@article{ref1,
title="The 2020 to 2021 California megafires and their impacts on wildlife habitat",
journal="Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America",
year="2023",
author="Ayars, Jessalyn and Kramer, H. Anu and Jones, Gavin M.",
volume="120",
number="48",
pages="e2312909120-e2312909120",
abstract="Fire activity during 2020 to 2021 in California, USA, was unprecedented in the modern record. More than 19,000 km(2) of forest vegetation burned (10× more than the historical average), potentially affecting the habitat of 508 vertebrate species. Of the >9,000 km(2) that burned at high severity, 89% occurred in large patches that exceeded historical estimates of maximum high-severity patch size. In this 2-y period, 100 vertebrate species experienced fire across >10% of their geographic range, 16 of which were species of conservation concern. These 100 species experienced high-severity fire across 5 to 14% of their ranges, underscoring potentially important changes to habitat structure. Species in this region are not adapted to high-severity megafires. Management actions, such as prescribed fires and mechanical thinning, can curb severe fire behavior and reduce the potential negative impacts of uncharacteristic fires on wildlife.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0027-8424",
doi="10.1073/pnas.2312909120",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2312909120"
}