Environmental Studies and Forestry

Forest fires and climate-induced tree range shifts in the western US

A. P. Hill and C. B. Field

This research by Avery P. Hill and Christopher B. Field reveals how wildfire occurrence significantly influences tree range shifts in a warming climate. Findings suggest that fire could accelerate the displacement of certain tree species, highlighting the role of fire management in a rapidly changing environment.

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Abstract

Due to climate change, plant populations experience environmental conditions to which they are not adapted. This study tests the sensitivity of tree range shifts to wildfire occurrence, using 74,069 Forest Inventory Analysis plots across nine western US states. Wildfire significantly increased the seedling-only range displacement for two of eight tree species. The greater seedling-only range displacement observed across burned plots suggests that fire can accelerate climate-related range shifts and that fire and fire management will play a role in the rate of vegetation redistribution in response to climate change.

Publisher

Nature Communications

Published On

Nov 15, 2021

Authors

Avery P. Hill, Christopher B. Field

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