Ecology of Wildfire Residuals in Boreal Forests (ePub)

Large and intense wildfires are integral to the globally
important boreal forest biome. While much is known about boreal
wildfires, the focus on forest remnants that either escape or
survive these intense fires is a recent phenomenon: academics now
study ecological processes of wildfire residuals, forest
policymakers use their patterns to design harvest strategies,
forest managers consider their economic value, and conservationists
recognize their intrinsic ecological importance.

Ecology of Wildfire Residuals in Boreal Forests is the
first book to explore ecological patterns and processes of what
does not burn within boreal wildfires. Following a brief
introduction to the boreal forest biome, it discusses the processes
that form wildfire residuals; how they are studied, with various
approaches and methods; the types, extent, and ecological functions
of wildfire residuals; and their role in forest management
applications, all in the context of ecological scale.

This book is a reference for researchers and graduate students
studying boreal forest ecology, as well as for policymakers and
forest managers. It adopts a non-reductionist perspective that will
be of interest to scientists from conservation science, forest
ecology, forest management, and timber production.

* Brings together fire behaviour, ecological scale, vegetation
ecology, and conservation biology to provide a cross disciplinary,
multi-scale, and an integrative discussion of forest fire
residuals

* Captures the state of knowledge with a meta-analysis of
research trends during the past few decades, with a comprehensive
review of the literature, a compilation of key references, and a
list of key topics relevant to the study of boreal wildfire
residuals

* Identifies the major gaps and uncertainties in the present body
of knowledge, including a critique of study techniques and
reporting practices to date, and proposes a set of
terms and definitions and a list of research questions and
priorities

* Includes the authors' observations and research
experience from boreal Canada, and information extracted from
interactions with North American and European ecologists, forest
managers, and conservationists