Article
Environmental Sciences
S. S. Rabin, F. N. Gerard, A. Arneth
Summary: Climate change increases fire risk in forested regions, while urban expansion brings more people in contact with wildfires. Thus, it is important to manage fire in a way that minimizes impacts on human health and forest. Dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) can assess the effectiveness of fire management measures under different climate change scenarios. The study found that reducing fuel load can lower fire intensity, but it leads to increased fire emissions. Mechanical thinning can reduce fire intensity and emissions.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Austin M. Yantes, Samuel P. Reed, Anna M. Yang, Rebecca A. Montgomery
Summary: Temperate savannas are unique and biodiverse ecosystems that have experienced extensive habitat conversion worldwide. In the midwestern United States, the majority of historic oak savanna area has been lost, and the remaining patches are degraded due to the absence of fire and large herbivore disturbances. Restoring the degraded savanna remnants is challenging due to a lack of understanding of how to effectively mimic historic disturbance dynamics.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Julie Loisel, Angela Gallego-Sala
Summary: The degradation of peatlands contributes significantly to global carbon dioxide emissions, making the restoration of disturbed and degraded peatlands crucial for climate change mitigation. However, the resilience of restored peatlands to climate change and disturbances is not well-understood. While restoration efforts can achieve net carbon sequestration, the restoration of biodiversity, hydrological regime, and peat soil structure may not be fully achieved, potentially compromising ecosystem resilience to future disturbances.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Dwi M. J. Purnomo, Matthew Bonner, Samaneh Moafi, Guillermo Rein
Summary: Peat wildfires are the largest fires on Earth involving both flaming and smouldering combustion. This study utilized a cellular automata model to simulate both flaming and smouldering behavior at the field scale, and predicted the impact of peat moisture content on the behavior of peatland wildfires.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMBUSTION INSTITUTE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Laura C. Gigliotti, Goncalo Curveira-Santos, Rob Slotow, Craig Sholto-Douglas, Lourens H. Swanepoel, David S. Jachowski
Summary: This study focused on the impact of fires on carnivores in South Africa, revealing that fire did not promote all carnivores to increase the use of burned areas. While apex predators like lions responded positively to prey-rich burnt areas, other large carnivore species exhibited neutral responses, and medium- to small-sized carnivores had species-specific, both neutral and positive responses. Positive responses to fire by lions were short-lived, emphasizing the complexity of understanding carnivore responses to fire.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Sophie R. Bonner, Chad M. Hoffman, Jeffrey M. Kane, J. Morgan Varner, J. Kevin Hiers, Joseph J. O'Brien, Heather D. Rickard, Wade T. Tinkham, Rodman R. Linn, Nicholas Skowronski, Russell A. Parsons, Carolyn H. Sieg
Summary: In recent years, there have been substantial shortcomings in reporting critical data in prescribed fire experiments, including lack of specific information on burning conditions such as fuel moisture, quantitative fuel loads, fire weather, and fire behavior. Most studies did not provide precise coordinates for their study area or the prescribed fire date, and only a few described the ignition characteristics.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Liudmila S. Shirokova, Artem Chupakov, Irina S. Ivanova, Olga Y. Moreva, Svetlana A. Zabelina, Nikita A. Shutskiy, Sergey Loiko, Oleg S. Pokrovsky
Summary: Thaw lakes in continental lowlands play a key role in regulating carbon storage and emission, with concentrations of substances decreasing with lake size. Ground vegetation and frozen peat are primary sources of nutrients and solutes in lake water, influencing CO2 and nutrient concentrations. Moss and lichen significantly impact the enrichment of organic C, nutrients, and trace metals in lake water, highlighting the importance of vegetation changes in the balance of elements in tundra peatland ecosystems under climate warming.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Christopher J. Fettig, Leif A. Mortenson, Jackson P. Audley
Summary: After thinning and prescribed burning in ponderosa pine forests in Oregon, USA, causes of tree mortality mainly included prescribed fire and various species of bark beetles. Tree mortality levels were significantly higher in high density stands compared to the untreated control.
Article
Environmental Sciences
James M. Furlaud, Grant J. Williamson, David M. J. S. Bowman
Summary: The establishment of sustainable, low-intensity fire regimes is a pressing global challenge due to the escalating risk of wildfire driven by climate change. Colonialism and industrialisation have disrupted traditional fire management practices, leading to increased fire risk. This study found that fuel treatments, including prescribed burning and mechanical understorey removal, were effective in reducing fuel load and subsequent fire severity in both wet and dry forests.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Carmen Awad, Nicolas Frangieh, Thierry Marcelli, Gilbert Accary, Dominique Morvan, Sofiane Meradji, Francois Joseph Chatelon, Jean Louis Rossi
Summary: The study examines the impact of wind speed and fuel load on the moisture threshold for fire propagation in grassland fires through numerical simulations. The results show that the moisture threshold increases with the fuel load and wind speed, but reaches a plateau where it no longer depends on these factors. Empirical formulae were developed to relate the fuel moisture content threshold to wind speed and fuel loading implicitly through Byram's convective number.
FIRE SAFETY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Jin Wang, Ruicheng Hong, Cheng Ma, Xilong Zhu, Shiying Xu, Yanping Tang, Xiaona Li, Xiangxiang Yan, Leiguang Wang, Qiuhua Wang
Summary: This study investigates the effects of prescribed burning on the flammability of surface dead fuel in Pinus yunnanensis forests. The results show that prescribed burning significantly reduces the surface dead fuel load and fire-line intensity, but has no significant impact on the physical and chemical properties of dead fuels.
Review
Ecology
Michela Mariani, Simon E. Connor, Martin Theuerkauf, Annika Herbert, Petr Kunes, David Bowman, Michael-Shawn Fletcher, Lesley Head, A. Peter Kershaw, Simon G. Haberle, Janelle Stevenson, Matthew Adeleye, Haidee Cadd, Feli Hopf, Christy Briles
Summary: Recent catastrophic fires in Australia and North America have raised questions about the impact of Indigenous burning practices on fuel accumulation and structure. In order to coexist with fire sustainably, understanding the ancient relationship between humans and flammable landscapes is important. Using novel palaeoecological modeling and charcoal compilations, this study reassessed evidence of changes in land cover and fire activity in southeast Australia before and after colonization. The findings suggest that the forests and woodlands in the region had fewer shrubs and more grass before colonization, and changes in vegetation and fuel structures varied across different vegetation types. The disruption of Indigenous vegetation management caused by European settlement, combined with climate change impacts, likely contributed to the widespread wildfires.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Hui Zhang, Eeva-Stiina Tuittila, Aino Korrensalo, Anna M. Laine, Salli Uljas, Nina Welti, Johanna Kerttula, Marja Maljanen, David Elliott, Timo Vesala, Annalea Lohila
Summary: The study reveals that nutrient availability and methanogen abundance in rich fens increase the temperature response of CH4 production, while oxidation potential shows a steeper temperature response compared to production. Under climate change, drying peatlands may potentially reduce CH4 emissions by shifting vegetation composition.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Jamie E. Burton, Jane G. Cawson, Alexander Filkov, Trent D. Penman
Summary: Prescribed burning and timber harvesting are common forest management activities that can change wildfire risk by altering fuel characteristics. This study found that frequent prescribed burning combined with timber harvesting significantly affected the accumulation and composition of fine fuel in temperate eucalypt forests. However, current landscape fuel models often overlook the impact of timber harvesting, which may affect the accuracy of fire behavior predictions.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Megan M. Johnson, Fernando Garcia-Menendez
Summary: This study compared three commonly used tools for simulating smoke dispersion and found significant differences among them. It highlights the need for improved and standardized smoke modelling tools, along with clear guidelines for their application to support land management.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WILDLAND FIRE
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Taco H. Regensburg, Joseph Holden, Michael Pilkington, Martin G. Evans, David Chandler, Pippa J. Chapman
Summary: The study compared water characteristics before and after blocking pipe outlets in a heavily degraded blanket bog, finding that concentrations of DOC and POC in pipe water were significantly higher than in stream water. Blocking pipe outlets did not reduce the impact of pipe networks on the export of organic carbon in the stream.
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS
(2022)
Article
Water Resources
Pippa J. Chapman, Catherine S. Moody, T. Edward Turner, Rebecca McKenzie, Kerry J. Dinsmore, Andy J. Baird, Mike F. Billett, Roxane Andersen, Fraser Leith, Joseph Holden
Summary: This study compared the carbon concentrations in natural pools and restoration pools in three blanket peatlands in northern Scotland. The results showed that restoration pools had higher acidity and higher dissolved organic carbon concentrations compared to natural pools. Restoration pools also had a higher prevalence of fulvic acid and more aromatic dissolved organic carbon. Additionally, restoration pools had supersaturated levels of dissolved CO2, while natural pools had concentrations just above atmospheric levels.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Tim R. Howson, Pippa J. Chapman, Joseph Holden, Nadeem Shah, Russell Anderson
Summary: The recognition of peatlands as a key natural store of terrestrial carbon has led to new initiatives to protect and restore them. However, little is known about the differences in peat properties between intact, afforested, and restored bogs.
SOIL USE AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jessica Williams-Mounsey, Alistair Crowle, Richard Grayson, Richard Lindsay, Joseph Holden
Summary: Temporary permissions are often granted for track use on peatlands, but even with mesh systems, linear disturbances may still have persistent impacts on peatland structure. In a study conducted in northern England, the surface peatland structure of five abandoned tracks was evaluated, and it was found that all tracks showed a simplification of the surface nanotopography compared to surrounding control areas. The frequency of previous usage was not a significant factor in determining nano-topographic loss.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Salim Goudarzi, David Milledge, Joseph Holden
Summary: This paper discusses the lack of Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) models in numerical hydrology and the problems with fixed timestep techniques. By reformulating Dynamic-TOPMODEL into a constraint-handling ODE form and developing the Generalized Multistep Dynamic TOPMODEL, the authors improve the applicability and performance of the models. The results show that adaptive timestepping can significantly improve model runtime, and the iso-basin spatial discretization and improved TI classification method also enhance model performance.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Julien Arsenault, Julie Talbot, Lee E. Brown, Manuel Helbig, Joseph Holden, Jorge Hoyos-Santillan, Emilie Jolin, Roy Mackenzie, Karla Martinez-Cruz, Armando Sepulveda-Jauregui, Jean-Francois Lapierre
Summary: Peatland pools are dynamic aquatic ecosystems that contribute to biogeochemical cycles, but their response to environmental change is poorly understood. This study analyzed pool biogeochemical data from multiple locations to determine the drivers of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus dynamics in peatland pools. Climate and terrain were found to explain variations in pool biogeochemistry, with climate driving spatial differences in dissolved organic carbon concentration. The study also demonstrated the reactivity of peatland pools to local and global environmental change. These findings highlight the importance of understanding and monitoring peatland pool dynamics as potential climate sentinels.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Chansheng He, Carol P. P. Harden, Joseph Holden, Anna Mdee
Summary: Despite advancements in hydrological science and water resources management, the world still faces a water-supply crisis. Watershed Science is proposed as a solution to address the missing links of effective collaborations and interdisciplinary working. It promotes water governance, partnerships, and participatory decision making to address the global water crisis.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sani Idris Garba, Susanna K. Ebmeier, Jean-Francois Bastin, Danilo Mollicone, Joseph Holden
Summary: This study used Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 imagery, supported by 1500 control points, to detect the spatial coverage and type of wetlands in southern Nigeria. The wetland area was estimated to be 29,924 km(2), with smaller patches of wetland observed compared to previous studies. 20% of the wetland patches were found to be clustered around urban areas, indicating anthropogenic wetland fragmentation. This research fills a data gap for land-surface climate models and wetland conservation.
WETLANDS ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Emmanouil Tyllianakis, Julia Martin-Ortega, Guy Ziv, Pippa J. Chapman, Joseph Holden, Michael Cardwell, Duncan Fyfe
Summary: Ensuring global food security and halting ecosystem degradation by securing environmental public goods from agriculture is crucial. Agri-environment schemes play a key role in transitioning to sustainable food production. Our study with AES-inclined land managers in post-Brexit UK suggests that they are likely to support result-based, collaborative schemes aligned with net zero agendas. However, challenges exist in attracting less AES-prone land managers.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jeannie M. Beadle, Joseph Holden, Lee E. Brown
Summary: Peatlands in the northern hemisphere have been drained but restoration efforts have been made to raise water tables and enhance biodiversity. This study analyzed the response of aquatic invertebrates to peatland restoration through several approaches. Invertebrate communities established quickly after pond creation, but their diversity and abundance peaked at around 5 years before declining. The environmental conditions and biodiversity of older ponds were similar to natural ponds, indicating restoration success for aquatic biodiversity gains.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xinyue He, Xin Jiang, Dominick V. Spracklen, Joseph Holden, Eryuan Liang, Hongyan Liu, Chongyang Xu, Jianhui Du, Kai Zhu, Paul R. Elsen, Zhenzhong Zeng
Summary: This study focused on closed-loop mountain treelines that surround mountains completely, and found a surprisingly large quantity of such treelines, with a total length of approximately 916,425 km. It revealed a bimodal latitudinal distribution of treeline elevations and identified temperature as the main climatic driver in polar and tropical regions, while precipitation influenced treeline position in temperate zones. The study also showed that 70% of closed-loop mountain treelines have shifted upward at an average rate of 1.2 m/year in the first decade of the 21st century. This research provides a new mountain treeline database that separates climate impacts from other human activities, and has significant implications for biodiversity, natural resources, and ecosystem adaptation in a changing climate.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joshua F. Dean, Michael F. Billett, T. Edward Turner, Mark H. Garnett, Roxane Andersen, Rebecca M. McKenzie, Kerry J. Dinsmore, Andy J. Baird, Pippa J. Chapman, Joseph Holden
Summary: Peatlands are globally important stores of soil carbon, and pools within peatlands have high concentrations of carbon, including greenhouse gases. Our study shows that the carbon in the pools is mostly derived from contemporary primary production, rather than from deep peat layers. Restoration pools are effective at preventing the release of deep, old carbon, but millennial-aged carbon can be emitted through CH4 ebullition.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jessica Williams-Mounsey, Alistair Crowle, Richard Grayson, Joseph Holden
Summary: The practice of allowing temporary mesh tracks on peatlands needs to be revised from a biodiversity conservation perspective. Additional conservation interventions are necessary to minimize the impact on peatland habitats.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xinyu He, Alan D. Ziegler, Paul R. Elsen, Yu Feng, Jessica C. A. Baker, Shijing Liang, Joseph Holden, Dominick V. Spracklen, Zhenzhong Zeng
Summary: The frontier of forest loss has expanded into mountain areas, but the global distribution of forest loss in mountains remains uncertain. Combining multiple datasets, researchers found that 78 million hectares of montane forest were lost between 2001 and 2018, with an increasing rate of loss. Commercial forestry, agriculture, and wildfires are identified as the major drivers of mountain forest loss, with the most severe loss occurring in important tropical biodiversity hotspots. Protected areas within these hotspots experienced lower loss rates, highlighting the importance of expanding protected areas in mountains to preserve montane forests and biodiversity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Santosa S. Putra, Joseph Holden, Andy J. Baird
Summary: The effects of hydrological restoration on water-table responses to storms in drained tropical peatlands are unclear. A study conducted in Sebangau National Park, Indonesia, found that water-table responses were related to initial water table, storm characteristics, and proximity to ditches. The study suggests that ditch dams alone may not fully restore water-table responses in drained tropical peatlands, and intact forested systems are more effective.
