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Does prescribed fire promote resistance to drought in low elevation forests of the Sierra Nevada, California, USA?

Phillip J. van Mantgem, Anthony C. Caprio, Nathan L. Stephenson, Adrian J. Das


Summary - what did the authors do and why?

The authors sampled burned and unburned mixed conifer forest stands in the midst of a drought (2014) to determine if prescribed fire can confer resistance to drought and reduce tree mortality in low elevation forests at three national parks in southern California.

Publication findings:

The authors found that prescribed fire may increase resistance to drought and reduce tree mortality in low elevation forests at three national parks in southern California. Tree densities were significantly lower in the prescribed fire sites, suggesting that reduced competition may be responsible for the lower drought mortality response.

Fire and Ecosystem Effects Linkages

The authors found that prescribed fire may increase resistance to drought and reduce tree mortality in low elevation forests at three national parks in southern California. Tree densities were significantly lower in the prescribed fire sites, suggesting that reduced competition may be responsible for the lower drought mortality response.