How does fire frequency influence tree species diversity in the boreal forest Free Essay Example, 1500 words

The continuous interaction that takes place between fire weather and vegetation greatly contributes to the community of species that thrives in the systems. Shifts in the communities of vegetation are expected to occur as a result of the successful migration of propagules that are reacting to the changing bioclimatic envelopes but at a slow pace (Krawchuk, Cumming & Flannigan, 2009). This also research wishes to identify the species that are able to survive after the forest has been affected by the fires and how long the ones that regenerate themselves take before they can go back to their original states. Research question How does fire frequency influence tree species diversity in the boreal forest? Hypothesis and predictions The frequency of the occurrence of the fire in the forest shows a relationship with the diversity of the species that exist in the forest. When the fires post an increased rate of occurrence making them take place more frequently mainly as a result of climate change, then there is a significant decrease in the diversity of the trees that will thrive in the forest. This is because the fire acts as a natural disturbance which goes a long way in harming or consequently killing the trees that exist in the forest. It can predicted that if the frequency of the fires is higher as a result of the climate getting warmer, then the fires will generally be of a high intensity which will burn and ultimately destroy the species of trees that are in the forest. We will write a custom essay sample on How does fire frequency influence tree species diversity in the boreal forest or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now The effect of this will be a reduction in the number of species that are in the forest since after being burnt, there are some that will not be able to regenerate. On the other hand, if the frequency of the fires that are occurring in the forest is low, then the characteristics of the fires will significantly change. This will mean that the fires will be less intense compared to the contrasting scenario and therefore there will be more likelihood of more species surviving leading to a more diverse forest in terms of the species of trees that thrive there. Methodology and Experimental design To understand the effects that result from frequent fires that are experienced in the Boreal forest on the diversity of the tree species that exists there, a factorial experiment will be designed with three variables: climate, which will feature the current one and the one that is expected in the future, the occurrence of fire which will feature the frequency now and the frequency that will be experienced in the future and the diversity of the species which will also feature the species that exist now and those that are expected.