Keywords
fire
impacts of fire
Ecuador
introduced species
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Societal impact
Abstract
The replacement of remnant native vegetation with species of economic value is one of the most important impacts of the expansion of urban centers. An example of this phenomenon is the establishment of plantations of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), an Australian species that currently dominates large areas around cities in Spain, Portugal, and North and South America. Being a species which structure and behavior (e.g. rapid litter accumulation, bark shedding, volatile compounds) facilitates the spread of fire, eucalyptus plantations are prone to intense fires which impacts on native habitats have not been comprehensively evaluated. In this study, we analyzed the impacts of fire on the structure, microclimate and ecosystem functioning in three eucalyptus plantations and a native scrubland site in the Quito Metropolitan District (Ecuador). In each plantation, we located an intact plot, and an adjacent plot that had been burned in the summer of 2012. Our results show a clear impact of fire on average canopy cover, which was significantly lower in the burned plots, and a consistent response ofthe microclimate ofthese plantations, which experienced higher soil temperatures. Despite warmer temperatures, litter decomposition in the burned plots was significantly slower than in the intact plots and in the native scrubland, an effect that we attribute to the desiccation ofsoil and the resulting inhibitions of decomposers activity. We also report high rates of accumulation of litter and other flammable materials in eucalyptus stands, a factor that emphasizes the permanent fire risk that characterizes these plantations. Future protection and management initiatives should promote the progressive elimination of introduced eucalyptus plantations and the restoration of native vegetation that is less prone to fires.
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