An added boost in pyrogenic carbon when wildfire burns forest with high pre-fire mortality

摘要: Wildfires produce pyrogenic carbon (PyC) through the incomplete combustion of organic matter, and its chemical characterization is critical to understanding (C) budgets ecosystem functions in forests. Across western North American forests, fires are burning landscapes with substantial tree mortality from insect outbreaks, often referred as short-interval disturbances. These disturbances result beetle-killed snags (snags that subsequently burn) heavily charred, while their fire-killed (alive at time fire) counterparts lightly charred. We investigated whether signature PyC on charred differs snags. evaluated differences concentrations condensation (n = 3) benzene polycarboxylic acid (BPCA) molecular marker method. Beetle-killed exhibited over five times grams BPCA per kilogram C, seven material compared snags, indicating higher PyC. were greater samples pointing an important compound effect interaction beetle outbreak wildfire forest ecosystems. While this study was limited a single fire event sampling individual trees, it provides insight into different disturbance histories. The abundance high levels existing drought, previous events becoming more common legacy for contemporary Accordingly, distinct wood-based could influence functions: C sequestration, water purification, soil nutrient supply, resources wildlife.