Boosts in leaf-level photosynthetic capacity aid Pinus ponderosa recovery from wildfire

Abstract Forests mitigate climate change by sequestering massive amounts of carbon, but recent increases in wildfire activity are threatening carbon storage. Currently, our understanding impacts on forest resilience and the mechanisms controlling post-fire recovery remains unresolved due to a lack empirical data mature trees natural settings. Here, we quantify physiological uptake immediately following individuals ponderosa pine ( Pinus ), wide-spread canopy-dominant tree species fire-prone forests. While photosynthetic capacity was lower burned than unburned an overall depletion resources, show that within trees, with severity damage. Our reveal boosts efficiency at leaf-level may compensate for whole-tree damage, including loss leaf area roots. We further heightened remaining needles be linked reduced water stress nitrogen content, providing pivotal information about processes. results have implications Earth system modeling efforts because measurements species-level parameters used models predict ecosystem landscape-level trajectories. Finally, current land management practices do not account severely trees. suggest premature harvest remove otherwise survive, irrevocably altering balance.