期刊
BIOSCIENCE
卷 71, 期 5, 页码 531-542出版社
OXFORD UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biaa169
关键词
fire-adapted traits; flammability; mesophytic; prescribed fire; pyrophytic
类别
资金
- National Institution of Food and Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture [MISZ-069450, MISZ-399080, MISZ-069390, PEN-04685]
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.
Pyrophytic oak landscapes across the central and eastern United States are losing dominance as shade-tolerant, fire-sensitive, or opportunistic tree species encroach into these ecosystems in the absence of periodic, low-intensity surface fires. Mesophication, a hypothesized process initiated by intentional fire exclusion by which these encroaching species progressively create conditions favorable for their own persistence at the expense of pyrophytic species, is commonly cited as causing this structural and compositional transition. However, many questions remain regarding mesophication and its role in declining oak dominance. In the present article, we review support and key knowledge gaps for the mesophication hypothesis. We then pose avenues for future research that consider which tree species and tree traits create self-perpetuating conditions and under what conditions tree-level processes might affect forest flammability at broader scales. Our goal is to promote research that can better inform restoration and conservation of oak ecosystems experiencing structural and compositional shifts across the region.
作者
我是这篇论文的作者
点击您的名字以认领此论文并将其添加到您的个人资料中。
推荐
暂无数据