Seed source pattern and terrain have scale-dependent effects on post-fire tree recovery
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Seed source pattern and terrain have scale-dependent effects on post-fire tree recovery Jamie L. Peeler
. Erica A. H. Smithwick
Received: 6 March 2020 / Accepted: 13 July 2020 Ó Springer Nature B.V. 2020
Abstract Context Distance to seed source is often used to estimate seed dispersal—a process needed for post-fire tree recovery. However, distance, especially in mountainous terrain, does not capture pattern or scaledependent effects controlling seed supply and delivery. Measuring seed source pattern (area and arrangement) could provide insights on how these spatial dynamics shape recovery. Objectives We tested metrics and investigated how seed source pattern, tree regeneration traits, scale, and terrain interact to shape post-fire tree recovery. Our research questions were: Does seed source pattern outperform distance when modeling tree species presence and regeneration density? If yes, does seed source pattern have scale-dependent or terrain-dependent effects on regeneration density?
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-020-01071-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. J. L. Peeler (&) Department of Geography, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA e-mail: [email protected]
Methods We measured seed source pattern at nested spatial extents around 71 plots and related measurements to local post-fire tree recovery. We used generalized linear models to test metrics and visualize scale-dependent and terrain-dependent effects on regeneration density. Results Distance sufficiently modeled presence, but seed source pattern outperformed distance when modeling regeneration density. Relevant spatial extents and relationships were species-dependent. For wind-dispersed species, regeneration was associated with more seed source area and more complex arrangements, but terrain mediated these relationships. For serotinous and resprouting species, regeneration was associated with less seed source area and less complex arrangements, which are consistent with high-severity burn sites that promote recovery. Conclusions Seed source pattern supports spatial resilience and interacts with scale and terrain to shape regeneration density. Accounting for these spatial dynamics could help steward forests facing changing fire regimes. Keywords Mixed conifer forest Fire Seed dispersal Pattern Terrain Spatial resilience
E. A. H. Smithwick Department of Geography and Earth and Environmental Systems Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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Landscape Ecol
Introduction Forests in the western United States are facing changing fire regimes due to higher temperatures, earlier spring snowmelt, and longer fire seasons (Dennison et al. 2014; Abatzoglou and Williams 2016; Westerling 2016; Balch et al. 2017). To steward these forests, managers rely on processes (flows of material and energy) that facilitate post-fi
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