The effects of wildfires and spruce beetle outbreaks on forest
temperatures

Date:
October 21, 2020
Source:
Wiley
Summary:
Results indicate that wildfires may play a role in accelerating
climate- driven species changes in mountain forests by compounding
regional warming trends.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Results from a study published in the Journal of Biogeography indicate
that wildfires may play a role in accelerating climate-driven species
changes in mountain forests by compounding regional warming trends.


==========================================================================
The study examined temperatures within forests in a region of Colorado
that has experienced wildfires and spruce beetle outbreaks within the
last 10 to 15 years. Researchers used a network of sensors to record temperatures for a full year in burned and beetle-impacted areas.

Burned areas were warmer than unburned forest. Conversely, canopy loss
(the upper layer of trees) in unburned, beetle-killed forests resulted
in slight cooling. This difference may be attributed to differing effects
of each disturbance type on understory cover and residual canopy.

"We tend to assume that disturbances are going to catalyze climate
change- driven forest declines, but we found that the type and severity
of the disturbance matters," said lead author Amanda Carlson, PhD,
of Colorado State University. "Elevated temperatures in burned forests
could indicate that trees will have a more difficult time re-establishing,
but the fact that we did not observe amplified warming in beetle-killed
stands could indicate that forests will be much more resilient to that
type of disturbance."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Wiley. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Amanda R. Carlson, Jason S. Sibold, Jose' F. Negro'n. Wildfire
and spruce
beetle outbreak have mixed effects on below‐canopy
temperatures in a Rocky Mountain subalpine forest. Journal of
Biogeography, 2020; DOI: 10.1111/jbi.13994 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201021085102.htm

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