Contributed by OLLI
Dr. Heather D. Alexander, Auburn University Assistant professor, will present “Arctic Fires: Impacts on Forests of Northeastern Siberia” at OLLI’s Alabama Brown Bag Lunch & Lecture Series. The presentation will be streamed via Facebook Live on OLLI at Auburn’s Facebook page on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 12 p.m.
Arctic and sub-arctic boreal forests are warming at an accelerated rate compared to the rest of the globe. Coincident with this warming have been changes in disturbance regimes, including increased wildfire activity. In larch forests of the Siberian Arctic, increased wildfire frequency, severity, and extent can limit forest recovery and trigger forest loss. The conversion of forests to shrublands or grasslands can have large impacts on the stability of underlying permafrost soils and the ability of forests to capture and store carbon. As such, how these forests respond to changing fire regimes can have large consequences for global climate. This talk will explore the response of Siberian larch forests to fire by examining results of several experimental and observational studies conducted by Dr. Alexander and colleagues over the last decade in far northeastern Russia.
Dr. Heather D. Alexander is an assistant professor of forest ecology in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University. Dr. Alexander’s research focuses on understanding forest ecosystem vulnerability in the face of altered fire regimes. Her current research includes the effects of wildfires on forest structure and carbon dynamics in the Siberian Arctic and the implications of fire suppression on oak and mixed forests of the eastern U.S.
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Auburn University (OLLI at Auburn) hosts its Winter Brown Bag Lunch & Lecture Series from 12 to 1 p.m. via Facebook Live on OLLI at Auburn’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/OLLIatAuburn. The program begins at 12 p.m. The program is open to the public at no charge.
OLLI at Auburn is a program of the Office of the Vice President for University Outreach at Auburn University. OLLI administrative offices and select classes are located at the historic Sunny Slope property, 1031 S. College St. Auburn, Alabama.
For more information regarding this event or to learn about becoming a Volunteer Faculty Member, Volunteer Service Assistant, or Sponsor, please contact Shawnee McKee, OLLI Administrative Support, at 334-844-3146, olli@auburn.edu, or visit our website at www.olliatauburn.org