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A quantitative study of post-fire resprouting of Quercus brantii Lindl. in Zagros forests (Kermanshah province, Iran).

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Název: A quantitative study of post-fire resprouting of Quercus brantii Lindl. in Zagros forests (Kermanshah province, Iran). (English)
Autoři: Valadipour, Sayad, Ghahramany, Loghman, Pourreza, Morteza
Zdroj: Iranian Journal of Forest & Poplar Research; Aug2025, Vol. 33 Issue 1, p1-17, 17p
Témata: OAK, FIRE ecology, REGENERATION (Botany), RESTORATION ecology, FOREST ecology
Geografický termín: KERMANSHAH (Kermanshahan, Iran), ZAGROS Mountains (Iran & Iraq), IRAN
Abstrakt: Background and objectives: Fire is considered an ecological factor that affects most terrestrial ecosystems. The disturbances caused by fire vary depending on the ecosystem type and fire severity. Understanding how species respond to fire in forest ecosystems is essential for identifying ecosystem recovery processes. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to examine the response of Persian oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.), specifically, the characteristics of post-fire sprouts and their diameter and height increments, to different levels of burn severity over time following fire events. Methodology: Three burned sites in the Zagros forests of Kermanshah Province, Iran, were selected, each representing a different time since the last fire: 2, 3, and 5 years (treatments 2AF, 3AF, and 5AF, respectively). In each site, three continuous transects were established: one on each margin and one through the central part of the stand, aligned with the dominant slope and accounting for a 20-meter marginal effect. For each tree whose trunk or crown intersected a transect, the following were recorded: species name, collar diameter, number of sprouts before the fire, burn severity (classified as low, moderate, or high), number of post-fire sprouts, and the diameter and height of the dominant sprouts (i.e., the thickest and tallest shoots). Burn severity was visually assessed and categorized into three classes. To calculate the average annual diameter and height increments, the measurements of dominant sprouts were divided by the number of years since the fire. Results: The results indicated that Persian oak responds to fire through resprouting, and the extent of this response is influenced by the diameter of the burned stump and the burn severity. Specifically, as stump diameter increases, the number of post-fire sprouts decreases. In contrast, smaller-diameter stumps produce a greater number of sprouts. Moreover, the number of post-fire sprouts increased with burn severity, with the highest sprouting observed under moderate and high severity conditions. The greatest mean annual diameter increment (ranging from 9.1 to 10.2 mm/year) was found in larger stumps (diameter classes 11 and 13 cm) subjected to moderate and high burn intensity across all areas. The median annual height increments of post-fire sprouts, regardless of stump diameter or burn severity, were 34, 32, and 35 cm/year in 2AF, 3AF, and 5AF, respectively. The highest median annual height increments--47, 38, and 42 cm/year in the 2AF, 3AF, and 5AF sites, respectively--were associated with high burn severity. Spearman's correlation test showed a weak but significant negative correlation between the number of postfire sprouts and the diameter of the pre-fire stump. A weak but significant positive correlation was also found between the number of post-fire sprouts and the number of pre-fire sprouts on the same stump. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that Q. brantii resprouts in response to fire, and that the number of post-fire sprouts is influenced by the diameter of the pre-fire stump and the severity of the burn. The highest number of sprouts and the greatest height increments were observed in areas affected by high burn severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Abstrakt:Background and objectives: Fire is considered an ecological factor that affects most terrestrial ecosystems. The disturbances caused by fire vary depending on the ecosystem type and fire severity. Understanding how species respond to fire in forest ecosystems is essential for identifying ecosystem recovery processes. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to examine the response of Persian oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.), specifically, the characteristics of post-fire sprouts and their diameter and height increments, to different levels of burn severity over time following fire events. Methodology: Three burned sites in the Zagros forests of Kermanshah Province, Iran, were selected, each representing a different time since the last fire: 2, 3, and 5 years (treatments 2AF, 3AF, and 5AF, respectively). In each site, three continuous transects were established: one on each margin and one through the central part of the stand, aligned with the dominant slope and accounting for a 20-meter marginal effect. For each tree whose trunk or crown intersected a transect, the following were recorded: species name, collar diameter, number of sprouts before the fire, burn severity (classified as low, moderate, or high), number of post-fire sprouts, and the diameter and height of the dominant sprouts (i.e., the thickest and tallest shoots). Burn severity was visually assessed and categorized into three classes. To calculate the average annual diameter and height increments, the measurements of dominant sprouts were divided by the number of years since the fire. Results: The results indicated that Persian oak responds to fire through resprouting, and the extent of this response is influenced by the diameter of the burned stump and the burn severity. Specifically, as stump diameter increases, the number of post-fire sprouts decreases. In contrast, smaller-diameter stumps produce a greater number of sprouts. Moreover, the number of post-fire sprouts increased with burn severity, with the highest sprouting observed under moderate and high severity conditions. The greatest mean annual diameter increment (ranging from 9.1 to 10.2 mm/year) was found in larger stumps (diameter classes 11 and 13 cm) subjected to moderate and high burn intensity across all areas. The median annual height increments of post-fire sprouts, regardless of stump diameter or burn severity, were 34, 32, and 35 cm/year in 2AF, 3AF, and 5AF, respectively. The highest median annual height increments--47, 38, and 42 cm/year in the 2AF, 3AF, and 5AF sites, respectively--were associated with high burn severity. Spearman's correlation test showed a weak but significant negative correlation between the number of postfire sprouts and the diameter of the pre-fire stump. A weak but significant positive correlation was also found between the number of post-fire sprouts and the number of pre-fire sprouts on the same stump. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that Q. brantii resprouts in response to fire, and that the number of post-fire sprouts is influenced by the diameter of the pre-fire stump and the severity of the burn. The highest number of sprouts and the greatest height increments were observed in areas affected by high burn severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:17350883
DOI:10.22092/ijfpr.2024.366128.2168