Long-term drought promotes invasive species by reducing wildfire severity

Kimball, Sarah; Rath, Jessica; Coffey, Julie E.; Perea‐Vega, Moises R.; Walsh, Matthew; Fiore, Nicole M.; Ta, Priscilla M.; Schmidt, Katharina T.; Goulden, Michael L.; Allison, Steven D.

doi:10.1002/ecy.4265

Title: Long-term drought promotes invasive species by reducing wildfire severity

Journal Article · 20 February 2024 · Ecology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4265 · OSTI ID:2263443

^[1]; Rath, Jessica ^[2]; Coffey, Julie E. ^[2]; Perea‐Vega, Moises R. ^[3]; Walsh, Matthew ^[2]; Fiore, Nicole M. ^[3]; Ta, Priscilla M. ^[3];

^[3]; Goulden, Michael L. ^[2];

^[2]

Univ. of California, Irvine, CA (United States). Center for Environmental Biology; University of California, Irvine
Univ. of California, Irvine, CA (United States)
Univ. of California, Irvine, CA (United States). Center for Environmental Biology

Anthropogenic climate change has increased the frequency of drought, wildfire, and invasions of non-native species. Although high-severity fires linked to drought can inhibit recovery of native vegetation in forested ecosystems, it remains unclear how drought impacts the recovery of other plant communities following wildfire. We leveraged an existing rainfall manipulation experiment to test the hypothesis that reduced precipitation, fuel load, and fire severity convert plant community composition from native shrubs to invasive grasses in a Southern California coastal sage scrub system. We measured community composition before and after the 2020 Silverado wildfire in plots with three rainfall treatments. Drought reduced fuel load and vegetation cover, which reduced fire severity. Native shrubs had greater prefire cover in added water plots compared to reduced water plots. Native cover was lower and invasive cover was higher in postfire reduced water plots compared to postfire added and ambient water plots. Our results demonstrate the importance of fuel load on fire severity and plant community composition on an ecosystem scale. Management should focus on reducing fire frequency and removing invasive species to maintain the resilience of coastal sage scrub communities facing drought. In these communities, controlled burns are not recommended as they promote invasive plants.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Cite

Export

Save

Research Organization:: Univ. of California, Irvine, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Biological Systems Science (BSS); Natural Communities Coalition; The Nature Conservancy

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0020382

OSTI ID:: 2263443

Journal Information:: Ecology, Journal Name: Ecology Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 105; ISSN 0012-9658

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (57)

Simulating fire frequency and urban growth in southern California coastal shrublands, USA Syphard, Alexandra D.; Clarke, Keith C.; Franklin, Janet Landscape Ecology, Vol. 22, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-006-9025-y	journal	August 2006
Interacting grassland species under threat of multiple global change drivers De Kort, Hanne; Prunier, Jerome G.; Tessier, Marc Journal of Biogeography, Vol. 45, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.13397	journal	July 2018
Summer Drought Reduces the Growth of Invasive Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) Seedlings Stevens, Michael T.; Roush, Caleb D.; Chaney, Lindsay Natural Areas Journal, Vol. 38, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.3375/043.038.0403	journal	July 2018
Invasive species interact with climatic variability to reduce success of natives LaForgia, Marina L.; Harrison, Susan P.; Latimer, Andrew M. Ecology, Vol. 101, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3022	journal	March 2020
Microbial community response to a decade of simulated global changes depends on the plant community Finks, Sarai S.; Weihe, Claudia; Kimball, Sarah Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, Vol. 9, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2021.00124	journal	January 2021
Altered water and nitrogen input shifts succession in a southern California coastal sage community Kimball, Sarah; Goulden, Michael L.; Suding, Katharine N. Ecological Applications, Vol. 24, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1890/13-1313.1	journal	September 2014
Resistance and resilience: ten years of monitoring shrub and prairie communities in Orange County, CA, USA Kimball, Sarah; Principe, Zachary; Deutschman, Douglas Ecosphere, Vol. 9, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2212	journal	May 2018
Fire Management of California Shrubland Landscapes Keeley, Jon E. Environmental Management, Vol. 29, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-001-0034-Y	journal	March 2002
Regional Disturbance Effects on Herb Succession Patterns in Coastal Sage Scrub O'Leary, John F.; Westman, Walter E. Journal of Biogeography, Vol. 15, Issue 5/6 https://doi.org/10.2307/2845339	journal	September 1988
Fire Severity and Ecosytem Responses Following Crown Fires in California Shrublands Keeley, Jon E.; Brennan, Teresa; Pfaff, Anne H. Ecological Applications, Vol. 18, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1890/07-0836.1	journal	September 2008
Changes in vegetation structure and fuel characteristics along post‐fire succession promote alternative stable states and positive fire–vegetation feedbacks Tiribelli, Florencia; Kitzberger, Thomas; Morales, Juan Manuel Journal of Vegetation Science, Vol. 29, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12620	journal	March 2018
Microbial legacies alter decomposition in response to simulated global change Martiny, Jennifer BH; Martiny, Adam C.; Weihe, Claudia The ISME Journal, Vol. 11, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2016.122	journal	October 2016
Wildfire-Driven Forest Conversion in Western North American Landscapes Coop, Jonathan D.; Parks, Sean A.; Stevens-Rumann, Camille S. BioScience, Vol. 70, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaa061	journal	July 2020
The role of exotic species in homogenizing the North American flora Qian, Hong; Ricklefs, Robert E. Ecology Letters, Vol. 9, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2006.00982.x	journal	October 2006
Intensified burn severity in California’s northern coastal mountains by drier climatic condition Huang, Yuhan; Jin, Yufang; Schwartz, Mark W. Environmental Research Letters, Vol. 15, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aba6af	journal	September 2020
Superior performance of invasive grasses over native counterparts will remain problematic under warmer and drier conditions Duell, Eric B.; Londe, Dave W.; Hickman, K. R. Plant Ecology, Vol. 222, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-021-01156-y	journal	July 2021
Wildfire disturbance affects species interactions of a harmful invasive annual in second year of post-fire vegetative recovery Schlau, Benjamin Marcus Biological Invasions, Vol. 24, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02647-9	journal	October 2021
Drought and plant litter chemistry alter microbial gene expression and metabolite production Malik, Ashish A.; Swenson, Tami; Weihe, Claudia The ISME Journal, Vol. 14, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-020-0683-6	journal	May 2020
Drought in Southern California coastal sage scrub reduces herbaceous biomass of exotic species more than native species, but exotic growth recovers quickly when drought ends Puritty, Chandler E.; Esch, Ellen H.; Castro, Sherlynette Pérez Plant Ecology, Vol. 220, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-019-00912-5	journal	February 2019
Observed Impacts of Anthropogenic Climate Change on Wildfire in California Williams, A. Park; Abatzoglou, John T.; Gershunov, Alexander Earth's Future, Vol. 7, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1029/2019EF001210	journal	August 2019
Non‐native plant species benefit from disturbance: a meta‐analysis Jauni, Miia; Gripenberg, Sofia; Ramula, Satu Oikos, Vol. 124, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.01416	journal	July 2014
Temporal variation overshadows the response of leaf litter microbial communities to simulated global change Matulich, Kristin L.; Weihe, Claudia; Allison, Steven D. The ISME Journal, Vol. 9, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2015.58	journal	May 2015
Climate change-induced shifts in fire for Mediterranean ecosystems: Fire shifts in Mediterranean ecosystems Batllori, Enric; Parisien, Marc-André; Krawchuk, Meg A. Global Ecology and Biogeography, Vol. 22, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12065	journal	June 2013
Stability of exotic annual grasses following restoration efforts in southern California coastal sage scrub Cox, Robert D.; Allen, Edith B. Journal of Applied Ecology, Vol. 45, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2007.01437.x	journal	March 2008
Data for: Long-term drought reduces wildfire severity and promotes invasive species Kimball, Sarah Dryad https://doi.org/10.7280/d10m6s	dataset	January 2023
Microbial abundance and composition influence litter decomposition response to environmental change Allison, Steven D.; Lu, Ying; Weihe, Claudia Ecology, Vol. 94, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1890/12-1243.1	journal	March 2013
Mediterranean, invasive, woody species grow larger than their less‐invasive counterparts under potential global environmental change Erskine‐Ogden, Jennifer; Grotkopp, Eva; Rejmánek, Marcel American Journal of Botany, Vol. 103, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.1500494	journal	March 2016
Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities Myers, Norman; Mittermeier, Russell A.; Mittermeier, Cristina G. Nature, Vol. 403, Issue 6772 https://doi.org/10.1038/35002501	journal	February 2000
Ecological effects of experimental drought and prescribed fire in a southern California coastal grassland Potts, D. L.; Suding, K. N.; Winston, G. C. Journal of Arid Environments, Vol. 81 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2012.01.007	journal	June 2012
Testing the contribution of dispersal to microbial succession following a wildfire Barbour, Kristin M.; Weihe, Claudia; Walters, Kendra E. mSystems, Vol. 8, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1128/msystems.00579-23	journal	October 2023
Alien Plant Dynamics Following fire in Mediterranean-Climate California Shrublands Keeley, Jon E.; Baer-Keeley, Melanie; Fotheringham, C. J. Ecological Applications, Vol. 15, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1890/04-1222	journal	December 2005
Microbial composition alters the response of litter decomposition to environmental change Matulich, Kristin L.; Martiny, Jennifer B. H. Ecology, Vol. 96, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1890/14-0357.1	journal	January 2015
Fuel reduction and coarse woody debris dynamics with early season and late season prescribed fire in a Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forest Knapp, Eric E.; Keeley, Jon E.; Ballenger, Elizabeth A. Forest Ecology and Management, Vol. 208, Issue 1-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2005.01.016	journal	April 2005
Time‐lagged impacts of extreme, multi‐year drought on tidal salt marsh plant invasion Wigginton, Rachel D.; Kelso, Megan A.; Grosholz, Edwin D. Ecosphere, Vol. 11, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3155	journal	June 2020
High water-use efficiency and growth contribute to success of non-native Erodium cicutarium in a Sonoran Desert winter annual community Kimball, S.; Gremer, J. R.; Barron-Gafford, G. A. Conservation Physiology, Vol. 2, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/cou006	journal	March 2014
Projected Changes in Reference Evapotranspiration in California and Nevada: Implications for Drought and Wildland Fire Danger McEvoy, Daniel J.; Pierce, David W.; Kalansky, Julie F. Earth's Future, Vol. 8, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1029/2020EF001736	journal	November 2020
Vegetation‐type conversion of evergreen chaparral shrublands to savannahs dominated by exotic annual herbs: causes and consequences for ecosystem function Pratt, R. Brandon American Journal of Botany, Vol. 109, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.1777	journal	December 2021
Can functional traits predict plant community response to global change? Kimball, Sarah; Funk, Jennifer L.; Spasojevic, Marko J. Ecosphere, Vol. 7, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1602	journal	December 2016
Extensive drought‐associated plant mortality as an agent of type‐conversion in chaparral shrublands Jacobsen, Anna L.; Pratt, R. Brandon New Phytologist, Vol. 219, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.15186	journal	May 2018
Evaluation of fire severity in fire prone-ecosystems of Spain under two different environmental conditions García-Llamas, Paula; Suárez-Seoane, Susana; Fernández-Manso, Alfonso Journal of Environmental Management, Vol. 271 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110706	journal	October 2020
Variations in a regional fire regime related to vegetation type in San Diego County, California (USA) Wells, Michael L.; O’Leary, John F.; Franklin, Janet Landscape Ecology, Vol. 19, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1023/B:LAND.0000021713.81489.a7	journal	January 2004
Determinants of Postfire Recovery and Succession in Mediterranean-Climate Shrublands of California Keeley, Jon E.; Fotheringham, C. J.; Baer-Keeley, Melanie Ecological Applications, Vol. 15, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1890/04-1005	journal	October 2005
Quantifying Drought Sensitivity of Mediterranean Climate Vegetation to Recent Warming: A Case Study in Southern California Dong, Chunyu; MacDonald, Glen; Okin, Gregory S. Remote Sensing, Vol. 11, Issue 24 https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11242902	journal	December 2019
Increased fire severity triggers positive feedbacks of greater vegetation flammability and favors plant community‐type conversions Landesmann, Jennifer Brenda; Tiribelli, Florencia; Paritsis, Juan Journal of Vegetation Science, Vol. 32, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12936	journal	September 2020
Effects of biological legacies and herbivory on fuels and flammability traits: A long-term experimental study of alternative stable states Blackhall, Melisa; Raffaele, Estela; Paritsis, Juan Journal of Ecology, Vol. 105, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12796	journal	May 2017
Exotic Grass Competition in Suppressing Native Shrubland Re-establishment Eliason, Scott A.; Allen, Edith B. Restoration Ecology, Vol. 5, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1526-100X.1997.09729.x	journal	September 1997
Historical change in coastal sage scrub in southern California, USA in relation to fire frequency and air pollution Talluto, Matt V.; Suding, Katharine N. Landscape Ecology, Vol. 23, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-008-9238-3	journal	June 2008
Fire intensity, fire severity and burn severity: a brief review and suggested usage Keeley, Jon E. International Journal of Wildland Fire, Vol. 18, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF07049	journal	January 2009
What Drives Low-Severity Fire in the Southwestern USA? Parks, Sean; Dobrowski, Solomon; Panunto, Matthew Forests, Vol. 9, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.3390/f9040165	journal	March 2018
Composition of soil seed banks in southern California coastal sage scrub and adjacent exotic grassland Cox, Robert D.; Allen, Edith B. Plant Ecology, Vol. 198, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-007-9383-9	journal	November 2007
Priority effects: Emerging principles for invasive plant species management Hess, Manon C. M.; Mesléard, François; Buisson, Elise Ecological Engineering, Vol. 127 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.11.011	journal	February 2019
Mixed severity fire effects within the Rim fire: Relative importance of local climate, fire weather, topography, and forest structure Kane, Van R.; Cansler, C. Alina; Povak, Nicholas A. Forest Ecology and Management, Vol. 358 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2015.09.001	journal	December 2015
Predicting effects of multiple interacting global change drivers across trophic levels van Moorsel, Sofia J.; Thébault, Elisa; Radchuk, Viktoriia Global Change Biology, Vol. 29, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16548	journal	December 2022
Modelling the distribution of a threatened habitat: the California sage scrub Riordan, Erin C.; Rundel, Philip W. Journal of Biogeography, Vol. 36, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2009.02151.x	journal	October 2009
Will extreme climatic events facilitate biological invasions? Diez, Jeffrey M.; D'Antonio, Carla M.; Dukes, Jeffrey S. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Vol. 10, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1890/110137	journal	June 2012
Modeling interactive effects of climate change, air pollution, and fire on a California Shrubland Malanson, George P.; Westman, Walter E. Climatic Change, Vol. 18, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00142967	journal	June 1991
Global change and terrestrial plant community dynamics Franklin, Janet; Serra-Diaz, Josep M.; Syphard, Alexandra D. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 113, Issue 14 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1519911113	journal	February 2016

Similar Records

Synthesis of Post-fire Monitoring Activities in the Great Basin Desert, Mojave Desert, and Transition Zones

Technical Report · 2018 · OSTI ID:1480331

Clifford, Michael; Etyemezian, Vicken; Chen, Li; +1 more

Trajectories of change in sagebrush steppe vegetation communities in relation to multiple wildfires

Journal Article · 2012 · Ecological Applications · OSTI ID:1049649

Davies, G M; Bakker, J D; Dettweiler-Robinson, E; +4 more

Final Report “Physiological, demographic, competitive and biogeochemical controls on the response of California’s ecosystems to environmental change”

Technical Report · 2016 · OSTI ID:1237346

Goulden, Michael L.

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
coastal sage scrub
drought legacy
Eriogonum fasciculatum
feedbacks
global climate change
invasive species
Malosma laurina
multiple global change stressors
plant community composition
Salvia mellifera
wildfire frequency

Title: Long-term drought promotes invasive species by reducing wildfire severity

Citation Formats

References (57)

Similar Records

Related Subjects