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The Effects of Forest Fire Smoke on Living Trees

The degree of forest denudation and loss due to forest fires is roughly the same as that caused by logging and slash-and-burn agriculture. The global ecosystem has undergone elemental, and oftentimes extensive, alterations due to plant and animal species dissipation caused by forest fires from natural or human origins. Trees experiencing heavy exposure to smoke also tend to exhibit several side effects.

Adverse Photosynthesis Reduction
- Photosynthesis, the process by which plants produce food, gets impaired when trees are exposed to heavy fire smoke. The stomata present in the trees' leaves and soft stems get saturated with carbon dioxide from the smoke, causing adverse photosynthetic sensitivity and affecting the food manufacturing process.
Adverse Moisture Depletion and Growth Effects
- Long-term exposure to high intensity forest fires dries up the trees quickly. Stomatal conductance, the ability of the pores of plants to allow water and carbon dioxide to dissipate, is directly affected by fire smoke as water vapor escapes rapidly from the stomata, causing dehydration. Some species may experience stunted growth and impaired development.
Adaptation
- Certain tree species develop resistance to smoke components as a physiological response. They produce defense compounds and mechanisms such as having a thicker bark or having leaves and stems that regenerate to maintain the rate of photosynthesis and to repair damaged stomata. Some trees also discard damaged stems and leaves by letting these parts fall off.
Regeneration
- Some species, in order to survive, also reproduce shoots at the bottom of the tree to replenish damaged stems and leaves. The Quercus gambelii (gamble oak), is one such tree that resprouts new stems at the root trunks. This process ensures that the tree will have enough leaves and stems to produce enough food to survive.

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