Register      Login
International Journal of Wildland Fire International Journal of Wildland Fire Society
Journal of the International Association of Wildland Fire
REVIEW

Are wildfires a disaster in the Mediterranean basin? – A review

Juli G. Pausas A D , Joan Llovet A , Anselm Rodrigo B and Ramon Vallejo A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A CEAM (Centro de Estudios Ambientales del Mediterráneo), C/ Charles R. Darwin 14, Parc Tecnologic, E-46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.

B CREAF (Centre de Recerca i Applicacions Forestals), Department of Ecology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Bellaterra, Spain.

C Department of Plant Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.

D Corresponding author. Present address: CIDE, CISC, Apartado Oficial, E-46470 Albal, Valencia, Spain. Email: juli.g.pausas@uv.es

International Journal of Wildland Fire 17(6) 713-723 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF07151
Submitted: 15 October 2007  Accepted: 19 February 2008   Published: 12 December 2008

Abstract

Evolutionary and paleoecological studies suggest that fires are natural in the Mediterranean basin. However, the important increase in the number of fires and area burned during the 20th century has created the perception that fires are disasters. In the present paper, we review to what extent fires are generating ecological disasters in the Mediterranean basin, in view of current fire regimes and the long-term human pressure on the landscapes. Specifically, we review studies on post-fire plant regeneration and soil losses. The review suggests that although many Mediterranean ecosystems are highly resilient to fire (shrublands and oak forest), some are fire-sensitive (e.g. pine woodlands). Observed erosion rates are, in some cases, relatively high, especially in high fire severity conditions. The sensitive ecosystems (in the sense of showing strong post-fire vegetation changes and soil losses) are mostly of human origin (e.g. extensive pine plantations in old fields). Thus, although many Mediterranean basin plants have traits to cope with fire, a large number of the ecosystems currently found in this region are strongly altered, and may suffer disasters. Post-fire disasters are not the rule, but they may be important under conditions of previous human disturbances.

Additional keywords: erosion rates, Mediterranean-type ecosystems, post-fire regeneration, resilience, resprouting, soil losses.


Acknowledgements

The present work has been partially financed by the European Union project EUFireLab (EVR1-2001–00054) and the Spanish project PERSIST (CGL2006–07126/BOS). We thank A. Valdecantos and the referees for comments on the manuscript. CEAM is funded by Generalitat Valenciana, Bancaixa and the Spanish Government (GRACCIE project, Consolider-Ingenio 2010).


References


Arianoutsou M , Thanos CA (1996) Legumes in the fire-prone Mediterranean regions: an example from Greece. International Journal of Wildland Fire  6, 77–82.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Arianoutsou M, Ne’eman G (2000) Postfire regeneration of natural Pinus halepensis forests in the east Mediterranean Basin. In ‘Ecology, Biogeography and Management of Pinus halepensis and P. brutia Forest Ecosystems in the Mediterranean Basin’. (Eds G Neeman, L Trabaud) pp. 269–290. (Backhuys Publishers: Leiden, the Netherlands)

Arnan X, Rodrigo A , Retana J (2006) Post-fire recovery of Mediterranean ground ant communities follows vegetation and dryness gradients. Journal of Biogeography  33, 1246–1258.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Aronson J, Pereira JS, Pausas JG (Eds) ‘Cork Oak Woodlands on the Edge. Conservation, Adaptive Management, and Restoration.’ (Island Press: Washington, DC), in press.

Baeza MJ , Vallejo VR (2006) Ecological mechanisms involved in dormancy breakage in Ulex parviflorus seeds. Plant Ecology  183, 191–205.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Bautista S (1999) Regeneración post-incendio de un pinar (Pinus halepensis Miller) en ambiente semiárido. Erosión del suelo y medidas de conservación a corto plazo. PhD thesis, University of Alacant.

Bautista S, Bellot J , Vallejo VR (1996) Mulching treatment for post-fire soil conservation in a semiarid ecosystem. Arid Soil Research and Rehabilitation  10, 235–242.
Cerdà A (2001) ‘Erosión Hídrica del Suelo en Territorio Valenciano. El Estado de la Cuestión a través de la Revisión Bibliográfica.’ (Geoforma Ediciones: Logroño, Spain)

Certini G (2005) Effects of fire on properties of forest soils: a review. Oecologia  143, 1–10.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | Daskalakou EN, Thanos CA (1997) Post-fire establishment and survival of Aleppo pine seedlings. In ‘Forest Fire Risk and Management’. (Eds P Balabanis, G Eftichidis, R Fantechi) pp. 357–368. (European Commission: Brussels)

Daskalakou EN , Thanos CA (2004) Post-fire regeneration of Aleppo pine – the temporal pattern of seedling recruitment. Plant Ecology  171, 81–89.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | DMAH (2006) Departament de medi ambient i habitatge. Generalitat de Catalunya. http://mediambient.gencat.net/cat/el_medi/natura/sistema_informacio/inici.jsp [Verified October 2006]

Escudero A, Sanz MV, Pita JM , Pérez-García F (1999) Probability of germination after heat treatment of native Spanish pines. Annals of Forest Science  56, 511–520.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | FAO (2001) Global forest resources assessment 2000. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations forestry paper 140. (Rome)

Ferran A, Delitti W , Vallejo VR (2005) Effects of fire recurrence in Quercus coccifera L. shrublands of the Valencia region (Spain): II. Plant and soil nutrients. Plant Ecology  177, 71–83.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Giningham C (1972) ‘Ecology of Heathlands.’ (Chapman & Hall: London)

Giovannini G , Lucchesi S (1997) Modifications induced in soil physico-chemical parameters by experimental fires at different intensities. Soil Science  162, 479–486.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Kazanis D, Arianotsou M (2004) Factors determining low Mediterranean ecosystems resilience to fire: the case of Pinus halepensis forests. In ‘Proceedings of the 10th MEDECOS Conference’, 25 April–1 May 2004, Rhodes, Greece. (Eds M Arianotsou, VP Papanatasis) (Millpress: Rotterdam, the Netherlands)

Konstantinidis P, Tsiourlis G , Galatsidas S (2005) Effects of wildfire season on the resprouting of kermes oak (Quercus coccifera L.). Forest Ecology and Management  208, 15–27.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Lahouati R (2000) Expérience des Plantations en Climat Aride. Cas de la Ceinture Verte en Algérie. Direction Générale des forêts, Ministère de l’Agriculture. (Alger, Algeria)

Lanner RM (1998) Seed dispersal in Pinus. In ‘Ecology and Biogeography of Pinus’. (Ed. DM Richardson) (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge)

Lloret F, Pausas JG , Vilà M (2003) Response of Mediterranean plant species to different fire regimes in Garraf Natural Park (Catalonia, Spain): field observations and modelling predictions. Plant Ecology  167, 223–235.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Llovet J (2005) Degradación del suelo posterior al fuego en condiciones mediterráneas. Identificación de factores de riesgo. PhD thesis, University of Alacant.

López Soria L , Castell C (1992) Comparative genet survival after fire in woody Mediterranean species. Oecologia  91, 493–499.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Martínez E, Madrigal J, Hernando C, Guijarro M, Vega JA, Pérez-Gorostiaga P, Fonturbel MT, Cuiñas P, Alonso M, Beloso MC (2002) Effect of fire intensity on seed dispersal and early regeneration in a Pinus pinaster forest. In ‘Forest Fire Research and Wildland Fire Safety: Proceedings of IV International Conference on Forest Fire Research 2002 Wildland Fire Safety Summit’, 18–23 November 2002, Luso, Coimbra, Portugal. (Millpress: Rotterdam, the Netherlands)

Mayor AG, Bautista S, Llovet J , Bellot J (2007) Post-fire hydrological and erosional responses of a Mediterranean landscape: seven years of catchment-scale dynamics. Catena  71, 68–75.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Moreno A (1998) Gravedad del fuego y patrones espaciales y temporales postincendio de las plantas de un escobonal de la Sierra de Gredos. PhD thesis, Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

Moreno JM, Vázquez A, Vélez R (1998) Recent history of forest fires in Spain. In ‘Large Fires’. (Ed. JM Moreno) pp. 159–185. (Backhuys Publishers: Leiden, the Netherlands)

Moreno JM, Cruz A, Fernández F, Luna B, Pérez B, Quintana JR, Zuazua E (2004) Ecología del monte mediterráneo en relación con el fuego: el jaral-brezal de Quintos de Mora (Toledo). In ‘Avances en el Estudio de la Gestión del Monte Mediterráneo’. (Eds VR Vallejo, JA Alloza) pp. 17–45. (Fundación CEAM: Valencia, Spain)

Nathan R , Ne’eman G (2004) Spatiotemporal dynamics of recruitment in Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Miller). Plant Ecology  171, 123–137.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Papió C (1994) Ecologia del foc i regeneració en garrigues i pinedes mediterrànies. Institut d’Estudis Catalans. (Barcelona, Spain)

Pardini G, Gispert M , Dunjó G (2004) Relative influence of wildfire on soil properties and erosion processes in different Mediterranean environments in NE Spain. The Science of the Total Environment  328, 237–246.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | Pausas JG, Paula S (2005) Plant functional traits database for Euro-Mediterranean ecosystems. EUFireLab deliverable D-04–06. Available at www.eufirelab.org [Verified November 2008]

Pausas JG, Vallejo VR (1999) The role of fire in European Mediterranean ecosystems. In ‘Remote Sensing of Large Wildfires in the European Mediterranean Basin’. (Ed. E Chuvieco) pp. 3–16. (Springer: Berlin)

Pausas JG , Verdú M (2005) Plant persistence traits in fire-prone ecosystems of the Mediterranean Basin: a phylogenetic approach. Oikos  109, 196–202.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Pinaya I, Soto B, Arias M, Fierros FD (1998) Erosion due to runoff from burnt hillslope plots left untreated or seeded with native species or a Lolium multiflorum mix. In ‘III International Conference on Forest Fire Research’, 16–20 November 1998, Luso, Portugal. (Ed. DX Viegas) pp. 1653–1662. (Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Aerodinâmica Industrial: Coimbra, Portugal)

Piñol J, Terradas J , Lloret F (1998) Climate warming, wildfire hazard, and wildfire occurrence in coastal eastern Spain. Climatic Change  38, 345–357.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Sánchez JR, Mangas VJ, Ortiz C, Bellot J (1994) Forest fire effect on soil chemical properties and runoff. In ‘Soil Erosion and Degradation as a Consequence of Forest Fires’. (Eds M Sala, JL Rubio) pp. 53–65. (Geoforma Ediciones: Logroño, Spain)

Saracino A (1997) Seed dispersal and changing seed characteristics in a Pinus halepensis forest after fire. Plant Ecology  130, 13–19.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Soler M, Sala M, Gallart F (1994) Post-fire evolution of runoff and erosion during an eighteen-month period. In ‘Soil Erosion and Degradation as a Consequence of Forest Fires’. (Eds M Sala, JL Rubio) pp. 149–161. (Geoforma Ediciones: Logroño, Spain)

Soto B , Díaz-Fierros F (1998) Runoff and soil erosion from areas of burnt scrub: comparison of experimental results with those predicted by the WEPP model. Catena  31, 257–270.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Tárrega R, Luis-Calabuig E, Valbuena L (1998) A comparative study of recovery in two Cistus communities subjected to experimental burning in León province (Spain). In ‘Fire Management and Landscape Ecology’. (Ed. L Trabaud) pp. 147–154. (International Association of Wildland Fire: Washington, DC)

Thanos CA , Marcou S (1991) Post-fire regeneration in Pinus brutia forest ecosystems of Samos island (Greece): 6 years after. Acta Oecologica  12, 633–642.
Thanos CA, Doussi MA (2000) Post-fire regeneration of Pinus brutia forests. In ‘Ecology, Biogeography and Management of Pinus halepensis and P. brutia Forest Ecosystems in the Mediterranean Basin’. (Eds G Ne’eman, L Trabaud) pp. 291–301. (Backhuys Publishers: Leiden, the Netherlands)

Trabaud L (1991) Fire regimes and phytomass growth dynamics in a Quercus coccifera garrigue. Journal of Vegetation Science  2, 307–314.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Trabaud L (2000) Post-fire regeneration of Pinus halepensis forest in the west Mediterranean. In ‘Ecology, Biogeography and Management of Pinus halepensis and P. brutia Forest Ecosystems in the Mediterranean Basin’. (Eds G Ne’eman, L Trabaud) pp. 257–268. (Backhuys Publishers: Leiden, the Netherlands)

Trabaud L , Campant C (1991) Difficulté de recolonisation naturelle du pin de Salzmann Pinus nigra Arn. spp. salzmanii (Dunal) Franco après incendie. Biological Conservation  58, 329–343.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Tuset JJ, Sánchez G (2004) ‘La seca: el decaimiento de encinas, alcornoques y otros Quercus en España.’ (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente: Madrid, Spain)

Tutin T, Heywood V, Burges A, Valentine D (Eds) (1964–1980) ‘Flora Europaea.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK)

Úbeda X , Sala M (1996) Cambios en la física del suelo e incremento de la escorrentía y la erosión tras un incendio forestal. Cadernos do Laboratorio Xeolóxico de Laxe  21, 559–576.
Vallejo R, Aronson J, Pausas JG, Cortina J (2006) Mediterranean Woodlands. In ‘Restoration Ecology: the New Frontier’. (Eds J van Andel, J Aronson) pp. 193–207. (Blackwell Science: Oxford, UK)

Veblen TT, Kitzberber T , Donnegan J (2000) Climatic and human influences on fire regimes in ponderosa pine forests in the Colorado Front Range. Ecological Applications  10, 1178–1195.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Verdú M , Pausas JG (2007) Fire drives phylogenetic clustering in Mediterranean Basin woody plant communities. Journal of Ecology  95, 1316–1323.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Verkaik I , Espelta JM (2006) Post-fire regeneration thinning, cone production, serotiny and regeneration age in Pinus halepensis. Forest Ecology and Management  231, 155–163.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Vilà M, Lloret F, Ogheri E , Terradas J (2001) Positive fire-grass feedback in Mediterranean Basin woodlands. Forest Ecology and Management  147, 3–14.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zedler PH (1995) Are some plants born to burn? Trends in Ecology & Evolution  10, 393–395.
Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |