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Arrested Succession on Fire-Affected Slopes in the Krummholz Zone and Subalpine Forest of the Northern Limestone Alps

Title data

De Giuli, Marta ; Winkler, Markus ; Deola, Thomas ; Henschel, Julia ; Sass, Oliver ; Wolff, Peter ; Jentsch, Anke:
Arrested Succession on Fire-Affected Slopes in the Krummholz Zone and Subalpine Forest of the Northern Limestone Alps.
In: Diversity. Vol. 16 (2024) Issue 7 . - 366.
ISSN 1424-2818
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070366

Abstract in another language

Fire in the Northern Alps is comparatively rare. Yet, previous human-ignited fire events in subalpine forests up to the treeline have triggered severe fire damage to vegetation and soil. Here, we investigate post-fire vegetation dynamics in the Northern Limestone Alps about 80 years after disturbance. We observed higher species richness in burned compared to unburned vegetation and clearly distinct floristic communities emerging after fire-driven forest removal, with several alpine specialist species uniquely found in the burned subalpine sites. The functional composition of vegetation was also distinct, with higher relative forb cover in burned plots. This difference was likely driven by disturbance-related environmental changes, such as increased light availability, offering safe sites for subalpine and alpine species. Due to a general lack of tree encroachment, we consider this a case of arrested succession after fire. We conclude that the recovery of fire-affected subalpine forests is modulated by complex interactions of climatic and biotic filters producing extreme site conditions, controlling the recolonization of the disturbed areas by forest species while providing safe sites for the establishment of a rich subalpine and alpine low-statured flora. The coupling of disturbance and abiotic filters makes high-elevation treeline ecotones very vulnerable to climate change.

Further data

Item Type: Article in a journal
Refereed: Yes
Keywords: vegetation dynamics; wildfire; recovery; alpine communities; calcareous alps; arrested succession; microclimate; floristic survey; Pinus mugo; extreme site; diversity; high-elevation ecosystem
Institutions of the University: Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences > Chair Geomorphology > Chair Geomorphology - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Oliver Sass
Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Earth Sciences > Professor Disturbance Ecology > Professor Disturbance Ecology - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Anke Jentsch
Result of work at the UBT: Yes
DDC Subjects: 500 Science > 550 Earth sciences, geology
Date Deposited: 09 Aug 2024 08:00
Last Modified: 09 Aug 2024 08:00
URI: https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/90178