Article
Forestry
Kendall M. L. Becker, James A. Lutz
Summary: Climate change is causing changes in forest composition due to species-specific responses to fire and drought. The future composition of forests will depend on how different tree species regenerate after disturbances like fire, and their alignment with current environmental conditions. However, few studies have examined the effects of disturbance severity and microclimate on post-fire regeneration to understand the regeneration niches of co-occurring tree species.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Mark R. Kreider, Larissa L. Yocom
Summary: Quaking aspen is an important component of western U.S. forests, and this study explored the spatial establishment patterns, survival, and growth of aspen seedlings following a large post-fire event in southern Utah. The study found that aspen seedlings were more likely to establish at higher elevations and closer to seed sources, preferred concave microsites, and were tightly associated with burned soil. Aspen seedling persistence was strongly impacted by competition with co-occurring aspen suckers, with survival lower for seedlings closer to nearby suckers and growth reduced in plots with high sucker density.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Thalia Ross, Sanjeev K. Srivastava, Alison Shapcott
Summary: According to this study, the 2019-2020 wildfires in Australia had various impacts on subtropical rainforests, increasing their vulnerability to future fires. The post-fire regeneration of the rainforest vegetation could become highly flammable, with species that promote fires and species that suppress fires. The study investigated whether early post-fire regeneration would make rainforests more flammable and if this relationship varies with the severity of the fire. It was found that flammable species increased in regions where fire severity was higher.
Article
Forestry
Ana Aguas, Hugo Matias, Abel Rodrigues, Tanya Bailey, Joaquim Silva, Francisco Rego
Summary: This study aimed to identify the microsite characteristics associated with post-fire Eucalyptus globulus regeneration from seeds. The findings are important for assessing the naturalization status of the species, understanding its invasion risk, and managing wildlings in plantations. The study identified two wildling cohorts, with the first cohort mainly appearing in post-fire microsites and the second cohort mainly appearing in salvage-logged disturbance microsites. The high densities of E. globulus wildlings found established in burnt plantations indicated naturalization was in progress.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nuria J. Elvira, Francisco Lloret, Luciana Jaime, Jordi Margalef-Marrase, Maria Angeles Perez Navarro, Enric Batllori
Summary: Fire and drought are two major factors shaping Mediterranean ecosystems. This study investigated the success of post-fire regeneration of Pinta halepensis under compound fire-drought regimes. Results showed that fire severity, temperature deviations, and precipitation deviations all played a role in determining pine tree regeneration density.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Vera Margreiter, Francesco Porro, Andrea Mondoni, Brigitta Erschbamer
Summary: The distributional differences between Saxifraga species cannot be solely attributed to habitat specialization, but recruitment traits may play a role. Early life stages are critical to population dynamics and widespread species show wider responses to climatic conditions. All Saxifraga species are threatened by climate warming.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. J. van Blerk, A. G. West, R. Altwegg, M. T. Hoffman
Summary: Summer rainfall patterns can strongly affect post-fire vegetation recovery, especially impacting new seeder plants. Drought sensitivity and mortality rates are higher for new seeder plants compared to resprouters, with summer irrigations reducing stress levels and mortality. Variation in post-fire summer rainfall can significantly alter population recovery patterns for both new seeder and resprouter plants.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Berin D. E. Mackenzie, Tony D. Auld, David A. Keith, Mark K. J. Ooi
Summary: Fire seasonality has significant impacts on the dormancy and germination of seeds in plants, with temperature cues and fire-associated heat and smoke playing important roles in stimulating germination. Different species exhibit varied responses to temperature and seasonal cues, highlighting the complexity of fire-driven recruitment in nature.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Roger Puig-Girones, Lluis Brotons, Pere Pons
Summary: The study analyzes the impact of fire on open-habitat bird species and finds that the time elapsed since the fire, fire severity, and proximity of potential population sources are related to species richness. Some species show time lags in response to post-fire changes, while water deficit plays a significant role in bird occurrence.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Forestry
James M. Furlaud, Lynda D. Prior, Grant J. Williamson, David M. J. S. Bowman
Summary: Research in the Australian tall wet Eucalyptus forest found that as stand development stages change, fuel loads remain consistent while understorey moisture increases, rainforest tree abundance rises, leading to decreased fire risk and increased likelihood of high-severity fires in the early stages. Additionally, stands initiated by stand-replacing fire are more vulnerable to subsequent high-severity fires due to lack of a remaining mature canopy.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Fernanda Moura Fonseca Lucas, Emmanoella Costa Guarana Araujo, Nilton Cesar Fiedler, Jose Augusto da Silva Santana, Alexandre Franca Tetto
Summary: Brazil attracts attention in the international news due to the occurrence of large forest fires in its ecosystems. This study aimed to analyze the patterns of publications and identify gaps in forest fire research in Brazilian Protected Areas (PAs) to guide future research directions. The results showed a growing interest in the topic and a wide network of collaboration between Brazilian and international institutions.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biology
Heather D. Alexander, Courtney Siegert, J. Stephen Brewer, Jesse Kreye, Marcus A. Lashley, Jennifer K. McDaniel, Alison K. Paulson, Heidi J. Renninger, J. Morgan Varner
Summary: Pyrophytic oak landscapes in the central and eastern United States are losing dominance due to the encroachment of shade-tolerant, fire-sensitive, or opportunistic tree species in the absence of periodic, low-intensity surface fires. Mesophication, a hypothesized process initiated by intentional fire exclusion, is commonly cited as causing this transition, but many questions remain about its role in declining oak dominance.
Article
Biology
Yuji Takihara, Takumi Higaki, Tomomasa Yokomizo, Terumasa Umemoto, Kazunori Ariyoshi, Michihiro Hashimoto, Maiko Sezaki, Hitoshi Takizawa, Toshihiro Inoue, Toshio Suda, Hidenobu Mizuno
Summary: This study developed an intravital imaging method to observe the migration dynamics of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) during bone marrow formation. Neonatal HSCs migrate from outside to inside the tibia via the blood vessels that penetrate the bone, and settle on the blood vessel wall in the bone marrow.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Hope Fillingim, Benjamin O. Knapp, John M. Kabrick, Michael C. Stambaugh, Grant P. Elliott, Daniel C. Dey
Summary: Shortleaf pine is a fire-adapted tree species, and the season of prescribed burning can affect the success of its germination. The study found that late spring burning resulted in high mortality of young germinants, while fall burning yielded the highest germinant count. It is recommended to conduct fall burns if improving natural regeneration from seed is the primary objective.
Article
Plant Sciences
Cassy Anne Rodrigues, Alessandra Fidelis
Summary: Different fire frequencies can result in changes in plant communities of open savannas in central Brazil, but do not affect species richness. Annual fire treatments show consistency in post-fire regeneration, while biennial treatments show more variation. Species that appear immediately after a fire may not persist in the long term.
JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Aymen Moghli, Victor M. Santana, M. Jaime Baeza, Estrella Pastor, Santiago Soliveres
Summary: The study sampled 29 plots in Southeast Spain and found that high fire recurrence and longer time since the last fire had impacts on ecosystem services, especially with positive effects on biodiversity conservation and food production services. However, disturbance regulation services were greatly affected by fire events, with no overall impact on supporting services.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aymen Moghli, Victor M. Santana, Santiago Soliveres, M. Jaime Baeza
Summary: Thinning and plantation in overstocked pine stands can enhance ecosystem attributes such as disturbance regulation, biodiversity conservation, and food production. These effects are mainly driven by aboveground attributes and may not affect belowground attributes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joaquin Moreno, Sergio Asensio, Miguel Berdugo, Beatriz Gozalo, Victoria Ochoa, David S. Pescador, Blas M. Benito, Fernando T. Maestre
Summary: Drylands cover approximately 41% of the terrestrial surface and soil moisture plays a crucial role in determining hydrological processes and the activity and performance of organisms in these ecosystems. The MOISCRUST dataset, a long-term soil moisture dataset from a Mediterranean semiarid dryland, provides valuable insights into the dynamics of soil water and its impacts on both vascular plants and biocrusts, contributing to a better understanding of dryland ecosystems and their responses to climate change.
Review
Biology
Bettina Weber, Jayne Belnap, Burkhard Budel, Anita J. Antoninka, Nichole N. Barger, V. Bala Chaudhary, Anthony Darrouzet-Nardi, David J. Eldridge, Akasha M. Faist, Scott Ferrenberg, Caroline A. Havrilla, Elisabeth Huber-Sannwald, Oumarou Malam Issa, Fernando T. Maestre, Sasha C. Reed, Emilio Rodriguez-Caballero, Colin Tucker, Kristina E. Young, Yuanming Zhang, Yunge Zhao, Xiaobing Zhou, Matthew A. Bowker
Summary: Studies of biocrusts have grown in recent years with a broader literature, increased research scope, and incorporation into global perspectives and models. This review aims to establish a clear and comprehensive definition of biocrusts, highlighting their ecological relevance and ecosystem services. The four defining elements of biocrusts are physical structure, functional characteristics, habitat, and taxonomic composition. The review also covers outgroups and different community types falling under the biocrust definition. The suggested universal definition emphasizes the association between soil particles and photoautotrophic and heterotrophic organisms living within or on top of the uppermost millimeters of soil.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
A. Vasques, M. Baudena, V. R. Vallejo, S. Kefi, S. Bautista, V. M. Santana, M. J. Baeza, P. Maia, J. J. Keizer, M. Rietkerk
Summary: Recurrent fires can hinder the natural regeneration of pine forests and result in their replacement by shrubland, especially when shrub species are pyrophytic. However, model-based studies suggest that under current climatic conditions, the post-fire succession in pine forests tends towards oak dominance under high fire severity and recurrence. The type of shrub species plays a key role in this process, with resprouter species delaying the dominance of oaks.
Article
Plant Sciences
Laura Garcia-Velazquez, Antonio Gallardo, Victoria Ochoa, Beatriz Gozalo, Roberto Lazaro, Fernando T. Maestre
Summary: This study investigates the impacts of temperature warming, rainfall reduction, and biocrust cover on soil phosphorus (P) pools in drylands. It finds that warming increases most P pools, except occluded P, while rainfall reduction has no effect on soil P pools. Biocrusts enhance soil P pools and provide resilience against warming and rainfall reduction.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Monica Ladron de Guevara, Fernando T. Maestre
Summary: This review examines the ecological roles and responses of biocrust-forming mosses in drylands. It highlights the importance of the interactions between moss functional traits and the environment and other organisms. The review also identifies key areas for future research to improve our understanding of the ecology and climate change responses of these mosses.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Laura Concostrina-Zubiri, Miguel Berdugo, Enrique Valencia, Betty J. Mendoza, Fernando T. Maestre
Summary: The decomposition of biocrust tissues plays a significant role in soil nutrient cycling in dryland areas, influencing soil organic carbon, dissolved organic nitrogen, ammonia, and acid phosphatase activity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
David Salesa, M. Jaime Baeza, E. Perez-Ferrandiz, Victor M. Santana
Summary: The stability of Mediterranean ecosystems is at risk due to climate change, particularly the extension of summer droughts. This study found that prolonged droughts during the post-fire dry season reduced seedling establishment and species richness in Mediterranean seeder communities. Different drought treatments had varying impacts on different plant families.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Manuel Esteban Lucas-Borja, Demetrio Antonio Zema, Cristina Fernandez, Rocio Soria, Isabel Miralles, Victor M. Santana, Javier Perez-Romero, Antonio D. del Campo, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
Summary: Eco-engineering techniques are effective at reducing soil erosion and restoring vegetal cover after wildfire. However, there is limited evidence on the effects of these techniques on restoring plant diversity. A regional-scale analysis in the Iberian Peninsula found that there were no significant differences in species richness and diversity between forests treated with different post-fire eco-engineering techniques and burned or non-treated soils. Some small significant differences were found for sites treated with log erosion barriers or mulching, which increased species richness and diversity in certain pine species and shrublands. Contour felled log debris with burning slightly increased vegetation diversity, while log erosion barriers, chipping, and felling were not successful in supporting plant diversity.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biology
David S. Pescador, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, Anna Maria Fiore-Donno, Brajesh K. Singh, Michael Bonkowski, Fernando T. Maestre
Summary: Determining the influence of climate on the global distribution of soil microbial communities is crucial for predicting potential shifts in soil food webs and ecosystem functioning under global change scenarios. Our study found that changes in temperature and aridity had a significant impact on the relative abundance of ecological clusters formed by bacteria-fungi and bacteria-cercozoa taxa. These findings have important implications for understanding the potential effects of climate change on soil communities and ecosystem services.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Anna Edlinger, Gina Garland, Kyle Hartman, Samiran Banerjee, Florine Degrune, Pablo Garcia-Palacios, Sara Hallin, Alain Valzano-Held, Chantal Herzog, Jan Jansa, Elena Kost, Fernando T. Maestre, David Sanchez Pescador, Laurent Philippot, Matthias C. Rillig, Sana Romdhane, Aurelien Saghai, Ayme Spor, Emmanuel Frossard, Marcel G. A. van der Heijden
Summary: By combining field data and greenhouse experiments, the authors demonstrate the impact of agricultural management practices, such as fungicide applications, on the provision of phosphorus to plants by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the soil. Their research suggests that AMF in grassland soils are more efficient in acquiring and transferring phosphorus to plants compared to AMF in cropland soils, which are affected by fungicide use. These findings highlight the importance of land-use intensity and fungicide application in determining the functioning and natural nutrient uptake capacity of AMF in agroecosystems.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Correction
Plant Sciences
Mara Baudena, Victor M. M. Santana, M. Jaime Baeza, Susana Bautista, Maarten B. B. Eppinga, Lia Hemerik, Angeles Garcia Mayor, Francisco Rodriguez, Alejandro Valdecantos, V. Ramon Vallejo, Ana Vasques, Max Rietkerk
Article
Plant Sciences
Emilio Guirado, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, Jaime Martinez-Valderrama, Siham Tabik, Domingo Alcaraz-Segura, Fernando T. Maestre
Summary: This study emphasizes the importance of considering past wetter climates and well-preserved aquifers in explaining the current distribution of dryland forests, which can guide restoration actions to avoid unsuitable areas for tree establishment in a drier world.