Shoot flammability patterns among plant species of the wildland–urban interface in the fire-prone Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area

Murray, BR; Hawthorne, T; Curran, TJ; Krix, DW; Wallace, MI; Young, K; Murray, ML; Morley, E; Huber-Smith, N; Webb, JK

Shoot flammability patterns among plant species of the wildland–urban interface in the fire-prone Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area

Murray, BR Hawthorne, T Curran, TJ Krix, DW Wallace, MI Young, K Murray, ML Morley, E Huber-Smith, N Webb, JK

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Publisher:: CSIRO Publishing
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: International Journal of Wildland Fire, 2023, 32, (7), pp. 1119-1134
Issue Date:: 2023

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Murray, BR
dc.contributor.author	Hawthorne, T
dc.contributor.author	Curran, TJ
dc.contributor.author	Krix, DW
dc.contributor.author	Wallace, MI
dc.contributor.author	Young, K
dc.contributor.author	Murray, ML
dc.contributor.author	Morley, E
dc.contributor.author	Huber-Smith, N
dc.contributor.author	Webb, JK
dc.date.accessioned	2023-12-06T23:35:16Z
dc.date.available	2023-04-03
dc.date.available	2023-12-06T23:35:16Z
dc.date.issued	2023
dc.identifier.citation	International Journal of Wildland Fire, 2023, 32, (7), pp. 1119-1134
dc.identifier.issn	1049-8001
dc.identifier.issn	1448-5516
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/173764
dc.description.abstract	<jats:p>Background Mitigation of wildfires at the wildland–urban interface (WUI) will be enhanced by understanding the flammability of plants growing in this zone. Aims We aimed to: (1) compare shoot flammability among wildland native, and both urban native and urban exotic ornamental plants; (2) quantify relationships between shoot traits and flammability; and (3) establish flammability scores to distinguish low- from high-flammability species. Methods Flammability and traits of field-collected shoots were measured and relationships quantified in 44 species from the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Australia. Key results In our study area, urban exotic plants were less flammable than wildland and urban native plants. Slow-igniting shoots had high fuel moisture and bulk density; short-burning shoots had low bulk density and volume; shoots recording low maximum temperatures had high fuel moisture, low bulk density and volume; and shoots with low biomass consumed in flames had high fuel moisture and low volume. Our novel flammability scores distinguished low-flammability (e.g. Lophostemon confertus) from high-flammability native species (e.g. Callistemon citrinus). Conclusions and implications Low-flammability plantings at the WUI should preferably use native species given potential ecological impacts of exotics. We suggest that future work should seek to identify broader suites of low-flammability native species.</jats:p>
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	CSIRO Publishing
dc.relation	Central Coast Council
dc.relation	Central Coast Council
dc.relation.ispartof	International Journal of Wildland Fire
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1071/wf22192
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	0502 Environmental Science and Management, 0602 Ecology, 0705 Forestry Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Forestry
dc.subject.classification	3007 Forestry sciences
dc.subject.classification	4104 Environmental management
dc.subject.classification	4406 Human geography
dc.title	Shoot flammability patterns among plant species of the wildland–urban interface in the fire-prone Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	32
utslib.for	0502 Environmental Science and Management
utslib.for	0602 Ecology
utslib.for	0705 Forestry Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2023-12-06T23:35:13Z
pubs.issue	7
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	32
utslib.citation.issue	7

Abstract:

Background Mitigation of wildfires at the wildland–urban interface (WUI) will be enhanced by understanding the flammability of plants growing in this zone. Aims We aimed to: (1) compare shoot flammability among wildland native, and both urban native and urban exotic ornamental plants; (2) quantify relationships between shoot traits and flammability; and (3) establish flammability scores to distinguish low- from high-flammability species. Methods Flammability and traits of field-collected shoots were measured and relationships quantified in 44 species from the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Australia. Key results In our study area, urban exotic plants were less flammable than wildland and urban native plants. Slow-igniting shoots had high fuel moisture and bulk density; short-burning shoots had low bulk density and volume; shoots recording low maximum temperatures had high fuel moisture, low bulk density and volume; and shoots with low biomass consumed in flames had high fuel moisture and low volume. Our novel flammability scores distinguished low-flammability (e.g. Lophostemon confertus) from high-flammability native species (e.g. Callistemon citrinus). Conclusions and implications Low-flammability plantings at the WUI should preferably use native species given potential ecological impacts of exotics. We suggest that future work should seek to identify broader suites of low-flammability native species.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/173764