Journal article
The 2020 to 2021 California megafires and their impacts on wildlife habitat
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.120(48), pp.1-3
11/28/2023
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312909120
PMID: 37983516
Abstract
Fire activity during 2020 to 2021 in California, USA, was unprecedented in the modern record. More than 19,000 km2 of forest vegetation burned (10× more than the historical average), potentially affecting the habitat of 508 vertebrate species. Of the >9,000 km2 that burned at high severity, 89% occurred in large patches that exceeded historical estimates of maximum high-severity patch size. In this 2-y period, 100 vertebrate species experienced fire across >10% of their geographic range, 16 of which were species of conservation concern. These 100 species experienced high-severity fire across 5 to 14% of their ranges, underscoring potentially important changes to habitat structure. Species in this region are not adapted to high-severity megafires. Management actions, such as prescribed fires and mechanical thinning, can curb severe fire behavior and reduce the potential negative impacts of uncharacteristic fires on wildlife.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The 2020 to 2021 California megafires and their impacts on wildlife habitat
- Creators
- Jessalyn Ayars - University of New MexicoH. Anu Kramer - University of Wisconsin–MadisonGavin M. Jones - United States Department of Agriculture
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.120(48), pp.1-3
- DOI
- 10.1073/pnas.2312909120
- PMID
- 37983516
- NLM abbreviation
- Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
- ISSN
- 0027-8424
- eISSN
- 1091-6490
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Number of pages
- 3
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/28/2023
- Academic Unit
- School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability
- Record Identifier
- 9985219858202771
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