Climatic and edaphic gradients predict variation in wildland fuel hazard in south‐eastern Australia

• DOI: 10.1111/ecog.04714
• Publication Date: 2019-12-02T21:23:14Z
• Authors: S. C. McColl‐Gausden; L. T. Bennett; T. J. Duff; J. G. Cawson; T. D. Penman
• Keywords: Edaphic; Fire regime; Fire hazard; Prescribed burn

Understanding spatial variation in wildland fuel is central to predicting wildfire behaviour as well current and future fire regimes. Vegetation (plant material) – both live (biomass) dead (necromass) constitutes most aspects of (hereafter ‘fuel’). It therefore likely that factors influencing vegetation structure composition climate, soils, disturbance also will influence associated hazard. Nonetheless, these relationships are poorly understood temperate environments. In this study, we used an extensive database hazard assessments determine the extent which environmental variables (climatic conditions soil type) (fire) can predict native across south‐eastern Australia. Fuel ratings based on horizontal vertical continuity fine fuels (dead plant material < 6 mm thick, 3 thick) burn flaming front a fire. These scores widely by managers We develop models patterns for each stratum (surface, near‐surface, elevated bark) height two strata (near‐surface, elevated). Soil, climate time since were strong predictors at least one stratum, strongest all strata. fixed regions with contrasting environments Australia better understand arrangement varied within between regions, emphasising complexity heterogeneity affect from local landscape extents. The improve basis analysing increase capacity regimes under climates.