Post-fire responses of Quercus humboldtii mediated by some functional traits in the forests of the tropical Andes

These forests are subject to various anthropogenic pressures, including climate change, deforestation, and forest fragmentation, which have resulted in unprecedented levels of disturbance. The capacity for recovery of these tropical forest systems is crucial under increasing human pressures. Fire is a significant disturbance that has shaped the composition of vegetation in these ecosystems for centuries. Ecosystem responses to fire are highly dependent on fire characteristics, such as intensity and frequency. Medium-intensity fires can increase plant species richness by promoting habitat heterogeneity and allowing the establishment of less dominant species. In contrast, high-intensity fires can decrease plant diversity and facilitate the arrival of exotic species. The genus Quercus is widely distributed globally, from lowlands to high-elevation areas. Studies have shown that the presence of Quercus is associated with fire occurrence, mediated by climate factors such as drought and lightning. Oaks have a positive capacity to respond to fire, which is linked to their ability to resprout from dormant buds located at the root collar. This response provides resilience to Quercus forests in frequent fire regimes. Quercus humboldtii is the only oak species found in South America and is distributed from 1100 to 3200 meters above sea level in the Andean region. The species is threatened by high demographic density and anthropogenic pressures, which have resulted in the expansion of the agricultural frontier using fire to clear land. Unfortunately, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the response of Quercus humboldtii to fire and its interaction with other disturbances. Research has shown that the ability of forest systems to recover from disturbances depends on the species present and their strategies for resisting, based on their functional traits such as bark thickness and the ability to resprout from a bud bank. The genus Quercus has been found to have a positive capacity to respond to fire, which is associated with the ability to resprout from dormant buds located at the root collar. This response provides resilience to Quercus forests in frequent fire regimes. The study of Quercus humboldtii's response to fire and its interaction with other disturbances is crucial for understanding the resilience of tropical forest systems in the Andean region. The ability of Quercus humboldtii to resprout from dormant buds located at the root collar provides resilience to the species in frequent fire regimes. However, the species' response to fire is not well understood, and further research is needed to fill the knowledge gap. The genus Quercus has been found to have a positive capacity to respond to fire, which is associated with the ability to resprout from dormant buds located at the root collar. This response provides resilience to Quercus forests in frequent fire regimes. The study of Quercus humboldtii's response to fire and its interaction with other disturbances is crucial for understanding the resilience of tropical forest systems in the Andean region.