Wildfires and climate change push low-elevation forests across a critical climate threshold for tree regeneration

Climate change is increasing fire activity in the western United States, which has the potential to accelerate climate-induced shifts in vegetation communities. Wildfire can catalyze vegetation change by killing adult trees that could otherwise persist in climate conditions no longer suitable for seedling establishment and survival. Recently documented declines in postfire conifer recruitment in the western United States may be an example of this phenomenon. However, the role of annual climate variation and its interaction with long-term climate trends in driving these changes is poorly resolved. Here we examine the relationship between annual climate and postfire tree regeneration of two dominant,…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: BCS-1232997, BCS 1461576, OISE-0966472
• NA
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Award: NNH11ZDA001N-FIRES
• JF
  Joint Fire Science Program

  Award: 16-1-01-15
• NI
  National Institute of Food and Agriculture

  Award: 1012438