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Review article - Peer-reviewed, 2019

Rapid ecological response and intensified knowledge accumulation following a north European mega-fire

Gustafsson, Lena; Berglind, Marten; Granstrom, Anders; Grelle, Achim; Isacsson, Gunnar; Kjellander, Petter; Larsson, Soren; Lindh, Magnus; Pettersson, Lars B.; Strengbom, Joachim; Stridh, Bengt; Savstrom, Tom; Thor, Goran; Wikars, Lars-Ove; Mikusinski, Grzegorz

Abstract

Deepened knowledge on response of biota and ecological processes following fire is essential for a future with warmer climate and more disturbances. In 2014 the first mega-fire (13,100 ha) for at least a century in Scandinavia hit south-central Sweden, in a production forest landscape shaped by clearcutting forestry. Ecological dynamics is followed in >20 projects from universities, authorities and citizen science initiatives, rapidly accumulating substantial amounts of data. We outline projects and summarize their results during the first four years, demonstrating a rapid succession of fungi, lichens, vascular plants, birds, mammals, ticks, butterflies, beetles, and drastically altered carbon dynamics. We characterize forest operations including regeneration measures and point to patterns in pest and pathogen infestations. 8,000 ha is set aside for natural succession, with the rest harvested and managed for forest production, offering excellent opportunities for studies on salvage logging effects, already evident for birds. We demonstrate a strong regrowth of deciduous trees, and the protected part will in some decades likely develop into the largest deciduous-dominated area in boreal north Europe outside Russia. Continued studies of biodiversity and ecological processes are urgent for this unique area.

Keywords

Biodiversity; disturbance; ecology; mega-fire; succession

Published in

Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research
2019, volume: 34, number: 4, pages: 234-253
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS AS

Authors' information

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology
Berglind, Marten
Cty Adm Board
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Ecology and Management
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology
Isacsson, Gunnar
Swedish Forest Agcy
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology
Larsson, Soren
Vastmanland Ornithol Soc
Lindh, Magnus
Swedish Forest Agcy
Pettersson, Lars B.
Lund University
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology
Stridh, Bengt
Vastmanland Bot Assoc
Savstrom, Tom
Vastmanland Mycol Assoc
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology
Wikars, Lars-Ove
No organisation
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, School for Forest Management

Associated SLU-program

SLU Network Plant Protection

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG15 Life on land

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science

Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02827581.2019.1603323

URI (permanent link to this page)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/100090