Global and Regional Trends and Drivers of Fire Under Climate Change

Reviews of Geophysics, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 60(3)

Published: April 11, 2022

Abstract Recent wildfire outbreaks around the world have prompted concern that climate change is increasing fire incidence, threatening human livelihood and biodiversity, perpetuating change. Here, we review current understanding of impacts on weather (weather conditions conducive to ignition spread wildfires) consequences for regional activity as mediated by a range other bioclimatic factors (including vegetation biogeography, productivity lightning) ignition, suppression, land use). Through supplemental analyses, present stocktake trends in burned area (BA) during recent decades, examine how relates its drivers. Fire controls annual timing fires most regions also drives inter‐annual variability BA Mediterranean, Pacific US high latitude forests. Increases frequency extremity been globally pervasive due 1979–2019, meaning landscapes are primed burn more frequently. Correspondingly, increases ∼50% or higher seen some extratropical forest ecoregions including high‐latitude forests 2001–2019, though interannual remains large these regions. Nonetheless, can override relationship between weather. For example, savannahs strongly patterns fuel production fragmentation naturally fire‐prone agriculture. Similarly, tropical relate deforestation rates degradation than changing Overall, has reduced 27% past two part decline African savannahs. According models, prevalence already emerged beyond pre‐industrial Mediterranean change, emergence will become increasingly widespread at additional levels warming. Moreover, several major wildfires experienced years, Australian bushfires 2019/2020, occurred amidst were considerably likely Current models incompletely reproduce observed spatial based their existing representations relationships controls, historical vary across models. Advances observation controlling supporting addition optimization processes exerting upwards pressure intensity weather, this escalate with each increment global Improvements better interactions climate, extremes, humans required predict future mitigate against consequences.

Language: Английский

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Fire as a fundamental ecological process: Research advances and frontiers

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 108(5), P. 2047 - 2069

Published: April 18, 2020

Abstract Fire is a powerful ecological and evolutionary force that regulates organismal traits, population sizes, species interactions, community composition, carbon nutrient cycling ecosystem function. It also presents rapidly growing societal challenge, due to both increasingly destructive wildfires fire exclusion in fire‐dependent ecosystems. As an process, integrates complex feedbacks among biological, social geophysical processes, requiring coordination across several fields scales of study. Here, we describe the diversity ways which operates as fundamental process on Earth. We explore research priorities six categories ecology: (a) characteristics regimes, (b) changing (c) effects above‐ground ecology, (d) below‐ground (e) behaviour (f) ecology modelling. identify three emergent themes: need study temporal scales, assess mechanisms underlying variety involving improve representation range modelling contexts. Synthesis : regimes our relationships with continue change, prioritizing these areas will facilitate understanding causes consequences future fires rethinking management alternatives.

Language: Английский

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Fire and biodiversity in the Anthropocene

Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 370(6519)

Published: Nov. 20, 2020

Fire's growing impacts on ecosystems Fire has played a prominent role in the evolution of biodiversity and is natural factor shaping many ecological communities. However, incidence fire been exacerbated by human activity, this now affecting habitats that have never prone or adapted. Kelly et al. review how such changes are already threatening species with extinction transforming terrestrial discuss trends causing regimes. They also consider actions could be taken conservationists policy-makers to help sustain time changing activity. Science , issue p. eabb0355

Language: Английский

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Alternative Biome States in Terrestrial Ecosystems

Trends in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 25(3), P. 250 - 263

Published: Jan. 6, 2020

Language: Английский

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Pyrodiversity and biodiversity: A history, synthesis, and outlook

Diversity and Distributions, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 28(3), P. 386 - 403

Published: May 6, 2021

Abstract Aim Pyrodiversity is the spatial or temporal variability in fire effects across a landscape. Multiple ecological hypotheses, when applied to context of post‐fire systems, suggest that high pyrodiversity will lead biodiversity. This resultant “pyrodiversity–biodiversity” hypothesis has grown popular but received mixed support by recent empirical research. In this paper, we sought review existing literature, appraise for pyrodiversity–biodiversity hypothesis, examine potential mechanisms underlying and identify outstanding questions about future research needs. Location Global terrestrial ecosystems. Methods We performed systematic literature related hypothesis. also examined how two individual species with distinct relationships (spotted owl Strix occidentalis black‐backed woodpecker Picoides arcticus ) respond as case studies illustrate mechanisms. Results identified 41 tests reported from 33 studies; 18 (44%) presented evidence while 23 (56%) did not. Our suggested varies considerably no consistent patterns taxonomic groups ecosystem types. Studies examining often define different ways, at scales are conducted ecosystems natural regimes, baseline levels biodiversity, evolutionary histories. these factors independently jointly have led widely varying Main Conclusions Clarifying be facilitated stronger development relationships, which can aided pyrodiversity. Future would benefit closer examination role scale (e.g. dependence) standardization metrics, broad‐scale mapping pyrodiversity, macroecological study relationships.

Language: Английский

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Pyrosilviculture Needed for Landscape Resilience of Dry Western United States Forests

Journal of Forestry, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 119(5), P. 520 - 544

Published: May 21, 2021

Abstract A significant increase in treatment pace and scale is needed to restore dry western US forest resilience owing increasingly frequent severe wildfire drought. We propose a pyrosilviculture approach directly large-scale fire use modify current thinning treatments optimize future incorporation. Recommendations include leveraging wildfire’s “treatment” areas burned at low moderate severity with subsequent management, identifying managed zones, facilitating financing prescribed “anchor,” “ecosystem asset,” “revenue” focused treatments. Pyrosilviculture would also expand prescribed-burn managed-wildfire objectives reducing stand density, increasing heterogeneity, selecting for tree species phenotypes better adapted changing climate disturbance regimes. The potential benefits limitations of this are discussed. Fire inevitable forests focuses on proactively shifting more that into burns ecosystem resilience.

Language: Английский

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How fire interacts with habitat loss and fragmentation

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 96(3), P. 976 - 998

Published: Feb. 9, 2021

ABSTRACT Biodiversity faces many threats and these can interact to produce outcomes that may not be predicted by considering their effects in isolation. Habitat loss fragmentation (hereafter ‘fragmentation’) altered fire regimes are important biodiversity, but interactions have been systematically evaluated across the globe. In this comprehensive synthesis, including 162 papers which provided 274 cases, we offer a framework for understanding how interacts with fragmentation. Fire three main ways: ( i ) influences (59% of cases), where either destroys fragments habitat or creates connects habitat; ii (25% cases) where, after is reduced area fragmented, landscape subsequently because people suppress ignite fires, there increased edge flammability obstruction spread; iii two do influence each other, affect responses like species richness, abundance extinction risk (16% cases). Where feedback loops possible lead ecosystem conversion (e.g. forest grassland). This well‐documented threat tropics potential also elsewhere. through scale‐specific mechanisms: edges drives effects; alters patch quality; landscape‐scale connectivity. We found only 12 cases studies reported four essential strata testing full interaction, were fragmented unfragmented landscapes both span contrasting histories, such as recently burnt long unburnt vegetation. Simulation empirical show synergistically, multiplicatively, antagonistically additively. These highlight key reason why so important: when act together they cause local extinctions, even separate neutral. Whether fire–fragmentation benefit disadvantage often determined species' preferred successional stage. Adding generally benefits early‐successional plant animal species, whereas it detrimental late‐successional species. However, fragmentation, direction effect on could reversed from expected preferences. would normally co‐exist fire, no longer able disperse Further, animals attracted particular stages leading unexpected higher more isolated patches. Growing human populations increasing resource consumption suggest trends will worsen over coming years. Combined alteration due climate change human‐caused ignitions, likely become common. Our new paves way developing better conserving biodiversity face emerging challenges.

Language: Английский

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Animal mortality during fire

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 28(6), P. 2053 - 2065

Published: Jan. 6, 2022

Abstract Earth's rapidly warming climate is propelling us towards an increasingly fire‐prone future. Currently, knowledge of the extent and characteristics animal mortality rates during fire remains rudimentary, hindering our ability to predict how populations may be impacted in To address this gap, we conducted a global systematic review direct effects on rates, based studies that unequivocally determined fate animals fire. From 31 spanning 1984–2020, extracted data impacts species from 23 families. these studies, there were 43 instances where measured by reporting survival pre‐ post‐fire. Most North America (52%) Oceania (42%), focused largely mammals (53%) reptiles (30%), reported mostly planned (82%) and/or low severity (70%) fires. We found no Asia, Europe or South America. Although insufficient conduct formal meta‐analysis, tested effect type, severity, regime, body mass, ecological attributes class survival. Only affected mortality, with higher proportion being killed high than Recent catastrophic fires across globe have drawn attention plight exposed wildfire. Yet, suggests relatively (mean predicted [95% CI] = 3% [1%–9%]) are However, also underscores little currently know about highlights critical need understand populations.

Language: Английский

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What do you mean, ‘megafire’?

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 31(10), P. 1906 - 1922

Published: May 3, 2022

Abstract Background ‘Megafire’ is an emerging concept commonly used to describe fires that are extreme in terms of size, behaviour, and/or impacts, but the term’s meaning remains ambiguous. Approach We sought resolve ambiguity surrounding ‘megafire’ by conducting a structured review use and definition term several languages peer‐reviewed scientific literature. collated definitions descriptions megafire identified criteria frequently invoked define megafire. recorded size location megafires mapped them reveal global variation described as megafires. Results 109 studies or identify megafire, with first appearing literature 2005. Seventy‐one (~65%) these attempted term. There was considerable variability although based on fire were most common. Megafire thresholds varied geographically from > 100–100,000 ha, 10,000 ha common threshold (41%, 18/44 studies). Definitions led authors North America (52%, 37/71). 137 instances 84 where reported megafires, vast majority (94%, 129/137) which exceed size. Megafires occurred range biomes, forested biomes (112/137, 82%), usually single ignition (59% 81/137). Conclusion As Earth’s climate ecosystems change, it important scientists can communicate trends occurrence larger more clarity. To overcome ambiguity, we suggest arising multiple related events. introduce two additional – gigafire (> 100,000 ha) terafire 1,000,000 for even scale than

Language: Английский

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Fire as a driver and mediator of predator–prey interactions

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 97(4), P. 1539 - 1558

Published: March 23, 2022

Both fire and predators have strong influences on the population dynamics behaviour of animals, effects may either be strengthened or weakened by fire. However, knowledge how drives mediates predator-prey interactions is fragmented has not been synthesised. Here, we review synthesise predator prey interactions. We develop a conceptual model based theory empirical examples to address four key questions: (i) why do respond fire; (ii) does vulnerability change post-fire; (iii) what mechanisms use reduce predation risk (iv) are outcomes predator-fire for populations? then discuss these findings in context wildlife conservation ecosystem management before outlining priorities future research. Fire-induced changes vegetation structure, resource availability, animal influence encounter rates, amount time vulnerable during an encounter, conditional probability death given encounter. How responds depends characteristics (e.g. season, severity), their hunting (ambush pursuit predator), movement behaviour, territoriality, intra-guild dynamics. Prey species that rely habitat structure avoiding often experience increased rates lower survival recently burnt areas. By contrast, some benefit from opening up after because it makes easier detect modify appropriately. Reduced body condition can increase through impaired ability escape predators, need forage risky areas due being energetically stressed. To post-fire environment, use, sheltering camouflage cryptic colouring background matching. Field experiments viability modelling show instances where amplifies amplify impacts populations, vice versa. In instances, intense sustained lead local extinctions populations. Human disruption regimes impacting faunal communities, with consequences Key research include: capturing data continuously before, fires; teasing out relative importance visibility shelter availability different contexts; documenting acoustic olfactory cues both prey; addressing taxonomic geographic biases literature; predicting testing fire-regime reshape Understanding managing communities will critical effective this era global change.

Language: Английский

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