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Marcos Francos
Departamento de Ciencias Históricas y Geográficas, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile

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Original article
Published: 10 June 2021 in Environmental Earth Sciences
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Wildfires are a major concern in Mediterranean areas and play an important role in the pedogenic process, as they usually increase soil credibility due to the destruction of vegetation cover and soil structure. On top of these factors, slope and aspect also determine the degree of retention and availability of water and nutrients in soils after fire, which in turn influence the recovery of vegetation and its protective effect against erosion. This work aims to describe the effects of slope and aspect on soil development in an area historically affected by wildfires. The study area is located in Ódena (NE Iberian Peninsula) in a Mediterranean forest. Four representative soil profiles were sampled from a south-facing steep slope, north-facing steep slope, south-facing gentle slope and north-facing gentle slope. In each profile 11 samples were sampled. The amount of soil organic matter (SOM), inorganic C (IC) and total N (TN) as well as cation availability, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) were determined for all the horizons of each profile. Results showed that IC, TN, C/N ratio, pH, EC and K were mainly affected by aspect, whereas organic matter, C/N ratio, pH, EC, Ca and Mg were especially influenced by slope. Slope determined the amount and availability of SOM and nutrients, which highlights the need to prioritise the management of areas susceptible to erosion in order to ensure soil and ecosystem functionality.

ACS Style

Marcos Francos; Carlos Sánchez-García; Antonio Girona-García; Víctor Fernández-García. Influence of topography on sediment dynamics and soil chemical properties in a Mediterranean forest historically affected by wildfires: NE Iberian Peninsula. Environmental Earth Sciences 2021, 80, 1 -15.

AMA Style

Marcos Francos, Carlos Sánchez-García, Antonio Girona-García, Víctor Fernández-García. Influence of topography on sediment dynamics and soil chemical properties in a Mediterranean forest historically affected by wildfires: NE Iberian Peninsula. Environmental Earth Sciences. 2021; 80 (12):1-15.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marcos Francos; Carlos Sánchez-García; Antonio Girona-García; Víctor Fernández-García. 2021. "Influence of topography on sediment dynamics and soil chemical properties in a Mediterranean forest historically affected by wildfires: NE Iberian Peninsula." Environmental Earth Sciences 80, no. 12: 1-15.

Journal article
Published: 06 May 2021 in Sustainability
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The present study was conducted following a fire that took place in Rocallaura (NE Iberian Peninsula) in 23 June 2016 with the aim of analyzing the chemical properties of soil in burnt and unburnt areas in order to determine the short-term effects of fire on an ecosystem dominated by Pinus halepensis Mill. Transects were laid out in a control area and an adjacent burnt area. Laboratory analyses were performed to determine the chemical properties of the organic and mineral soil layers at 5 cm and 10 cm (total carbon, total nitrogen, organic and inorganic carbon, carbonates, pH, electrical conductivity, and major cations). The results show partial combustion of the organic substrate, with a significant increase in TC, OC, TN, EC and K+, and a slight decrease in pH in the post-fire area compared to the control area, demonstrating that the fire was of low intensity and did not generate significant short-term negative impacts on the soil. Soils of this type, with high organic matter content, tend to maintain their structure after a low-intensity fire and retain the nutrients necessary for ecosystem recovery and resilience.

ACS Style

Miquel Xifré-Salvadó; Núria Prat-Guitart; Marcos Francos; Xavier Úbeda; Marc Castellnou. Effects of Fire on the Organic and Chemical Properties of Soil in a Pinus halepensis Mill. Forest in Rocallaura, NE Spain. Sustainability 2021, 13, 5178 .

AMA Style

Miquel Xifré-Salvadó, Núria Prat-Guitart, Marcos Francos, Xavier Úbeda, Marc Castellnou. Effects of Fire on the Organic and Chemical Properties of Soil in a Pinus halepensis Mill. Forest in Rocallaura, NE Spain. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (9):5178.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Miquel Xifré-Salvadó; Núria Prat-Guitart; Marcos Francos; Xavier Úbeda; Marc Castellnou. 2021. "Effects of Fire on the Organic and Chemical Properties of Soil in a Pinus halepensis Mill. Forest in Rocallaura, NE Spain." Sustainability 13, no. 9: 5178.

Review article
Published: 24 March 2021 in Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health
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Fire plays a role in the vast majority of terrestrial ecosystems. Researchers have discovered that the negative effects of prescribed fire on soil, water and vegetation are transitory, and that benefits are much greater. This paper presents a synthesis of the most important recent work on the effects of prescribed fire on soil, water and vegetation and assesses the validity of the use of fire as a management tool. The impact of fire is low and temporary, whereas the benefits are greater both directly (e.g. reduction in vegetative fuel and the risk of fire, noncontamination of water) and indirectly (e.g. improvement in forest health). Thus, prescribed burning is a good management tool and should be incorporated into land management and regional planning. Researchers, managers, stakeholders and landowners must be taken into account to increase knowledge of this management tool and implement it in the most optimal way possible.

ACS Style

Marcos Francos; Xavier Úbeda. Prescribed fire management. Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health 2021, 21, 100250 .

AMA Style

Marcos Francos, Xavier Úbeda. Prescribed fire management. Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health. 2021; 21 ():100250.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marcos Francos; Xavier Úbeda. 2021. "Prescribed fire management." Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health 21, no. : 100250.

Journal article
Published: 04 September 2020 in Agronomy
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In urban areas, land use usually increases soil degradation. However, there are areas occupied by agriculture and woodlands with an essential role in provisioning food and other services such as water and climate regulation. The objective of this work was to assess the effect of long-term land use and soil management practices on peri-urban soils in Zagreb (Croatia). Samples were collected at depth 0–10 cm within intensively tilled cropland (CROP) and vineyard (VINE), traditional grass-covered orchard (ORCH), and forest (FOR). The results showed that bulk density was significantly higher in VINE and CROP than in ORCH and FOR. The opposite dynamic was observed in water-holding capacity, air-filled porosity, aggregate stability, organic matter, and soil organic matter stocks (SOCS). Soil water infiltration was higher in FOR plot compared to the other plots. Overall, land-use change had a substantial impact on soil properties and SOCS, especially in CROP and VINE soils. Tillage, pesticides, and fertilizer applications were presumably the reasons for altered soil quality properties. Intensively used areas (VINE and CROPS) may reduce soil ecosystems services such as the capacity for flood retention and C sequestration.

ACS Style

Igor Bogunovic; Antonio Viduka; Ivan Magdic; Leon Josip Telak; Marcos Francos; Paulo Pereira. Agricultural and Forest Land-Use Impact on Soil Properties in Zagreb Periurban Area (Croatia). Agronomy 2020, 10, 1331 .

AMA Style

Igor Bogunovic, Antonio Viduka, Ivan Magdic, Leon Josip Telak, Marcos Francos, Paulo Pereira. Agricultural and Forest Land-Use Impact on Soil Properties in Zagreb Periurban Area (Croatia). Agronomy. 2020; 10 (9):1331.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Igor Bogunovic; Antonio Viduka; Ivan Magdic; Leon Josip Telak; Marcos Francos; Paulo Pereira. 2020. "Agricultural and Forest Land-Use Impact on Soil Properties in Zagreb Periurban Area (Croatia)." Agronomy 10, no. 9: 1331.

Journal article
Published: 28 July 2020 in Sustainability
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Over the last few decades, according to the Forest Fire Prevention Services of the Catalan Government, a small number of fires (less than 1%) have been responsible for the destruction of more than three quarters of the burnt forest area in Catalonia. However, while these wildfires have transformed many components of the landscape, including its vegetation and soils, they offer landowners the opportunity to learn from past decisions. This article aims to analyze the responses of forest owners in Central Catalonia after the great forest fires of the 1980s and 1990s, including the way in which their objectives and strategies are defined and their actions implemented. By conducting interviews with the members of forest owners’ associations and by means of participant observation at association meetings, we seek to examine the processes of social learning experienced by this collective and to identify the mechanisms used in their efforts to create socio-ecological structures that are less vulnerable to fire. Associationism is unusual in the world of Catalan forest ownership, despite the great number of private forest areas. In our results, however, associationism emerges as a strategy for cooperation, a recognition of the need to link ecological and social structures in the territory, and one which we define as a form of ‘socio-ecological resistance’. Our study highlights that the goals and actions of forest owners’ associations have both an instrumental and emotional component, so that reason, emotion and action have come to form the three vertices of socio-ecological resistance to fire.

ACS Style

Roser Rodríguez-Carreras; Xavier Úbeda; Marcos Francos; Claudia Marco. After the Wildfires: The Processes of Social Learning of Forest Owners’ Associations in Central Catalonia, Spain. Sustainability 2020, 12, 6042 .

AMA Style

Roser Rodríguez-Carreras, Xavier Úbeda, Marcos Francos, Claudia Marco. After the Wildfires: The Processes of Social Learning of Forest Owners’ Associations in Central Catalonia, Spain. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (15):6042.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Roser Rodríguez-Carreras; Xavier Úbeda; Marcos Francos; Claudia Marco. 2020. "After the Wildfires: The Processes of Social Learning of Forest Owners’ Associations in Central Catalonia, Spain." Sustainability 12, no. 15: 6042.

Journal article
Published: 16 May 2020 in Applied Sciences
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This study analyses the smouldering combustion on soils that took place during the wildfires that occurred in Rocallaura (Northeastern Spain). The smouldering combustion after the first event, 23 June, was the potential source of flaming fire re-ignition of the second event, 19 July 2016. Re-ignitions are an important challenge for the firefighting system. Budget and efforts are spent on controlling these re-ignitions that can ultimately cause the collapse of the response system if the re-ignitions happen during periods of simultaneous fire events. Our objective is to contribute to better understand the dynamics of the smouldering combustion of organic soils associated with these wildfires and the impact on the Pinus halepensis Mill. forest ecosystem. Transects were established in adjacent control and post-fire zones. Laboratory analyses were conducted to determine some physical and chemical properties of both the duff and mineral soil. Using these variables, we estimate thresholds of duff ignition probability, percentage of duff consumption and smouldering combustion spread rates. Overall, we provide a set of tools for evaluating re-ignitions in forest ecosystems. We conclude that the concept of fire persistence should be a new variable for consideration in present and future analysis of fire regimes and demonstrates the significance of introducing smouldering combustion and re-ignition within the strategic framework of the wildfire hazard and integrating these phenomena into forest planning and management.

ACS Style

Miquel Àngel Xifré-Salvadó; Núria Prat-Guitart; Marcos Francos; Xavier Úbeda; Marc Castellnou. Smouldering Combustion Dynamics of a Soil from a Pinus halepensis Mill. Forest. A Case Study of the Rocallaura Fires in Northeastern Spain. Applied Sciences 2020, 10, 3449 .

AMA Style

Miquel Àngel Xifré-Salvadó, Núria Prat-Guitart, Marcos Francos, Xavier Úbeda, Marc Castellnou. Smouldering Combustion Dynamics of a Soil from a Pinus halepensis Mill. Forest. A Case Study of the Rocallaura Fires in Northeastern Spain. Applied Sciences. 2020; 10 (10):3449.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Miquel Àngel Xifré-Salvadó; Núria Prat-Guitart; Marcos Francos; Xavier Úbeda; Marc Castellnou. 2020. "Smouldering Combustion Dynamics of a Soil from a Pinus halepensis Mill. Forest. A Case Study of the Rocallaura Fires in Northeastern Spain." Applied Sciences 10, no. 10: 3449.

Preprint content
Published: 23 March 2020
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The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the main urban vector that transmits Dengue disease worldwide. In the last 25 years it has had a significant increase at a global level, reaching areas where it was eradicated, such as the reappearance in the extreme north of Chile, an area covered by the Atacama Desert. This mosquito is closely related to human settlements, which present risks that lie in the capacity of transmission of diseases caused by arboviruses by Aedes aegypti such as: Zika, Chikungunya, Yellow Fever and Dengue. The last one is the most important viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes in humans with more than 50 million estimated cases annually in over 100 countries. The aim of this study is to analyze the urban and environmental variables that determine the reappearance of the vector and to propose mitigation measures to reduce the risks of contagion. This study is located in the city of Arica (18°28'28.6'' S 70°17'52.5'' W) in the extreme north of the Atacama Desert, which has extraordinary habitability conditions characterized by rivers that are reactivated by summer rains in the Andes and valleys with agro-ecological productivity. The Pan American Health Organization determined the end of the presence of the mosquito in 1961 and its reappearance from 2016 in continental Chile. About the methods, the Health Authority established action limits based on the risks presented by these areas in terms of health interest and location, through inspections that allowed the identification of the vulnerability of each area. This was done by means of inspections that made it possible to identify the vulnerability of the sites. The discovery sites were geolocated according to the phenomenology of the species, considering the radius of flight among other phenological characteristics. The results allowed the identification of critical areas for the establishment of focus. The residential typologies of the sites were classified as industrial zones and suburbs in the urban limits with space-time coincidences. During 2016, 56 cases were found in urban and peri-urban areas between May and June. In 2018 there were findings between March-April with 14 cases in industrial and residential areas, while in 2019 there were findings between January-May and December with a total of 27 positive cases in peri-urban areas. In conclusion, there is evidence of a shift in findings from residential areas of paired housing (2016) to industrial areas (2018) and to suburbs in 2019. There is evidence of a deseasonalization in the findings of the mosquito, being a problem that must be controlled throughout the year. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find work methodologies that can anticipate the detection of mosquitoes in sites that present a high risk, in order to take decisions on health management and apply control measures to regulate the accumulation of water. Environmental Education is proposed as a method to promote citizen awareness to face the risks associated with the vector together with government, academic and community coordination, cooperation and collaboration.

ACS Style

Mauricio Gonzalez-Pacheco; Marcos Francos; Angelo Olivares; Xavier Úbeda. Key socio-economic and environmental factors in the reappearance of the Aedes aegypti mosquito in the Atacama (North Chile) Desert areas and mitigation risk measures. 2020, 1 .

AMA Style

Mauricio Gonzalez-Pacheco, Marcos Francos, Angelo Olivares, Xavier Úbeda. Key socio-economic and environmental factors in the reappearance of the Aedes aegypti mosquito in the Atacama (North Chile) Desert areas and mitigation risk measures. . 2020; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mauricio Gonzalez-Pacheco; Marcos Francos; Angelo Olivares; Xavier Úbeda. 2020. "Key socio-economic and environmental factors in the reappearance of the Aedes aegypti mosquito in the Atacama (North Chile) Desert areas and mitigation risk measures." , no. : 1.

Preprint content
Published: 23 March 2020
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Forest mechanical fuel treatments in Mediterranean ecosystems are frequently employed to reduce both the risk and severity of wildfires. These pre-fire treatments may influence the effects of wildfire events on soil properties. The aim of this study is to examine the effectivity of this treatment (clear-cutting operation whereby part of the vegetation was cut and left covering soil surface) carried out before a wildfire that broke out in 2015 and evaluate if the management had influence on post-wildfire soil properties of three sites: two exposed to management practices in 2005 (site M05B) and in 2015 (site M15B)–and one that did not undergo any management (NMB) and to compare their properties with those recorded in a Control area unaffected by 2015 wildfire. The fourth areas were sampled and compared 2, 10 and 18 months after wildfire. The study area is located in Ódena (Catalonia, Spain). The wildfire occurred at July 27th of 2015 and burned 1237 ha. In each area and in each sampling moment we collected 9 topsoil samples (0-5 cm depth). We analyzed aggregate stability (AS), soil organic matter (SOM) content, total nitrogen (TN), carbon/nitrogen ratio (C/N), inorganic carbon (IC), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), extractable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and potassium (K), microbial biomass carbon (Cmic) and basal soil respiration (BSR). Two-way ANOVA was carried out to check the differences according to sampling moment and to management. The results show that 2 months after the wildfire M05B showed greater amount of IC and pH; M15B showed greater Na than the other areas; NMB resulted higher in AS, TN, SOM, EC, Ca, Mg, K and BSR; and Control registered the highest Cmic. C/N resulted similar in the 4 areas in the three sampling moments. Ten months after wildfire, M05B showed greater AS and IC; NMB resulted higher in TN, SOM, EC, Mg and K; and Control showed higher pH, Ca, Na, Cmic and BSR. In the last sampling, 18 months after wildfire, M05B showed greater pH; M15B showed higher AS; NMB resulted higher in TN, SOM, EC, Ca and K; and Control showed higher IC, Mg, Na, Cmic and BSR. According to the treatments M05B registered higher TN, SOM, IC, EC, Mg, Na and K during 1st sampling; AS and C/N during 2nd sampling; and pH, Ca, Cmic and BSR during 3rd sampling. M15B registered higher IC, Mg, Na and K during 1st sampling; BSR and C/N during 2nd sampling; and AS, TN, SOM, pH, EC, Ca and Cmic during 3rd sampling. NMB registered higher IC, Mg, Na, K, Cmic and BSR during 1st sampling; AS and C/N during 2nd sampling; and TN, SOM, pH, EC and Ca during 3rd sampling. Control did not vary significantly over time due to the absence of perturbation. Overall, a comparison of the pre-fire treatments showed that NMB was the practice that had the least negative effects on the soil properties studied, followed by M15B, and that fire severity was highest at M05B due to the accumulation of dead plant fuel.

ACS Style

Marcos Francos; Xavier Úbeda; Paulo Pereira; Victoria Arcenegui; Jorge Mataix-Solera. Pre-fire forest management effectivity to decrease wildfire impact on soil properties in a Mediterranean forest. 2020, 1 .

AMA Style

Marcos Francos, Xavier Úbeda, Paulo Pereira, Victoria Arcenegui, Jorge Mataix-Solera. Pre-fire forest management effectivity to decrease wildfire impact on soil properties in a Mediterranean forest. . 2020; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marcos Francos; Xavier Úbeda; Paulo Pereira; Victoria Arcenegui; Jorge Mataix-Solera. 2020. "Pre-fire forest management effectivity to decrease wildfire impact on soil properties in a Mediterranean forest." , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 17 December 2019 in Revista Chapingo Serie Ciencias Forestales y del Ambiente
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Introduction: Forest management is necessary for forest conservation and the security of natural assets and people; however, forest management can have negative effects on some soil properties. Objective: To determine whether forest management in a Mediterranean forest basin, consisting of Quercus suber L. and Pinus halepensis Mill., causes increased runoff and eroded material at slope level. Materials and methods: Seven land-use units were selected: a) dense forest (no management); b) recently managed cork oak forest, c) recently managed pine forest; d) cork oak forest with two years of management, e) pine forest with two years of management, f) bare terrain with herbaceous vegetation and (g) a forest road. In each area, four rainfall simulations were carried out from a height of 2 m, at a pressure of 1.7 kg·cm -2 , equivalent to a rainfall intensity of 60 mm·h -1 . An ANOVA was performed and significant differences were verified (post-hoc Tukey test, P < 0.05). Results and discussion: The forest road and the bare terrain, areas devoid of vegetation, produced more runoff (4 to 12 %) than more vegetated areas (Conclusion: There is no difference in the generation of runoff and erosion in the managed areas, both pine and cork oak, compared to dense or unmanaged forest.

ACS Style

Xavier Úbeda; Joaquim Farguell; Marcos Francos; Luís Outeiro; Edinson Pacheco. Runoff and erosion generation by simulated rainfall in a Mediterranean forest with forest management. Revista Chapingo Serie Ciencias Forestales y del Ambiente 2019, 26, 37 -51.

AMA Style

Xavier Úbeda, Joaquim Farguell, Marcos Francos, Luís Outeiro, Edinson Pacheco. Runoff and erosion generation by simulated rainfall in a Mediterranean forest with forest management. Revista Chapingo Serie Ciencias Forestales y del Ambiente. 2019; 26 (1):37-51.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xavier Úbeda; Joaquim Farguell; Marcos Francos; Luís Outeiro; Edinson Pacheco. 2019. "Runoff and erosion generation by simulated rainfall in a Mediterranean forest with forest management." Revista Chapingo Serie Ciencias Forestales y del Ambiente 26, no. 1: 37-51.

Journal article
Published: 09 November 2019 in Environmental Research
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Lighting bonfires in urban parks is a widespread practice. However, few studies have examined their impact on soil properties. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of bonfires on the soil properties of an urban park in Vilnius, Lithuania. The properties studied were soil water repellency (SWR), aggregate stability (AS), soil organic matter (SOM) content, total nitrogen (TN), inorganic carbon (IC), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), extractable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), boron (B), chromium (Cr), available phosphorus (P), silicon (Si) and sulfur (S). Soil ratios calculated were carbon/nitrogen ratio (C/N), Ca + Mg/(Na + K)1/2 (SPAR), Ca:Al and Ca:Mg. Three areas were studied: Site 1) Pinus sylvestris L. and Quercus robur L.; Site 2) Aesculus glabra Wild.; and Site 3) Pinus sylvestris L. and Acer plantanoides L. At each site, 20 samples were collected (10 within the bonfire area, 10 from a control area). The results showed significantly higher values of SOM, IC, pH, EC, Ca, Mg, Na, K, P, Al, Zn, Cu, Cr, S, C/N ratio, Ca:Al ratio and Ca:Mg ratio in bonfire soils than in control unburned soils. In bonfire soils, significantly lower values were recorded of SWR, AS, TN, SOM, Al, Mn, Fe, Cr, S and SPAR comparing to control soils. Most affected area by the bonfire was Site 1, which presented a marked increase in heavy metal content comparing to the control. The impact of soil heating was evident in AS, IC, pH, extractable Ca, Mg, Na, K, P, Al, Zn, Cu, Cr, S, and in its ratios. Protective measures are needed to limit bonfires and prohibit the burning of hazardous materials.

ACS Style

Marcos Francos; Xavier Úbeda; Paulo Pereira. Impact of bonfires on soil properties in an urban park in Vilnius (Lithuania). Environmental Research 2019, 181, 108895 .

AMA Style

Marcos Francos, Xavier Úbeda, Paulo Pereira. Impact of bonfires on soil properties in an urban park in Vilnius (Lithuania). Environmental Research. 2019; 181 ():108895.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marcos Francos; Xavier Úbeda; Paulo Pereira. 2019. "Impact of bonfires on soil properties in an urban park in Vilnius (Lithuania)." Environmental Research 181, no. : 108895.

Journal article
Published: 04 September 2019 in Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica
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High-severity wildfires have a major impact on soil properties. Moreover, recently burned areas are highly sensitive to intense rainfall events. However, little is known about the impact of extreme rainfall on the relationship between soil properties and their spatial distribution. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of an intense rainfall event on soil properties and their spatial distribution in a small area using principal component analysis (PCA). The variables studied were aggregate stability (AS), total nitrogen (TN), soil organic matter (SOM), inorganic carbon (IC), C/N ratio, calcium carbonates (CaCO3), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), available phosphorus (P), extractable calcium (Ca), extractable magnesium (Mg), extractable sodium (Na) and extractable potassium (K). Each PCA (before and after intense rainfall event) allowed us to extract five factors. Factor 1 in the pre-intense rainfall event PCA explained the variance of EC, available P, extractable Mg and K; factor 2 accounted for TN, SOM (high loadings), IC and CaCO3 (low loadings); factor 3 explained AS, extractable Ca and Na; and, factors 4 and 5 accounted for C/N and pH, respectively. Factor 1 in the after intense rainfall event PCA explained the variance of TN, SOM, EC, available P, extractable Mg and K (high loadings) and pH (low loading); factor 2 accounted for IC and CaCO3; factor 3 explained extractable Ca and Na; factor 4 accounted for AS; and, factor 5 for C/N. The results showed that the intense rainfall event changed the relationship between the variables, strengthening the correlation between them, especially in the case of TN, SOM, EC, available P, extractable Mg and extractable Ca with AS. In the case of the pre-intense rainfall event PCA, the best- fit variogram models were: factors 1 and 2 – the linear model; factors 3 and 4 – the pure nugget effect; and, factor 5 – the spherical model. In the case of the factors after intense rainfall event PCA, with the exception of factor 5 (spherical model), the best fit model was the linear model. The PCA score maps illustrated a marked change in the spatial distribution of the variables before and after the intense rainfall event. Important differences were detected in AS, pH, C/N IC, CaCO3, extractable Ca and Na.

ACS Style

M. Francos; P. Pereira; X. Úbeda. Mapping impact of intense rainfall on a high-severity burned area using principal component analysis. Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica 2019, 45, 601 .

AMA Style

M. Francos, P. Pereira, X. Úbeda. Mapping impact of intense rainfall on a high-severity burned area using principal component analysis. Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica. 2019; 45 (2):601.

Chicago/Turabian Style

M. Francos; P. Pereira; X. Úbeda. 2019. "Mapping impact of intense rainfall on a high-severity burned area using principal component analysis." Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica 45, no. 2: 601.

Journal article
Published: 27 June 2019 in Science of The Total Environment
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Wildfires are common in wildland-urban interfaces (WUIs), where they represent a severe threat to inhabited urban settlements endangering both infrastructure and human life. Given these hazards, it is critical that forest management tools be designed to reduce the risk of wildfire at the WUI. In this regard, a management tool that is increasingly being adopted is that of prescribed fires; however, a complete understanding of their impact has yet to be gained. The aim of this study, therefore, is to analyze long-term soil properties after a prescribed fire and observed if the prescribed fire avoids vegetal fuel continuity. Our study area occupies a Mediterranean forest in the urban settlement of Picarany in the municipality of Almoster (Tarragona, Spain). The vegetation is composed primarily of Pinus halepensis Miller. and Quercus ilex L. and the soil type is classified as Xerorthents. Soil sampling was carried out in four campaigns: just before the prescribed fire (BPF), just after (APF), one year after (1YAPF) and 13 years after the prescribed fire (13YAPF). In each sampling period, 30 samples were taken (0–2.5 cm) from a 72-m2 experimental plot (4 × 18 m). The soil properties analyzed were total nitrogen (TN), soil organic matter (SOM), pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and extractable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K) and available phosphorus (P) concentrations. The carbon/nitrogen ratio was also calculated. A comparison of pre-fire values (2004) with long-term results (2017) shows increases of EC, Ca and Mg and decreases of TN and SOM. Despite these changes, the prescribed fire was found to be a good tool for managing forest areas. Indeed, the changes in soil properties did not represent a severely degradation of the soil and after 13 years there was no horizontal or vertical fuel continuity in the wildland-urban interface.

ACS Style

M. Francos; Estêvão Stefanuto; X. Úbeda; P. Pereira. Long-term impact of prescribed fire on soil chemical properties in a wildland-urban interface. Northeastern Iberian Peninsula. Science of The Total Environment 2019, 689, 305 -311.

AMA Style

M. Francos, Estêvão Stefanuto, X. Úbeda, P. Pereira. Long-term impact of prescribed fire on soil chemical properties in a wildland-urban interface. Northeastern Iberian Peninsula. Science of The Total Environment. 2019; 689 ():305-311.

Chicago/Turabian Style

M. Francos; Estêvão Stefanuto; X. Úbeda; P. Pereira. 2019. "Long-term impact of prescribed fire on soil chemical properties in a wildland-urban interface. Northeastern Iberian Peninsula." Science of The Total Environment 689, no. : 305-311.

Journal article
Published: 25 June 2019 in Agronomy
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The abandonment of the economic activities of agriculture, livestock, and forestry since the second half of the 20th century, in conjunction with the exodus of inhabitants from rural areas, has resulted in an increase in the forest mass as well as an expansion of forest areas. This, in turn, has led to a greater risk of forest fires and an increase in the intensity and severity of these fires. Moreover, these forest masses represent a fire hazard to adjacent urban areas, which is a problem illustrated here by the village of Capafonts, whose former agricultural terraces have been invaded by shrubs, and which in the event of fire runs the risk of aiding the propagation of the flames from the forest to the village’s homes. One of the tools available to reduce the amount of fuel in zones adjoining inhabited areas is prescribed burns. The local authorities have also promoted measures to convert these terraces into pasture; in this way, the grazing of livestock (in this particular instance, goats) aims to keep fuel levels low and thus reduce the risk of fire. The use of prescribed fires is controversial, as they are believed to be highly aggressive for the soil, and little is known about their long-term effects. The alternation of the two strategies is more acceptable—that is, the use of prescribed burning followed by the grazing of livestock. Yet, similarly little is known about the effects of this management sequence on the soil. As such, this study seeks to examine the impact of the management of the abandoned terraces of Capafonts by means of two prescribed fires (2000 and 2002), which were designed specifically to prevent forest fires from reaching the village. Following these two prescribed burns, a herd of goats began to graze these terraces in 2005. Here, we report the results of soil analyses conducted during this period of years up to and including 2017. A plot comprising 30 sampling points was established on one of the terraces and used to monitor its main soil quality properties. The data were subject to statistical tests to determine whether the recorded changes were significant. The results show modifications to the concentration of soil elements, and since the first prescribed burn, these changes have all been statistically significant. We compare our results with those reported in other studies that evaluate optimum soil concentrations for the adequate growth of grazing to feed goats, and conclude that the soil conditions on the terrace after 17 years are optimum for livestock use.

ACS Style

Xavier Úbeda; Meritxell Alcañiz; Gonzalo Borges; Luis Outeiro; Marcos Francos. Soil Quality of Abandoned Agricultural Terraces Managed with Prescribed Fires and Livestock in the Municipality of Capafonts, Catalonia, Spain (2000–2017). Agronomy 2019, 9, 340 .

AMA Style

Xavier Úbeda, Meritxell Alcañiz, Gonzalo Borges, Luis Outeiro, Marcos Francos. Soil Quality of Abandoned Agricultural Terraces Managed with Prescribed Fires and Livestock in the Municipality of Capafonts, Catalonia, Spain (2000–2017). Agronomy. 2019; 9 (6):340.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xavier Úbeda; Meritxell Alcañiz; Gonzalo Borges; Luis Outeiro; Marcos Francos. 2019. "Soil Quality of Abandoned Agricultural Terraces Managed with Prescribed Fires and Livestock in the Municipality of Capafonts, Catalonia, Spain (2000–2017)." Agronomy 9, no. 6: 340.

Original paper
Published: 04 April 2019 in Journal of Forestry Research
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Fire and pre- or post-fire management practices shape the distribution and richness of plant species. Here, the effects of pre- and post-fire management on vegetation recovery were studied at different times, up to 18 months after a wildfire. Two months after a 2015 wildfire, 18 study plots were established (three 4-m2 plots for each treatment), vegetation regrowth was monitored and vegetal species richness (S), evenness (IT), density (D), diversity (H′) and maximum diversity (HMax) after 2, 10 and 18 months. The treatments were (1) control, unaffected by 2015 wildfire; (2) no treatment (NT), burned in 2015 wildfire and not managed; (3) managed in 2005 and burned in 2015 (M05B); (4) managed in 2015, 2 months before wildfire (M15B); (5) cut and manual removal after the 2015 wildfire (CR); (6) cut and no trunk removal randomly deposited on topsoil after the 2015 wildfire (CL). All the treatments were carried out in a Pinus halepensis Miller forest. At 10 and 18 months after the wildfire, vegetation recovery was greater in NT, CR and CL plots than in M05B and M15B the plots. By 18 months after the wildfire, Brachypodium retusum (Pers.) P. Beauv. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. were still dominant, especially in M15B, corroborating the belief that pre-fire treatment reduced ecosystem resilience and vegetal recovery compared to the NT and post-fire managed plots. Richness was significantly lower 10 months after wildfire in control plots, and IT was significantly higher in that inventory than previously in M15B. Eighteen months after the wildfire, H′ was significantly lower in M15B. Ten months post-wildfire, HMax was significantly lower in the control plots. Eighteen months after the wildfire, HMax, was significantly higher in CR, CL and M05B than in the control and M15B plots. Overall, pre-fire management was detrimental to post-fire vegetation recovery, while manual post-fire management proved beneficial.

ACS Style

Marcos Francos; Paulo Pereira; Xavier Úbeda. Effect of pre- and post-wildfire management practices on plant recovery after a wildfire in Northeast Iberian Peninsula. Journal of Forestry Research 2019, 31, 1647 -1661.

AMA Style

Marcos Francos, Paulo Pereira, Xavier Úbeda. Effect of pre- and post-wildfire management practices on plant recovery after a wildfire in Northeast Iberian Peninsula. Journal of Forestry Research. 2019; 31 (5):1647-1661.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marcos Francos; Paulo Pereira; Xavier Úbeda. 2019. "Effect of pre- and post-wildfire management practices on plant recovery after a wildfire in Northeast Iberian Peninsula." Journal of Forestry Research 31, no. 5: 1647-1661.

Journal article
Published: 02 March 2019 in CATENA
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Mediterranean ecosystems are prone to wildfires, subsequent to which torrential rainfall and salvage logging are liable to modify soil properties. However, few studies to date have examined the impact of both types of disturbance on the same plot. The aim of this study is to examine the joint, medium-term effects of a torrential rainfall event, immediately following a wildfire, and post-fire salvage logging on the same plot. Three days after the wildfire we established and sampled an experimental plot (72 m2). The second sampling campaign was conducted 4 days after the onset of an intense rainfall event and 7 days after the wildfire broke out. Six months after the wildfire, salvage logging was implemented using heavy machinery to extract burned logs. A third sampling campaign was conducted one year after the wildfire; and a fourth was carried out four years after the event. In each campaign, 30 points, spaced 2 m apart, were sampled at a depth of 0–5 cm. Soil properties analyzed included soil water repellency (SWR), aggregate stability (AS), infiltration rate (in mm/h), soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), inorganic carbon (IC), C/N ratio, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), extractable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), boron (B), chromium (Cr), available phosphorous (P), extractable silicon (Si), and sulfur (S). Soil extractable elements refers to ammonium acetate extractable fraction and soil available P refers to plant available P. Post-fire rainfall affected pH, EC, Ca, Mg, Zn, P, Si and S. Salvage logging modified SOM, C/N, pH, EC, Ca, Mg, K, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cr, P and Si in the short term and IC, Ca, Al, Mn, Zn, Cr and B in the medium term. The post-fire occurrence of torrential rainfall and salvage logging, in particular the human intervention, had a marked impact on soil properties, resulting in soil degradation. To date, the long-term impact of salvage logging on forest soils has yet to be verified.

ACS Style

Marcos Francos; Xavier Úbeda; Paulo Pereira. Impact of torrential rainfall and salvage logging on post-wildfire soil properties in NE Iberian Peninsula. CATENA 2019, 177, 210 -218.

AMA Style

Marcos Francos, Xavier Úbeda, Paulo Pereira. Impact of torrential rainfall and salvage logging on post-wildfire soil properties in NE Iberian Peninsula. CATENA. 2019; 177 ():210-218.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marcos Francos; Xavier Úbeda; Paulo Pereira. 2019. "Impact of torrential rainfall and salvage logging on post-wildfire soil properties in NE Iberian Peninsula." CATENA 177, no. : 210-218.

Original paper
Published: 18 December 2018 in Journal of Forestry Research
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Studies of post-fire soil status in Mediterranean ecosystems are common; however, few have examined the effects of long-term forest management after a wildfire on physicochemical soil properties. Here, we analyzed differences in soil properties attributable to long-term post-fire management and assessed the sustainability of these management practices in relation to the soil properties. The study area is located in Ódena in the northeast region of the Iberian Peninsula consisted of the control forest (burned more than 30 years ago), low density forest (LD; burned in a wildfire in 1986 and managed in 2005) and high density forest (HD; burned in a wildfire in 1986 and no managed). For soils from each plot, we measured soil water repellency, aggregate stability, total nitrogen (TN), soil organic matter (SOM), inorganic carbon (IC), pH, electrical conductivity, extractable calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium (K), phosphorus, aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), zinc, copper, boron, chrome, silicon and sulfur and calculated the ratios of C/N, Ca + Mg/(Na + K)1/2, Ca/Al and Ca/Mg. Significant differences were found in TN, IC, SOM, pH, K, Al, Mn, Fe and C/N ratio (p < 0.05). All soil properties were found to have largely recovered their pre-fire values. Soils were affected by the post-fire management practices implemented 20 years after the fire, as reflected in their respective physicochemical properties, so that soil properties at the control and LD sites are more similar today than those at the control and HD sites. Thus, sustainable forest management can overcome soil degradation in areas affected by wildfire in the medium- and long-term by improving soil properties.

ACS Style

Marcos Francos; Xavier Úbeda; Paulo Pereira. Long-term forest management after wildfire (Catalonia, NE Iberian Peninsula). Journal of Forestry Research 2018, 31, 269 -278.

AMA Style

Marcos Francos, Xavier Úbeda, Paulo Pereira. Long-term forest management after wildfire (Catalonia, NE Iberian Peninsula). Journal of Forestry Research. 2018; 31 (1):269-278.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marcos Francos; Xavier Úbeda; Paulo Pereira. 2018. "Long-term forest management after wildfire (Catalonia, NE Iberian Peninsula)." Journal of Forestry Research 31, no. 1: 269-278.

Journal article
Published: 01 October 2018 in Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health
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ACS Style

Paulo Pereira; Marcos Francos; Eric C. Brevik; Xavier Ubeda; Igor Bogunovic. Post-fire soil management. Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health 2018, 5, 26 -32.

AMA Style

Paulo Pereira, Marcos Francos, Eric C. Brevik, Xavier Ubeda, Igor Bogunovic. Post-fire soil management. Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health. 2018; 5 ():26-32.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paulo Pereira; Marcos Francos; Eric C. Brevik; Xavier Ubeda; Igor Bogunovic. 2018. "Post-fire soil management." Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health 5, no. : 26-32.

Journal article
Published: 01 August 2018 in Science of The Total Environment
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Post-fire management practices after wildfires have an important impact on soil properties. Nevertheless, little research has been carried out. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of different post-wildfire forest management practices in a 10-month period immediately after a severe wildfire on soil properties. Two months after a wildfire, three experimental areas were designed, each one with different post-fire management: Cut and Remove (CR) where burned trunks were cut after fire and removed manually from the area; No Treatment (NT) where no intervention was carried out; and, Cut and Leave (CL) where burned trunks were cut and left randomly on topsoil. In each treatment, we collected nine samples (0–5 cm deep). In total, we sampled 27 samples in each sampling date, two and ten months after the wildfire. The properties analyzed were aggregate stability (AS), total nitrogen (TN), soil organic matter (SOM), inorganic carbon (IC), C/N ratio, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), extractable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and potassium (K). Soil C/N ratio was significantly higher in CR and CL treatments 10 months after fire comparing to 2 months after. On the other hand, pH, extractable Ca, Mg and K were significantly higher in all the treatments 2 months after fire than 10 months after. Aggregate stability, TN and SOM were significantly higher in CR comparing to CL, 10 months after the fire. IC was significantly higher in CL than in NT treatment, also, 10 months after the fire. Electrical conductivity was significantly higher in CR and CL treatments 2 months after fire comparing to 10 months after. According to the results, CR and CL post-fire management did not differ importantly from the NT scenario, showing that manual wood management does not have detrimental impacts on soil properties compared to mechanical operations.

ACS Style

Marcos Francos; Paulo Pereira; Meritxell Alcañiz; Xavier Úbeda. Post-wildfire management effects on short-term evolution of soil properties (Catalonia, Spain, SW-Europe). Science of The Total Environment 2018, 633, 285 -292.

AMA Style

Marcos Francos, Paulo Pereira, Meritxell Alcañiz, Xavier Úbeda. Post-wildfire management effects on short-term evolution of soil properties (Catalonia, Spain, SW-Europe). Science of The Total Environment. 2018; 633 ():285-292.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marcos Francos; Paulo Pereira; Meritxell Alcañiz; Xavier Úbeda. 2018. "Post-wildfire management effects on short-term evolution of soil properties (Catalonia, Spain, SW-Europe)." Science of The Total Environment 633, no. : 285-292.

Journal article
Published: 14 May 2018 in Science Trends
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Paulo Pereira; Marcos Francos; Eric Brevik; Xavier Ubeda; Igor Bogunovic. Managing Soil After A Fire. Science Trends 2018, 1 .

AMA Style

Paulo Pereira, Marcos Francos, Eric Brevik, Xavier Ubeda, Igor Bogunovic. Managing Soil After A Fire. Science Trends. 2018; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paulo Pereira; Marcos Francos; Eric Brevik; Xavier Ubeda; Igor Bogunovic. 2018. "Managing Soil After A Fire." Science Trends , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 01 February 2018 in Science of The Total Environment
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Wildfires affect ecosystems depending on the fire regime. Long-term studies are needed to understand the ecological role played by fire, especially as regards its impact on soils. The aim of this study is to monitor the long-term effects (18years) of a wildfire on soil properties in two areas affected by low and high fire severity regimes. The properties studied were total nitrogen (TN), total carbon (TC), C/N ratio, soil organic matter (SOM) and extractable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and potassium (K). The study was carried out in three phases: short- (immediately after the wildfire), medium- (seven years after the wildfire) and long-term (18years after the wildfire). The results showed that in both fire regimes TN decreased with time, TC and SOM were significantly lower in the burned plots than they were in the control in the medium- and long-terms. C/N ratio was significantly lower at short-term in low wildfire severity area. Extractable Ca and Mg were significantly higher in control plot than in the burned plots in the medium-term. In the long-term, extractable Ca and Mg were significantly lower in the area exposed to a high severity burning. No differences were identified in the case of extractable Na between plots on any of the sampling dates, while extractable K was significantly higher in the plot exposed to low wildfire than it was in the control. Some restoration measures may be required after the wildfire, especially in areas affected by high severity burning, to avoid the long-term impacts on the essential soil nutrients of TC, SOM, extractable Ca and Mg. This long-term nutrient depletion is attributable to vegetation removal, erosion, leaching and post-fire vegetation consumption. Soils clearly need more time to recover from wildfire disturbance, especially in areas affected by high severity fire regimes.

ACS Style

Marcos Francos; Xavier Úbeda; Paulo Pereira; Meritxell Alcañiz. Long-term impact of wildfire on soils exposed to different fire severities. A case study in Cadiretes Massif (NE Iberian Peninsula). Science of The Total Environment 2018, 615, 664 -671.

AMA Style

Marcos Francos, Xavier Úbeda, Paulo Pereira, Meritxell Alcañiz. Long-term impact of wildfire on soils exposed to different fire severities. A case study in Cadiretes Massif (NE Iberian Peninsula). Science of The Total Environment. 2018; 615 ():664-671.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marcos Francos; Xavier Úbeda; Paulo Pereira; Meritxell Alcañiz. 2018. "Long-term impact of wildfire on soils exposed to different fire severities. A case study in Cadiretes Massif (NE Iberian Peninsula)." Science of The Total Environment 615, no. : 664-671.