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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The Global Fire Atlas of individual fire size, duration, speed and direction

Earth system science data, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 11(2), P. 529 - 552

Published: April 24, 2019

Abstract. Natural and human-ignited fires affect all major biomes, altering ecosystem structure, biogeochemical cycles atmospheric composition. Satellite observations provide global data on spatiotemporal patterns of biomass burning evidence for the rapid changes in fire activity response to land management climate. imagery also provides detailed information daily or sub-daily position that can be used understand dynamics individual fires. The Global Fire Atlas is a new dataset tracks determine timing location ignitions, size duration, expansion, line length, speed, direction spread. Here, we present underlying methodology results 2003–2016 derived from moderate-resolution (500 m) Collection 6 MCD64A1 burned-area data. algorithm identified 13.3 million over study period, estimated perimeters were good agreement with independent continental United States. A small number large dominated sparsely populated arid boreal ecosystems, while burned area agricultural other human-dominated landscapes was driven by high ignition densities resulted numerous smaller Long-duration regions natural humid tropics suggest season length exerts strong control total these areas. In ecosystems low fuel densities, spread rates large, short-duration quickly consumed available fuels. Importantly, multiday contributed majority regions. first analysis largest, longest fastest occurred around world revealed coherent regional extreme large-scale climate forcing. are publicly through http://www.globalfiredata.org (last access: 9 August 2018) https://doi.org/10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1642, summary products benchmarking models within Earth system models, understanding vegetation–fire feedbacks, improving emissions estimates, characterizing changing role system.

Language: Английский

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Comment on “The global tree restoration potential”

Science, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 366(6463)

Published: Oct. 17, 2019

Bastin et al's estimate (Reports, 5 July 2019, p. 76) that tree planting for climate change mitigation could sequester 205 gigatonnes of carbon is approximately five times too large. Their analysis inflated soil organic gains, failed to safeguard against warming from trees at high latitudes and elevations, considered afforestation savannas, grasslands, shrublands be restoration.

Language: Английский

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Resilience and restoration of tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and grassy woodlands

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 94(2), P. 590 - 609

Published: Sept. 24, 2018

ABSTRACT Despite growing recognition of the conservation values grassy biomes, our understanding how to maintain and restore biodiverse tropical grasslands (including savannas open‐canopy woodlands) remains limited. To incorporate into large‐scale restoration efforts, we synthesised existing ecological knowledge grassland resilience approaches plant community restoration. Tropical communities are resilient to, often dependent on, endogenous disturbances with which they evolved – frequent fires native megafaunal herbivory. In stark contrast, extremely vulnerable human‐caused exogenous disturbances, particularly those that alter soils destroy belowground biomass (e.g. tillage agriculture, surface mining); after severe soil is expensive rarely achieves management targets. Where have been degraded by altered disturbance regimes fire exclusion), exotic invasions, or afforestation, efforts can recreate vegetation structure (i.e. historical tree density herbaceous ground cover), but species‐diverse communities, including endemic species, slow recover. Complicating plant‐community many invest in underground storage organs, difficult propagate re‐establish. guide decisions, draw on old‐growth concept, novel ecosystem theory regarding cover along resource gradients propose a conceptual framework classifies three broad states. These states are: (1) ancient, ecosystems), where should focus maintenance regimes; (2) hybrid grasslands, emphasise return towards state; (3) ecosystems, magnitude environmental change shift an alternative state) socioecological context preclude conditions.

Language: Английский

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Understanding Brazil’s catastrophic fires: Causes, consequences and policy needed to prevent future tragedies

Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 19(3), P. 233 - 255

Published: July 1, 2021

Brazil has experienced unprecedented wildfires in the last decade. Images of immense burnt areas or dead animals that failed to escape 2020 have shocked world. To prevent minimize further similar disasters we must understand factors led these catastrophic events. The causes and consequences entail complex interactions between biophysical sociocultural spheres, suitable management decisions require a sound scientific base. We present recent panorama increasing fire outbreaks Brazilian biomes, discuss contributed such fires, their impacts on environment overall for human well-being, based reviewing extensive specialist literature, authors' expert knowledge information provided by environmental managers, researchers politicians during workshop organized debate wildfire issue Brazil. Our up-to-date review is aimed at academic public, managers decision- policy-makers. First, evidence contrasting effects different ecosystems. Second, outline historic perceptions policies related use since its colonization date. Third, propose means advance prevention develop successful strategies. Finally, answer frequently asked questions clarify and/or demystify some fire-related issues not always properly addressed media.

Language: Английский

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Overcoming the coupled climate and biodiversity crises and their societal impacts

Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 380(6642)

Published: April 20, 2023

Earth's biodiversity and human societies face pollution, overconsumption of natural resources, urbanization, demographic shifts, social economic inequalities, habitat loss, many which are exacerbated by climate change. Here, we review links among climate, biodiversity, society develop a roadmap toward sustainability. These include limiting warming to 1.5°C effectively conserving restoring functional ecosystems on 30 50% land, freshwater, ocean "scapes." We envision mosaic interconnected protected shared spaces, including intensively used strengthen self-sustaining the capacity people nature adapt mitigate change, nature's contributions people. Fostering interlinked human, ecosystem, planetary health for livable future urgently requires bold implementation transformative policy interventions through institutions, governance, systems from local global levels.

Language: Английский

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Woody plant encroachment intensifies under climate change across tundra and savanna biomes

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 29(5), P. 925 - 943

Published: Feb. 19, 2020

Abstract Aim Biomes worldwide are shifting with global change. whose extents limited by temperature or precipitation, such as the tundra and savanna, may be particularly strongly affected climate While woody plant encroachment is prevalent across both biomes, its relationship to precipitation change remains unknown. Here, we quantify degree which related identify main associated drivers. Location Tundra savanna biomes. Time period 1992 ± 20.27–2010 5.62 (mean SD ). 1876–2016 (range). Major taxa studied Woody plants (shrubs trees). Methods We compiled a dataset comprising 1,089 records from 899 sites of cover over time attributed drivers these two calculated in each biome assessed corresponds concurrent changes using multiple metrics. Finally, conducted quantitative literature review relative importance Results was widespread geographically gradients. Rates (positive negative) were 1.8 times lower than (1.8 vs. 3.2%), while rates increase (i.e., encroachment) c. 1.7 compared (3.7 6.3% per decade). In tundra, magnitudes did not correspond climate, greater corresponded increases precipitation. found higher wetter versus drier warming biome, increasing savanna. However, faster more rapid sites, except for maximum Main conclusions positively increased rainfall predicted change, can partially explained interactions Additional likely influences include site‐level factors, time‐lags, plant‐specific responses, land use other non‐climate Our findings highlight complex nature impacts biomes seasonality, should accounted realistically estimate future responses open under scenarios.

Language: Английский

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Climate change impacts on water security in global drylands

One Earth, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 4(6), P. 851 - 864

Published: June 1, 2021

Language: Английский

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Ancient grasslands guide ambitious goals in grassland restoration

Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 377(6606), P. 594 - 598

Published: Aug. 4, 2022

Grasslands, which constitute almost 40% of the terrestrial biosphere, provide habitat for a great diversity animals and plants contribute to livelihoods more than 1 billion people worldwide. Whereas destruction degradation grasslands can occur rapidly, recent work indicates that complete recovery biodiversity essential functions occurs slowly or not at all. Grassland restoration-interventions speed guide this recovery-has received less attention restoration forested ecosystems, often due prevailing assumption are recently formed habitats reassemble quickly. Viewing grassland as long-term assembly toward old-growth endpoints, with appreciation feedbacks threshold shifts, will be crucial recognizing when how globally important ecosystem.

Language: Английский

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