Wildfires, like many disturbances, can be catalysts for ecosystem change. Given projected climate change, tree regeneration declines and ecosystem shifts following severe wildfires are predicted. We reviewed scientific literature on post-fire tree regeneration to understand where and why no or few trees established. We wished to distinguish sites that won’t regenerate to trees because of changing climate from sites where trees could grow post fire if they had a seed source or were planted, thus supporting forest ecosystem services for society and nature, such as timber supply, habitat, watershed protection, and carbon storage. Our literature review showed that little to no post-fire tree regeneration was more common in low-elevation, dry forest types than in high-elevation forest types. However, depending on the region and species, low tree regeneration was also observed in high elevation, moist forests. Regeneration densities varied by species and seedling densities were attributed to distances to a seed source, water stress or precipitation, elevation, slope, aspect, and plant competition. Our findings provide land managers with two primary considerations to offset low tree regeneration densities. First, we supply a decision support tool of where to plant tree seedling in large high severity burned patches. Second, we recommend possibilities for mitigating and limiting large high severity burned patches to increase survival of trees to be sources of seed for natural regeneration. Few or no tree seedlings are establishing on some areas of the 150+ forest fires sampled across western US, suggesting that forests may be replaced by shrublands and grasslands, especially where few seed source trees survived the wildfires. Key information gaps on how species will respond to continued climate change, repeated disturbances, and other site factors following wildfires currently limit our ability to determine future trends in forest regeneration. We provide a decision tree to assist managers in prioritizing post-fire reforestation. We emphasize prioritizing the interior of large burned patches and considering current and future climate in deciding what, when, and where to plant trees. Finally, managing fires and forests for more seed-source tree survival will reduce large, non-forested areas following wildfires where post-fire management may be necessary.

中文翻译：

---

美国西部森林大火后树木再生：回顾

像许多干扰一样，野火也可能是生态系统变化的催化剂。在预计的气候变化的情况下，预计在严重的野火后树木再生将减少，生态系统将发生变化。我们回顾了有关火后树木再生的科学文献，以了解在何处以及为何没有或只有几棵树木无法建立的情况。我们希望将由于气候变化而不会再生为树木的地点与树木如果有种子或种植后可能在火后生长的地点区分开来，从而为森林和社会提供森林生态系统服务，例如木材供应，栖息地，分水岭保护和碳储存。我们的文献综述显示，在低海拔，干旱的森林类型中，几乎没有甚至没有火后树木的再生比在高海拔森林中更常见。但是，根据地区和物种，在高海拔潮湿的森林中也观察到低树再生。再生密度因物种和幼苗密度而异，这归因于与种子源的距离，水分胁迫或降水，海拔，坡度，坡度和植物竞争。我们的发现为土地管理者提供了两个主要考虑因素，以抵消低树再生的密度。首先，我们提供了一个决策支持工具，用于在大型高严重度烧伤斑块中的树木苗种植位置。其次，我们建议减轻和限制大型高严重度烧伤斑块的可能性，以增加树木的存活率，使其成为自然再生的种子来源。在美国西部采样的150多次森林大火的某些地区，几乎没有树苗生长，这表明森林可能被灌木丛和草地所取代，特别是在野火中幸存下来的种子树很少的地方。目前，关于物种如何应对持续的气候变化，反复干扰以及野火后其他场所因素的关键信息空白目前限制了我们确定森林更新的未来趋势的能力。我们提供决策树，以帮助管理人员优先确定火灾后的植树造林。我们强调优先考虑大型燃烧斑块的内部，并在决定何时，何时何地种植树木时考虑当前和未来的气候。最后，管理森林和森林以增加种子源树木的生存将减少野火后可能需要进行大火后管理的大片非森林地区。目前，野火之后的其他地点因素限制了我们确定森林更新的未来趋势的能力。我们提供决策树，以帮助管理人员优先确定火灾后的植树造林。我们强调优先考虑大型燃烧斑块的内部，并在决定何时，何时何地种植树木时考虑当前和未来的气候。最后，管理森林和森林以增加种子源树木的生存将减少野火后可能需要进行大火后管理的大片非森林地区。目前，野火之后的其他地点因素限制了我们确定森林更新的未来趋势的能力。我们提供决策树，以帮助管理人员优先确定火灾后的植树造林。我们强调优先考虑大型燃烧斑块的内部，并在决定何时，何时何地种植树木时考虑当前和未来的气候。最后，管理森林和森林以增加种子源树木的生存将减少野火后可能需要进行大火后管理的大片非森林地区。何时何地种树。最后，管理森林和森林以增加种子源树的生存将减少野火后可能需要大火管理的大片非森林地区。何时何地种树。最后，管理森林和森林以增加种子源树的生存将减少野火后可能需要大火管理的大片非森林地区。