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Vegetation limits the impact of a warm climate on boreal wildfires
Author(s) -
Girardin Martin P.,
Ali Adam A.,
Carcaillet Christopher,
Blarquez Olivier,
Hély Christelle,
Terrier Aurélie,
Genries Aurélie,
Bergeron Yves
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.12322
Subject(s) - boreal , taiga , climate change , environmental science , vegetation (pathology) , physical geography , climatology , fire regime , holocene , ecology , geography , forestry , ecosystem , geology , oceanography , medicine , pathology , biology
Summary Strategic introduction of less flammable broadleaf vegetation into landscapes was suggested as a management strategy for decreasing the risk of boreal wildfires projected under climatic change. However, the realization and strength of this offsetting effect in an actual environment remain to be demonstrated. Here we combined paleoecological data, global climate models and wildfire modelling to assess regional fire frequency (Reg FF , i.e. the number of fires through time) in boreal forests as it relates to tree species composition and climate over millennial time‐scales. Lacustrine charcoals from northern landscapes of eastern boreal Canada indicate that Reg FF during the mid‐Holocene (6000–3000 yr ago) was significantly higher than pre‐industrial Reg FF ( ad c . 1750). In southern landscapes, Reg FF was not significantly higher than the pre‐industrial Reg FF in spite of the declining drought severity. The modelling experiment indicates that the high fire risk brought about by a warmer and drier climate in the south during the mid‐Holocene was offset by a higher broadleaf component. Our data highlight an important function for broadleaf vegetation in determining boreal Reg FF in a warmer climate. We estimate that its feedback may be large enough to offset the projected climate change impacts on drought conditions.