Mechanisms of Fire Seasonality Effects on Plant Populations

Russell G Miller; Ryan Tangney; Neal J Enright; Joseph B Fontaine; David J Merritt; Mark K J Ooi; Katinka X Ruthrof; Ben P Miller

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2019.07.009

Mechanisms of Fire Seasonality Effects on Plant Populations

Trends Ecol Evol. 2019 Dec;34(12):1104-1117. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.07.009. Epub 2019 Aug 6.

Authors

Russell G Miller¹, Ryan Tangney², Neal J Enright³, Joseph B Fontaine³, David J Merritt⁴, Mark K J Ooi⁵, Katinka X Ruthrof⁶, Ben P Miller⁴

Affiliations

¹ Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch 6150, WA, Australia; Kings Park Science, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 1 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, 6005, WA, Australia. Electronic address: R.Miller@murdoch.edu.au.
² Kings Park Science, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 1 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, 6005, WA, Australia; Bushfire Technical Services, Rural Fire Division, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Perth 6000, WA, Australia.
³ Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch 6150, WA, Australia.
⁴ Kings Park Science, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 1 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, 6005, WA, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, WA, Australia.
⁵ School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, NSW, Australia; School of Earth, Atmospheric, and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, NSW, Australia.
⁶ Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch 6150, WA, Australia; Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington 6151, WA, Australia.

PMID: 31399287
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.07.009

Abstract

Altered fire regimes resulting from climate change and human activity threaten many terrestrial ecosystems. However, we lack a holistic and detailed understanding of the effects of altering one key fire regime component - season of fire. Altered fire seasonality can strongly affect post-fire recovery of plant populations through interactions with plant phenology. We identify seven key mechanisms of fire seasonality effects under a conceptual demographic framework and review evidence for these. We reveal negative impacts of altered fire seasonality and identify research gaps for mechanisms and climate types for future analyses of fire seasonality effects within the identified demographic framework. This framework and these mechanisms can inform critical decisions for conservation, land management, and fire management policy development globally.

Keywords: climate change; fire regime; fire season; phenology; plant demography; prescribed burning.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Climate Change
Ecosystem*
Fires*
Human Activities
Humans
Plants