Methods to assess fire-induced tree mortality: review of fire behaviour proxy and real fire experiments

Background: The increased interest in why and how trees die from fire has led to several syntheses of the potential mechanisms of fire-induced tree mortality. However, these generally neglect to consider experimental methods used to simulate fire behaviour conditions.

Aims: To describe, evaluate the appropriateness of and provide a historical timeline of the different approaches that have been used to simulate fire behaviour in fire-induced tree mortality studies.

Methods: We conducted a historical review of the different actual and fire proxy methods that have been used to further our understanding of fire-induced tree mortality.

Key results: Most studies that assess the mechanisms of fire-induced tree mortality in laboratory settings make use of fire proxies instead of real fires and use cut branches instead of live plants.

Implications: Further research should assess mechanisms of fire-induced tree mortality using live plants in paired combustion laboratory and landscape fire experiments.