RT Journal Article
T1 Site Quality Models and Fuel Load Dynamic Equation Systems Disaggregated by Size Fractions and Vegetative States in Gorse and High Heath Shrublands in Galicia (NW Spain)
A1 Vega, José Antonio
A1 Álvarez González, Juan Gabriel
A1 Arellano Pérez, Stéfano
A1 Fernández, Cristina
A1 Ruiz González, Ana Daría
K1 Ulex europaeus
K1 Erica australis
K1 Additivity
K1 Site index
K1 Climatic conditions
K1 Dead ratio
K1 Fine ratio
K1 Mean annual increment
K1 Fuel management
K1 Fuel hazard
AB Compatible model systems were developed for estimating fuel load dynamics in Ulex europaeus (gorse) and in Erica australis (Spanish heath) dominated shrub communities at stand level. The models were based on intensive, detailed destructive field sampling and were fitted simultaneously to fulfill the additivity principle. The models enable, for the first time, estimation of the biomass dynamics of the total shrub layer, size fractions and vegetative stage, with reasonably good accuracy. The approach used addresses the high variability in shrub biomass estimates by using a site index (SI) based on biomass levels at a reference age of 10 years. Analysis of the effect of climatic variables on site index confirmed the preference of gorse for mild temperatures and the ability of high heath communities to tolerate a wider range of temperatures. In the gorse communities, SI tended to increase as summer rainfall and the mean temperature of the coldest month increased. However, in the heath communities, no relationships were observed between SI and any of the climatic variables analyzed. The study findings may be useful for assessing and monitoring fuel hazards, updating fuel mapping, planning and implementing fuel reduction treatments and predicting fire behavior, among other important ecological and biomass use-related applications.
PB MDPI
YR 2024
FD 2024-04-09
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/43500
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/43500
LA eng
NO Vega, J.A.; Álvarez- González, J.G.; Arellano-Pérez, S.; Fernández, C.; Ruiz-González, A.D. Site Quality Models and Fuel Load Dynamic Equation Systems Disaggregated by Size Fractions and Vegetative States in Gorse and High Heath Shrublands in Galicia (NW Spain). Fire 2024, 7, 126. https:// doi.org/10.3390/fire7040126
NO This work was supported by the projects: 1FD97-1122-C06-05; INIA-AGL2001-1242-C04-02; INIA-RTA 2009-00153-C03 (INFOCOPAS); INIA-RTA2014-00011-C06 (GEPRIF); INIA-RTA2017-00042-C05 (VIS4FIRE); PDC2021-120945-C55 (APPVIS4FIRE) and PID2020-116494RR-C42 (ENFIRES); funded by the Spanish National Program of Research, Development and Innovation (Plan Estatal de I+D+i) co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union; also by projects: ENV4-CT96-0438 (Fuego Programme); ENV04-CT98-0763 (Fuego2 Programme); EVG1-CT2001-00041 (FIRESTAR); EVR1-CT-2002–4002 (EUFIRELAB) and FP6-018505 (FIRE PARADOX); funded by the Environmental Research Programs of the DGXII of the European Commission (European Union); and finally by SAFTOR project (SOE2/P2/E457) from the SUDOE Interreg IV B Program with ERDF funds. The work of Stéfano Arellano Pérez in this article was supported by grant PTQ2021-012150 awarded by the MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033.
DS Minerva
RD 24 may 2026