Changes of leaf functional traits of Pinus tabuliformis in burned areas with different fire severities

Abstract

The response of leaf functional traits to forest fire is one of the research hotspots in the forest fire ecology. Studying post-fire changes in leaf functional traits of Pinus tabuliformis can reveal its growth strategies to adapt to fire environment and provide reference for the post-fire recovery. We analyzed the changes of leaf functional traits in burned areas with different fire severities (unburned, light burn and moderate burn) in Qinyuan County burned area of Shanxi Province, and studied the variation characteristics of leaf economic spectrum in different burned areas. The results showed that there were significant differences in burned areas with different fire severities for all leaf functional traits except N/P. Among them, the difference of leaf area was the most obvious, which was the most sensitive trait. With the increases of fire severity in burned areas, leaf area, leaf thickness, leaf dry matter content, leaf nitrogen content and leaf phosphorus content increased, while specific leaf area and leaf organic carbon content decreased. There were significant correlations among some leaf functional traits, with the correlations being distinct in burned areas with different fire severities. The leaf economic spectrum moved from 'unburned-light burn-mode-rate burn' to the resource trade-off strategy of 'rapid investment-return type' along the fire environment. The recovery of P. tabuliformis would be accelerated in burned area with low fire severity.