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...
Published in: | Environmental Research Letters |
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Online Access: | https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 http://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/142909 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 |
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ftsiberianfuniv:oai:elib.sfu-kras.ru:2311/142909 2023-05-15T17:56:39+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 Институт экологии и географии Лаборатория биогеохимии экосистем Лаборатория комплексных исследований динамики лесов Евразии 2020 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 http://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/142909 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 unknown Environmental Research Letters Q1 Alexander, V Kirdyanov. Long-term ecological consequences of forest fires in the continuous permafrost zone of Siberia [Текст] / V Kirdyanov Alexander, Saurer Matthias, Siegwolf Rolf, A Knorre Anastasia, S Prokushkin Anatoly, Olga V Churakova (Sidorova), V Fonti Marina, Büntgen Ulf // Environmental Research Letters. — 2020. — Т. 15 (№ 3). 17489326 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 http://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/142909 doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 active soil layer boreal forest permafrost Siberia stable isotopes tree rings wildfire Journal Article Journal Article Preprint 2020 ftsiberianfuniv https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 2021-08-31T00:02:56Z 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 δ13Cin 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 δ13C and negative δ18O 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 Siberian Federal University: Archiv Elektronnych SFU Environmental Research Letters 15 3 034061 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Siberian Federal University: Archiv Elektronnych SFU |
op_collection_id |
ftsiberianfuniv |
language |
unknown |
topic |
active soil layer boreal forest permafrost Siberia stable isotopes tree rings wildfire |
spellingShingle |
active soil layer boreal forest permafrost Siberia stable isotopes tree rings wildfire 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 wildfire |
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 δ13Cin 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 δ13C and negative δ18O 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. |
author2 |
Институт экологии и географии Лаборатория биогеохимии экосистем Лаборатория комплексных исследований динамики лесов Евразии |
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 |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 http://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/142909 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 |
genre |
permafrost Siberia |
genre_facet |
permafrost Siberia |
op_relation |
Environmental Research Letters Q1 Alexander, V Kirdyanov. Long-term ecological consequences of forest fires in the continuous permafrost zone of Siberia [Текст] / V Kirdyanov Alexander, Saurer Matthias, Siegwolf Rolf, A Knorre Anastasia, S Prokushkin Anatoly, Olga V Churakova (Sidorova), V Fonti Marina, Büntgen Ulf // Environmental Research Letters. — 2020. — Т. 15 (№ 3). 17489326 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 http://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/142909 doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ab7469 |
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 |
_version_ |
1766164885837709312 |