Fire |
| spelling | doaj-art-e8c9114cfc1e4e789a80c427fbcebd3a2025-08-20T02:28:10ZengMDPI AGFire2571-62552024-10-0171140010.3390/fire7110400Transient Post-Fire Growth Recovery of Two Mediterranean Broadleaf Tree SpeciesJ. Julio Camarero0Cristina Valeriano1Miguel Ortega2Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (IPE-CSIC), Avda. Montañana 1005, 50192 Zaragoza, SpainInstituto Pirenaico de Ecología (IPE-CSIC), Avda. Montañana 1005, 50192 Zaragoza, SpainInstituto Pirenaico de Ecología (IPE-CSIC), Avda. Montañana 1005, 50192 Zaragoza, SpainFires affect forest dynamics in seasonally dry regions such as the Mediterranean Basin. There, fire impacts on tree growth have been widely characterized in conifers, particularly pine species, but we lack information on broadleaf tree species that sprout after fires. We investigated post-fire radial growth responses in two coexisting Mediterranean hardwood species (the evergreen <i>Quercus ilex</i>, the deciduous <i>Celtis australis</i>) using tree-ring width data. We compared growth data from burnt and unburnt stands of each species subjected to similar climatic, soil and management conditions. We also calculated climate–growth relationships to assess if burnt stands were also negatively impacted by water shortage, which could hinder growth recovery. Tree-ring data of both species allowed us to quantify post-fire growth enhancements of +39.5% and +48.9% in <i>Q. ilex</i> and <i>C. australis</i>, respectively, one year after the fire. Dry spring climate conditions reduced growth, regardless of the fire impact, but high precipitation in the previous winter enhanced growth. High June radiation was negatively related to the growth of unburnt <i>Q. ilex</i> and burnt <i>C. australis</i> stands, respectively. Post-fire growth enhancement lasted for five years after the fire and it was a transitory effect because the growth rates of burnt and unburnt stands were similar afterwards.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/7/11/400<i>Celtis australis</i>dendroecologyfire scar<i>Quercus ilex</i>post-fire recoveryradial growth |
| spellingShingle | J. Julio Camarero Cristina Valeriano Miguel Ortega Transient Post-Fire Growth Recovery of Two Mediterranean Broadleaf Tree Species Fire <i>Celtis australis</i> dendroecology fire scar <i>Quercus ilex</i> post-fire recovery radial growth |
| title | Transient Post-Fire Growth Recovery of Two Mediterranean Broadleaf Tree Species |
| title_full | Transient Post-Fire Growth Recovery of Two Mediterranean Broadleaf Tree Species |
| title_fullStr | Transient Post-Fire Growth Recovery of Two Mediterranean Broadleaf Tree Species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transient Post-Fire Growth Recovery of Two Mediterranean Broadleaf Tree Species |
| title_short | Transient Post-Fire Growth Recovery of Two Mediterranean Broadleaf Tree Species |
| title_sort | transient post fire growth recovery of two mediterranean broadleaf tree species |
| topic | <i>Celtis australis</i> dendroecology fire scar <i>Quercus ilex</i> post-fire recovery radial growth |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/7/11/400 |
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