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Influence of wildfire severity on geomorphic features and riparian vegetation of forested streams of the Sierra Nevada, California, USA

Influence of wildfire severity on geomorphic features and riparian vegetation of forested streams... Fires are a common feature of many landscapes, with numerous and complex ecological consequences. In stream ecosystems, fire can strongly influence fluvial geomorphic characteristics and riparian vegetation, which are structural components of streamriparian ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity and ecosystem function. However, the effects of fire severity on streamriparian ecosystems in Californias Sierra Nevada region (USA) are not well described, yet critical for effectively informing fire management and policy. At 12 stream reaches paired by fire severity (one high-severity burned, one low-severity burned), no significant differences were found in riparian plant community cover and composition or stream geomorphic characteristics 215 years following wildfire. In addition, minimal changes in riparian vegetation and stream geomorphic properties were observed in the first summer following the extensive and severe Rim Fire. However, an upstream-to-downstream influence of multiple fire occurrences was observed over the previous 81 years within each catchment on stream geomorphic metrics, including sediment size, embeddedness and channel geometry, at our study reaches. The inconsistent effects of wildfire on streamriparian vegetation and geomorphic characteristics over space and time may be related to time since fire and precipitation. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png International Journal of Wildland Fire CSIRO Publishing

Influence of wildfire severity on geomorphic features and riparian vegetation of forested streams of the Sierra Nevada, California, USA

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Publisher
CSIRO Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s). Published by CSIRO Publishing
ISSN
1049-8001
eISSN
1448-5516
DOI
10.1071/WF19114
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Fires are a common feature of many landscapes, with numerous and complex ecological consequences. In stream ecosystems, fire can strongly influence fluvial geomorphic characteristics and riparian vegetation, which are structural components of streamriparian ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity and ecosystem function. However, the effects of fire severity on streamriparian ecosystems in Californias Sierra Nevada region (USA) are not well described, yet critical for effectively informing fire management and policy. At 12 stream reaches paired by fire severity (one high-severity burned, one low-severity burned), no significant differences were found in riparian plant community cover and composition or stream geomorphic characteristics 215 years following wildfire. In addition, minimal changes in riparian vegetation and stream geomorphic properties were observed in the first summer following the extensive and severe Rim Fire. However, an upstream-to-downstream influence of multiple fire occurrences was observed over the previous 81 years within each catchment on stream geomorphic metrics, including sediment size, embeddedness and channel geometry, at our study reaches. The inconsistent effects of wildfire on streamriparian vegetation and geomorphic characteristics over space and time may be related to time since fire and precipitation.

Journal

International Journal of Wildland FireCSIRO Publishing

Published: Mar 31, 2020

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