Sponsor
This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (award# 1832483) and by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovacion ´Productiva (Argentina)) through the Agencia Nacional de Promocion ´Científica y Tecnologica ´ (grant PICT-2019-406).
Published In
Forest Ecology and Management
Document Type
Pre-Print
Publication Date
12-15-2023
Abstract
The introduction of non-native tree species for large-scale afforestation may alter the fire regime of native ecosystems by modifying fuel proprieties. We quantified changes in fuel abundance and structure resulting from the establishment of commercial Pinus spp. plantations in Araucaria araucana ecosystems in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. Specifically, we assessed the amount, distribution, and condition (live/dead) of surface and standing fine fuel in A. araucana stands with mature pine plantations (i.e. > 20 cm dbh) and in stands dominated only by A. araucana (control). Our study shows that both types of stands are prone to wildfires, but pine plantations have fuel characteristics that imply greater flammability due to higher fuel load and vertical continuity in the understory and in the overstory canopy. In the absence of fuel mitigation practices, A. araucana stands with plantations exhibit greater flammability than the control A. araucana stands, potentially promoting the occurrence and spread of fires of greater severity. This study contributes to understanding the effects of enrichment planting of pines, and possibly pine invasions, on A. araucaria ecosystem flammability and their potential consequences on fire behavior.
DOI
10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121512
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/41324
Citation Details
Cingolani, S., Mundo, I. A., Barberá, I., Holz, A., Veblen, T. T., & Paritsis, J. (2023). Enrichment-planting with pines alters fuel amount and structure in endangered Araucaria araucana forests in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. Forest Ecology and Management, 550, 121512.
Description
This is a preprint article. A final peer reviewed article has now been published. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121512