Low tolerance of New Caledonian secondary forest species to savanna fires

Abstract

AbstractQuestionsHow do early secondary successional forest species that grow in savannas differ in their tolerance to surface fires? What are the consequences of these fire tolerances for savanna–forest dynamics and landscape management?LocationAnthropogenic savannas in the New Caledonian biodiversity hotspot (SW Pacific).MethodsWe estimated the range of fire intensity in New Caledonian savannas using field survey of fuels and the BehavePlus fire behaviour model. Within the predicted range of fire line intensity, we assessed theoretical fire injury to the cambium and crown for 11 species: the dominant tree of New Caledonian savannas (Melaleuca quinquenervia) and early secondary successional forest species. Using empirical models, for each species we estimated cambium damage from depth of necrosis (as a function of fire line intensity and fire residence time) and bark thickness, and crown damage from scorch height (as a function of fire line intensity) and tree height. We compared bark thickness and tree height increment patterns among species as well as species potential fire tolerance.ResultsThe 11 species had very contrasting capacity to avoid fire injury to the bole cambium due to differences in bark investment patterns, but were all very exposed to scorching and crown injury. Overall, most of sampled individuals are likely top‐killed by low intensity fires (<1000 kW·m−1), which are frequent according to our simulations.ConclusionsThe early secondary successional forest species growing in New Caledonian savannas are poorly adapted to fire, in comparison with literature on worldwide trees in savannas. As a result, their juveniles are unlikely to reach adult size in fire‐prone areas. Restoration using the most fire‐tolerant species and fire prevention may be complementary strategies to manage such tropical landscapes in order to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services.