Collapse and recovery of livestock systems shape fire regimes on the Eurasian steppe: a review of ecosystem and biodiversity implications

This is a Preprint and has not been peer reviewed. The published version of this Preprint is available: https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2024.0062. This is version 1 of this Preprint.

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Authors

Johannes Kamp, Tejas Bhagwat, Norbert Hölzel, Ilya Smelansky

Abstract

Shifts in fire regimes can trigger rapid changes in ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. We synthesize evidence for patterns, causes and consequences of recent change in fire regimes across the Eurasian steppes, a neglected global fire hotspot. Political and economic turmoil following the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991 triggered abrupt land abandonment over millions of hectares and a collapse of livestock populations. The build-up of vegetation as fuel, rural depopulation and deteriorating fire control led to a rapid increase in fire size, area burned and fire frequency. Fire regimes were also driven by drought, but likely only after fuel had accumulated. Increased fire disturbance resulted in grass encroachment, vegetation homogenisation and decreasing plant species diversity. Feedback loops due to the high grass flammability are likely. Direct and carry-on effects on birds, keystone small mammals and insects were largely negative. Nutrient cycling and carbon balance changed, but these changes have yet to be quantified. The regime of large and frequent fires persisted until ca. 2010, but shifted back to a more grazing-controlled regime as livestock populations recovered, reinforced by increasing precipitation. Key future research topics include the effects of future climate change, changing pyrodiversity and pyric herbivory on ecosystem resilience. Ongoing steppe restoration and rewilding efforts, and integrated fire management, will benefit from a better understanding of fire regimes.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.32942/X2D057

Subjects

Biodiversity, Botany, Natural Resources and Conservation, Plant Sciences, Sustainability

Keywords

burned area, fire frequency, pyrodiversity, restoration, Rewilding, burrowing mammals

Dates

Published: 2024-09-04 13:01

License

No Creative Commons license

Additional Metadata

Language:
English