Consistently heterogeneous structures observed at multiple spatial scales across fire-intact reference sites

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 550, P. 121478 - 121478

Published: Oct. 31, 2023

Yellow pine and mixed-conifer (YPMC) forests of California's Sierra Nevada have experienced widespread fire suppression for over a century, resulting in ingrowth densification trees, heavy fuel accumulation, shifts species composition. Under warmer drier climates, these are primed stand-replacing fires severe drought mortality, requiring management interventions to improve their resilience mitigate future impacts. Observations from functioning frequent-fire systems (e.g., contemporary reference sites) can provide key insights about pattern-process relationships fire-intact systems, which be used inform regional efforts. In this study, we airborne lidar data quantify compare forest structure at multiple spatial scales between sites (i.e., with restored frequent, low-intensity regime) control typical fire-suppressed forests). We evaluated structures the neighborhood- (∼1 ha), site- (∼100–1,000 among-site- (∼10,000–100,000 ha) levels. sites, high proportions individual small clumps 2–4 open space formed mostly canopy neighborhood-level, patches neighborhood-level were arranged heterogeneous patterns within sites. observed low variability site-level among indicating stabilizing effect across broad, ecosystem scales. edaphic factors other non-fire disturbances occasionally produced heterogeneity site-level, but degree was not consistent Structural suggest improved climate change, increased provisioning services relative applying metrics help multi-scale multi-resource forests.

Language: Английский

---

When do contemporary wildfires restore forest structures in the Sierra Nevada?

Fire Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 20(1)

Published: Sept. 30, 2024

Language: Английский

---

Sierra Nevada reference conditions: A dataset of contemporary reference sites and corresponding remote sensing-derived forest structure metrics for yellow pine and mixed-conifer forests

Data in Brief, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 51, P. 109807 - 109807

Published: Nov. 14, 2023

Contemporary reference sites in California's Sierra Nevada represent areas where a frequent, low-intensity fire regime - an integral ecological process temperate dry forests has been reintroduced after several decades of suppression. Produced by intact regime, forest structural patterns these are likely more resilient to future disturbances and climate, thus can provide conditions guide management research. In this paper, we present set 119 delineated contemporary the yellow pine mixed-conifer zone along with suite key remote sensing-derived structure metrics representing within sites. We also summary figures for individual grouped dominant climate class. identified restored frequent-fire landscapes using combination history, burn severity, type datasets polygons catchment basins, perimeters, imagery. Reference ranged size from 101-966 ha mean 240 ha. Where available (for 59 sites), used airborne lidar characterize Across all sites, produced California Forest Observatory. were categorized based on their class assist users identifying most climatically relevant project or study area. encourage use associated guiding ecologically focused research Nevada.

Language: Английский

---

Sierra Nevada contemporary reference site boundaries and corresponding remote sensing-derived canopy structure rasters

Forest Service Research Data Archive, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 4, 2023

Language: Английский

---