Introduction

Myster, Randall W.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-3797-0_1

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…However, responses of these ponderosa pine forests to both wildfire and post-wildfire management are not well understood. Ecotones between grassland and forest biomes represent dynamic border regions that are assumed to be vulnerable to abrupt ecological transitions in the face of disturbance [23]. Severe wildfire is thought to lead to a state shift from forest to grassland within these regions (USDA Ecological Site Descriptions), leading to concerns about the loss of ponderosa pine forest following severe wildfire in eastern ponderosa pine.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ponderosa Pine Regeneration, Wildland Fuels Management, and Habitat Conservation: Identifying Trade-Offs Following Wildfire

Donovan

Roberts

Wonkka

et al. 2019

Forests

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Increasing wildfires in western North American conifer forests have led to debates surrounding the application of post-fire management practices. There is a lack of consensus on whether (and to what extent) post-fire management assists or hinders managers in achieving goals, particularly in under-studied regions like eastern ponderosa pine forests. This makes it difficult for forest managers to balance among competing interests. We contrast structural and community characteristics across unburned ponderosa pine forest, severely burned ponderosa pine forest, and severely burned ponderosa pine forest treated with post-fire management with respect to three management objectives: ponderosa pine regeneration, wildland fuels control, and habitat conservation. Ponderosa pine saplings were more abundant in treated burned sites than untreated burned sites, suggesting increases in tree regeneration following tree planting; however, natural regeneration was evident in both unburned and untreated burned sites. Wildland fuels management greatly reduced snags and coarse woody debris in treated burned sites. Understory cover measurements revealed bare ground and fine woody debris were more strongly associated with untreated burned sites, and greater levels of forbs and grass were more strongly associated with treated burned sites. Wildlife habitat was greatly reduced following post-fire treatments. There were no tree cavities in treated burned sites, whereas untreated burned sites had an average of 27 ± 7.68 cavities per hectare. Correspondingly, we found almost double the avian species richness in untreated burned sites compared to treated burned sites (22 species versus 12 species). Unburned forests and untreated burned areas had the same species richness, but hosted unique avian communities. Our results indicate conflicting outcomes with respect to management objectives, most evident in the clear costs to habitat conservation following post-fire management application.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ponderosa Pine Regeneration, Wildland Fuels Management, and Habitat Conservation: Identifying Trade-Offs Following Wildfire

Donovan

Roberts

Wonkka

et al. 2019

Forests

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“…Seed dispersal networks also play a critical role in terrestrial ecotone zones, such as in grassland–forest ecotones, as animal seed dispersers may help plant species to expand their distribution across phytophysiognomy boundaries, ultimately transforming the landscape (Jensen et al 1986, Bossuyt et al 1999, Carlucci et al 2011, Müller et al 2012, Myster 2012). Grasslands are a major biome of the planet, occupying an area equivalent to 31–43% of the land surface (Coupland 1979, White et al 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although forest expansion is considered a threat to grassland conservation, this process creates a unique and useful scenario for ecological studies, as grassland–forest ecotones encompass a ‘mosaic of lifeforms’ that share very distinct evolutionary origins and life histories (Luza et al 2015) that compete for space and other resources. Seed dispersal networks, formed by woody plants and frugivores, are likely to be an important driver of spatial and temporal dynamics in grassland–forest mosaics, as seed dispersal of woody plants may accelerate the expansion of forest ecosystems (Carlucci et al 2011, Müller et al 2012, Myster 2012). Thus, grassland–forest ecotones constitute a pertinent case for studying simulated coextinctions, with important consequences for the development of conservation policies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loss of Generalist Plant Species and Functional Diversity Decreases the Robustness of a Seed Dispersal Network

et al. 2018

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SummaryUnderstanding cascading effects of species loss is a major challenge for ecologists. Traditionally, the robustness of ecological networks has been evaluated based on simulation studies where primary extinctions occur at random or as a function of species specialization, ignoring other important biological factors. Here, we estimate the robustness of a seed dispersal network from a grassland–forest mosaic in southern Brazil, simulating distinct scenarios of woody plant species extinction, including scenarios where species are eliminated based on their evolutionary and functional distinctiveness. Our results suggest that the network is more robust when species are eliminated based on their evolutionary uniqueness, followed by random extinctions, the extinction of the most specialist species, functional distinctiveness and, at last, when the most generalist species are sequentially eliminated. Our results provide important information for grassland–forest mosaic management, as they indicate that loss of generalist species and functional diversity makes the system more likely to collapse.

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“…Because of human impact [2] and environmental effects showing mosaic patterning [3] these boundaries and the ecoton zones indicate not a clear border rather a mosaic system in the basin and in the mountainous region surrounding the basin [3]. Thus the current and the prospective, modeled climatic changes [4] might have an important effect on the transitional zone of the open and closed vegetation, on the ecoton zone behind this boundary and on the forested areas in the mountainous region and the basin [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Future Climate Impacts in Woodland and Forest Steppe Based on Holocene Paleoclimatic Trends, Paleobotanical Change in Central Part of the Carpathian Basin (Hungary)

Náfrádi¹,

Jakab²,

Sümegi³

et al. 2013

AJPS

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The Sirok Nyírjes-tó peat bog provides an almost full Holocene climatic record reconstructed by bog surface wetness investigations based on plant macrofossil analysis. We compared our macrofossil data to anthracological material derived from archaeological sites and to the newest bioclimatological models of the Carpathian basin. On the basis of environmental historical and climatic data we aimed to reconstruct the expected changes of forested areas in the Carpathian Basin. The results indicate that the surface wetness decreases in long term. Parallel to the Sphagnum-peat decline an open forest and forest steppe developed surrounding the bog. The complete disappearance of Sphagna from the area must be linked to a steady drop in rainfall, resulting in at least 50 mm deficit in the local water balance. This could have been achieved by an increased evapotranspiration as a result of elevated temperatures of the summer growth season. This deficit value must have exceeded even 100 mm during the Middle Holocene Transition.

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Introduction

Cited by 6 publications

References 63 publications

Ponderosa Pine Regeneration, Wildland Fuels Management, and Habitat Conservation: Identifying Trade-Offs Following Wildfire

Ponderosa Pine Regeneration, Wildland Fuels Management, and Habitat Conservation: Identifying Trade-Offs Following Wildfire

Loss of Generalist Plant Species and Functional Diversity Decreases the Robustness of a Seed Dispersal Network

Future Climate Impacts in Woodland and Forest Steppe Based on Holocene Paleoclimatic Trends, Paleobotanical Change in Central Part of the Carpathian Basin (Hungary)

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