Prescribed-burning vs. wildfire: management implications for annual carbon emissions along a latitudinal gradient of Calluna vulgaris -dominated vegetation

摘要: Abstract. A~present challenge in fire ecology is to optimize management techniques so that ecological services are maximized and C emissions minimized. Here, we model the effects of different prescribed-burning rotation intervals wildfires on carbon (present future) British moorlands. Biomass-accumulation curves from four Calluna-dominated ecosystems along a north–south, climatic gradient Great Britain were calculated used within matrix-model based Markov Chains calculate above-ground biomass-loads, annual losses under intervals. Additionally, assessed interaction these parameters with an increasing wildfire return interval. We observed litter accumulation patterns varied latitudinal gradient, differences between northern (colder wetter) southern sites (hotter drier). The living vegetation dominated by Calluna determined site-specific conditions. optimal interval for minimizing also differed sites: was 30 50 years, whereas hump-backed relationship found either 8 10 years or years. Increasing frequency interacted both modifying optimum minimum emission. This highlights importance studying biomass respect environmental conditions identifying suitable fire-rotation minimize losses.