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Type: Journal Article
Author(s): Lucas O. Bianchi; Guillermo E. Defossé
Publication Date: 2015

Wildfires are common from summer to early fall in Patagonian forests of Argentina. Live fuel moisture content (LFMC) and leaf ignition are important factors for understanding fire behaviour. In this study, we determined seasonal LFMC and leaf ignition of some key fire-prone species of these forests, and their relationships with environmental variables. Species investigated were the native trees ñire (Nothofagus antarctica) and cypress (Austrocedrus chilensis), the understorey tree-like radal (Lomatia hirsuta) and laura (Schinus patagonicus), the bamboo caña colihue (Chusquea culeou), and the non-native black poplar (Populus nigra). LFMC differed among species, with caña colihue having lower values (LFMC <100%); ñire, laura, cypress, and radal having medium values (110-220%); and black poplar, upper values (>220%). Ignition characteristics differed among species (caña colihue > ñire > radal > cypress > laura > black poplar) and were inversely related to LFMC. Correlations between LFMC and environmental variables were highly significant for caña colihue, significant for ñire, radal, and laura, and weakly significant or non-significant for cypress and black poplar. These results contribute to our understanding of fire behaviour, and validate the fuel typology for Patagonian forests. At the same time, they add some useful knowledge for comparison with other fire-prone Mediterranean ecosystems around the world.

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Citation: Bianchi, Lucas O.; Defossé, Guillermo E. 2015. Live fuel moisture content and leaf ignition of forest species in Andean Patagonia, Argentina. International Journal of Wildland Fire 24(3):340-348.

Cataloging Information

Topics:
Regions:
Keywords:
  • Argentina
  • ecotones
  • fire management
  • foliar moisture
  • forest management
  • fuel moisture
  • grasslands
  • ignition
  • leaves
  • LFM - Live Fuel Moisture
  • Patagonia
  • Patagonian forests
  • season of fire
  • soil moisture
  • South America
  • wildfires
  • wildfires
Tall Timbers Record Number: 30883Location Status: In-fileCall Number: Journals - IAbstract Status: Fair use, Okay, Reproduced by permission
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 53470

This bibliographic record was either created or modified by Tall Timbers and is provided without charge to promote research and education in Fire Ecology. The E.V. Komarek Fire Ecology Database is the intellectual property of Tall Timbers.