Frequent Fire Narrows Recovery Window for Lichens in Chaparral Shrublands
by Kat Kerlin
May 10, 2021
Lichen communities may take decades and in some cases up to a century to fully return to chaparral ecosystems after wildfire, finds a study from the University of California, Davis, and Stanford University.
The study, published today in the journal Diversity and Distributions, is the most comprehensive to date of long-term lichen recolonization after fire.
Unlike conifer forests, chaparral systems in California are historically adapted to high-intensity fires they burn hot, fast and tend to regenerate quickly. However, with more frequent fires predicted under a drier, warming climate and more ignitions occurring amid a growing human population in these areas, the study indicates that lichen communities may not receive the window of opportunity they need to return to chaparral shrublands after wildfire.