Long-term ecological consequences of forest fires in the continuous permafrost zone of Siberia
Wildfires are an important factor in controlling forest ecosystem dynamics across the circumpolar boreal zone. An improved understanding of their direct and indirect, short- to long-term impacts on vegetation cover and permafrost–vegetation coupling is particularly important to predict changes in ca...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 https://doaj.org/article/8359e36d6869418c950228fd0ef7197f |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:8359e36d6869418c950228fd0ef7197f 2023-09-05T13:22:29+02:00 Long-term ecological consequences of forest fires in the continuous permafrost zone of Siberia Alexander V Kirdyanov Matthias Saurer Rolf Siegwolf Anastasia A Knorre Anatoly S Prokushkin Olga V Churakova (Sidorova) Marina V Fonti Ulf Büntgen 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 https://doaj.org/article/8359e36d6869418c950228fd0ef7197f EN eng IOP Publishing https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 https://doaj.org/toc/1748-9326 doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 1748-9326 https://doaj.org/article/8359e36d6869418c950228fd0ef7197f Environmental Research Letters, Vol 15, Iss 3, p 034061 (2020) active soil layer boreal forest permafrost Siberia stable isotopes tree rings Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TD1-1066 Environmental sciences GE1-350 Science Q Physics QC1-999 article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 2023-08-13T00:37:05Z Wildfires are an important factor in controlling forest ecosystem dynamics across the circumpolar boreal zone. An improved understanding of their direct and indirect, short- to long-term impacts on vegetation cover and permafrost–vegetation coupling is particularly important to predict changes in carbon, nutrient and water cycles under projected climate warming. Here, we apply dendrochronological techniques on a multi-parameter dataset to reconstruct the effect of wildfires on tree growth and seasonal permafrost thaw depth in Central Siberia. Based on annually-resolved and absolutely dated information from 19 Gmelin larch ( Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.) trees and active soil layer thickness measurements, we find substantial stand-level die-off, as well as the removal of ground vegetation and the organic layer following a major wildfire in 1896. Reduced stem growth coincides with increased δ ^13 C in the cellulose of the surviving trees during the first decade after the wildfire, when stomatal conductance was reduced. The next six to seven decades are characterized by increased permafrost active soil layer thickness. During this period of post-wildfire ecosystem recovery, enhanced tree growth together with positive δ ^13 C and negative δ ^18 O trends are indicative of higher rates of photosynthesis and improved water supply. Afterwards, a thinner active soil layer leads to reduced growth because tree physiological processes become limited by summer temperature and water availability. Revealing long-term effects of forest fires on active soil layer thickness, ground vegetation composition and tree growth, this study demonstrates the importance of complex vegetation–permafrost interactions that modify the trajectory of post-fire forest recovery across much of the circumpolar boreal zone. To further quantify the influence of boreal wildfires on large-scale carbon cycle dynamics, future work should consider a wide range of tree species from different habitats in the high-northern latitudes. Article in Journal/Newspaper permafrost Siberia Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Environmental Research Letters 15 3 034061 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
active soil layer boreal forest permafrost Siberia stable isotopes tree rings Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TD1-1066 Environmental sciences GE1-350 Science Q Physics QC1-999 |
spellingShingle |
active soil layer boreal forest permafrost Siberia stable isotopes tree rings Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TD1-1066 Environmental sciences GE1-350 Science Q Physics QC1-999 Alexander V Kirdyanov Matthias Saurer Rolf Siegwolf Anastasia A Knorre Anatoly S Prokushkin Olga V Churakova (Sidorova) Marina V Fonti Ulf Büntgen Long-term ecological consequences of forest fires in the continuous permafrost zone of Siberia |
topic_facet |
active soil layer boreal forest permafrost Siberia stable isotopes tree rings Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TD1-1066 Environmental sciences GE1-350 Science Q Physics QC1-999 |
description |
Wildfires are an important factor in controlling forest ecosystem dynamics across the circumpolar boreal zone. An improved understanding of their direct and indirect, short- to long-term impacts on vegetation cover and permafrost–vegetation coupling is particularly important to predict changes in carbon, nutrient and water cycles under projected climate warming. Here, we apply dendrochronological techniques on a multi-parameter dataset to reconstruct the effect of wildfires on tree growth and seasonal permafrost thaw depth in Central Siberia. Based on annually-resolved and absolutely dated information from 19 Gmelin larch ( Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.) trees and active soil layer thickness measurements, we find substantial stand-level die-off, as well as the removal of ground vegetation and the organic layer following a major wildfire in 1896. Reduced stem growth coincides with increased δ ^13 C in the cellulose of the surviving trees during the first decade after the wildfire, when stomatal conductance was reduced. The next six to seven decades are characterized by increased permafrost active soil layer thickness. During this period of post-wildfire ecosystem recovery, enhanced tree growth together with positive δ ^13 C and negative δ ^18 O trends are indicative of higher rates of photosynthesis and improved water supply. Afterwards, a thinner active soil layer leads to reduced growth because tree physiological processes become limited by summer temperature and water availability. Revealing long-term effects of forest fires on active soil layer thickness, ground vegetation composition and tree growth, this study demonstrates the importance of complex vegetation–permafrost interactions that modify the trajectory of post-fire forest recovery across much of the circumpolar boreal zone. To further quantify the influence of boreal wildfires on large-scale carbon cycle dynamics, future work should consider a wide range of tree species from different habitats in the high-northern latitudes. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Alexander V Kirdyanov Matthias Saurer Rolf Siegwolf Anastasia A Knorre Anatoly S Prokushkin Olga V Churakova (Sidorova) Marina V Fonti Ulf Büntgen |
author_facet |
Alexander V Kirdyanov Matthias Saurer Rolf Siegwolf Anastasia A Knorre Anatoly S Prokushkin Olga V Churakova (Sidorova) Marina V Fonti Ulf Büntgen |
author_sort |
Alexander V Kirdyanov |
title |
Long-term ecological consequences of forest fires in the continuous permafrost zone of Siberia |
title_short |
Long-term ecological consequences of forest fires in the continuous permafrost zone of Siberia |
title_full |
Long-term ecological consequences of forest fires in the continuous permafrost zone of Siberia |
title_fullStr |
Long-term ecological consequences of forest fires in the continuous permafrost zone of Siberia |
title_full_unstemmed |
Long-term ecological consequences of forest fires in the continuous permafrost zone of Siberia |
title_sort |
long-term ecological consequences of forest fires in the continuous permafrost zone of siberia |
publisher |
IOP Publishing |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 https://doaj.org/article/8359e36d6869418c950228fd0ef7197f |
genre |
permafrost Siberia |
genre_facet |
permafrost Siberia |
op_source |
Environmental Research Letters, Vol 15, Iss 3, p 034061 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 https://doaj.org/toc/1748-9326 doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 1748-9326 https://doaj.org/article/8359e36d6869418c950228fd0ef7197f |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 |
container_title |
Environmental Research Letters |
container_volume |
15 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
034061 |
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1776203009908277248 |