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Methods to assess fire-induced tree mortality: Comparing heated water baths to experimental laboratory fires

Raquel Partelli-Feltrin , Alistair Smith , Aaron Sparks, Zachary Foley , Scott Rainsford, Grant Harley, James Moberly, Henry Adams, Dylan Schwilk, Wade Tinkham , Douglas Hardman, JR Kok, R Alex Thompson, Andrew Hudak, David Wilson, Chad Hoffman, James Lutz, Alexander Blanco, Mark Cochrane, Robert Kremens, Joseph Dahlen, Luigi Boschetti, Li Huang, Daniel Johnson

Abstract

Background. Recent studies looking to advance knowledge of fire-effects on trees have used both heated water baths and experimental laboratory fires to apply heat to plant tissues. Aims. We assessed whether heated water baths and experimental laboratory fires caused xylem cell wall deformation and increased vulnerability to embolism Methods. Using Pinus ponderosa and Pinus monticola saplings we measured impacts using both heated water bath treatments and experimental laboratory fires, with parameters elucidated by prior studies that observed effects associated with lethal outcomes. Key Results. We show that increased vulnerability to embolism only occurred in one of the species tested when using the heated water baths and did not occur in either species when using the laboratory fire treatments. Neither treatment caused xylem cell deformations. Conclusions. Heated water baths may generate misleading results in some species and therefore should be used with caution when researching effects due to wildland fires. Implications. Future studies should assess the potential of other common fire dynamics proxy methods.

WF24144  Accepted 13 October 2025

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