Short-term impacts of wildfire and post-fire mulching on ecosystem multifunctionality in a semi-arid pine forest

• DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121000
• Publication Date: 2023-05-05T09:32:11Z
• Authors: Maria Dolores Car...; Marcos Francos; Isabel Miralles; Rocio Soria; Saeed Shahabi Aha...; Elahe Vafaie; Demetrio Antonio ...; Manuel Esteban Lu...
• Keywords: Plant diversity; Ecosystem properties; Ecosystem structure; Soil characteristics; Post-fire management; 01 natural sciences; Ecosystem functions; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Straw and wood chips have been widely used as mulch materials to control post-fire erosion in burned forests. However, their effects on ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) little explored. This information is essential give forest managers insight about the effectiveness of these strategies for restoration severely-burned To fill this gap, study has evaluated short-term (one year after wildfire) changes properties (associated soil characteristics), structure (linked plant diversity), individual functions, EMF a Mediterranean forest. delicate was by wildfire then mulched with straw or chips, conditions compared untreated, unburned sites. The results shown that: (i) neither nor mulching significantly changed exception pH; (ii) contrast, declined plots due wildfire, did not limit alteration species richness; (iii) among analysed waste decomposition nutrient cycling, which were higher soils sites, showed intermediate similar values plots, while water cycle production (the latter plots) all conditions, climate regulation only sites; (iv) increased from untreated (v) effective at limiting reduction but partially dampened impact fire. Moreover, combined analysis properties, revealed except cycle, associated one more vegetation parameters; community composition noticeably influenced several and, therefore, EMF; richness key driver production; pH, found most influential property functions EMF, may be considered an important ecological predictor basic practical importance policymakers land actions preserve fragile ecosystems, such wildfire-affected