Multiple ways for enhancing flammability in Mediterranean woody species: a trait-based approach

Enhanced flammability is a key driver of community assembly and a favored characteristic in fire-dependent ecosystems. In this study, we examined the variability of flammability traits among Mediterranean woody species. We measured eight flammability traits, including leaf traits, branching architecture, and standing biomass traits, across 26 woody species in the understory of pine forests in southwestern Anatolia, Turkey. Given that these species are part of fire-dependent plant communities, where fire provides advantages for persistence, we hypothesized that species would use various ways to increase their flammability. All flammability traits exhibited substantial variation among species. The flammability of the studied species varied depending on the specific trait considered, with no single species consistently exhibiting higher or lower flammability across all traits. Moreover, many species employed distinct strategies to enhance their flammability, such as differences in leaf structure, branching patterns, and biomass characteristics. The interspecific variability in flammability was also evident through a calculated flammability score based on eight traits, providing a valuable framework for ranking species by their flammability. Our findings suggest that the traits driving increased flammability in Mediterranean woody plants are idiosyncratic at the species level. Therefore, multiple traits must be considered to comprehensively study flammability within a plant community. These results have practical implications for the selection of “fire-resistant” plants in land management strategies within the Mediterranean Basin.