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Time series analysis of forest carbon dynamics: recovery of Pinus palustris physiology following a prescribed fire

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Abstract

Frequency and intensity of fire determines the structure and regulates the function of savanna ecosystems worldwide, yet our understanding of prescribed fire impacts on carbon in these systems is rudimentary. We combined eddy covariance (EC) techniques and fuel consumption plots to examine the short-term response of longleaf pine forest carbon dynamics to one prescribed fire at the ends of an edaphic gradient (mesic and xeric sites). We also introduce novel (to the EC research community) statistical time-series approaches to quantify the drivers of carbon dynamics in these systems. We determined that our mesic site was a moderate sink of carbon (−157.7 ± 25.1 g C m−2 year−1), while the xeric site was carbon neutral (5.9 ± 32.8 g C m−2 year−1) during the study. The fire released 408 and 153 g C m−2 year−1 for the mesic and xeric sites, respectively. When loss associated with fire was combined with net ecosystem exchange rates, both sites became moderate carbon sources for the year. Analyses of assimilation and respiration parameters (e.g., maximum photosynthesis, quantum efficiency, and daytime ecosystem respiration) showed a positive trend over time pre-fire and a negative trend over time post-fire for maximum ecosystem CO2 uptake rates, and the opposite relationship for daytime ecosystem respiration rates. Within 30 days following fire, ecosystem physiological activity was statistically similar to pre-fire and appeared to be driven by the pine canopy. Our results suggest that prescribed fire (low intensity, high frequency) maintains the existing structure and function (in this case, carbon flux rates) because longleaf pine ecosystems have evolved with fire. This study, 1 year in length, provides a foundational understanding of the complex interaction between fire and carbon dynamics for longleaf pine ecosystems. Moreover, it provides a case study for applying time series analysis methods to EC data where there are complex relationships between ecosystem physiological activity and environmental drivers. However, to elicit a broader understanding of the complex interaction occurring between fire and carbon dynamics long- term studies are needed.

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Acknowledgments

This research has been funded by U. Alabama and the Joseph Jones Ecological Research Center (JJERC). Authors also wish to acknowledge the superlative logistical support of the JJERC, especially J Bradley, B Shelton, and M Mazzacavaallo. HW Loescher acknowledges the National Science Foundation (DBI-0752017). We would also like to thank the two previous reviewers who helped increase the clarity of this manuscript through their suggestion on an early version of this paper. This paper would not have taken shape if it were not the guidance, lifetime work, and for many a conversation with J. Franklin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

    G. Starr, C. L. Staudhammer & A. Whelan

  2. National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Inc., 1635 38th St, Suite 100, Boulder, CO, 80301, USA

    H. W. Loescher

  3. Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA

    H. W. Loescher

  4. Jones Ecological Research Center, Newton, GA, 39870, USA

    R. Mitchell

  5. Natural Resource Section at Jackson Guard, Niceville, FL, 32578, USA

    J. K. Hiers

  6. Center for Forest Disturbance Science, USDA Forest Service, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    J. J. O’Brien

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  1. G. Starr
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Correspondence to G. Starr.

Appendix

Appendix

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Table 5 Distribution of parameters from daytime net ecosystem exchange (NEEday) bootstrap simulations
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Table 6 Distribution of parameters from nighttime net ecosystem exchange (NEEnight) bootstrap simulations
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Starr, G., Staudhammer, C.L., Loescher, H.W. et al. Time series analysis of forest carbon dynamics: recovery of Pinus palustris physiology following a prescribed fire. New Forests 46, 63–90 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-014-9447-3

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