Forest succession trajectories after fires in valleys and on slopes in the Greater Khingan Mountains, China

Abstract Accurate assessment of postfire vegetation recovery is important for forest management and the conservation species diversity. Topography an factor affecting but whether composition varies with different stages between valleys slopes unclear. Using field data a space-for-time substitution method, we quantified richness diversity to obtain successional trajectories slopes. We surveyed 10 burned areas from 1986 2010 in Greater Khingan Mountains northeastern China, found that increasing time, both gradually decreased. However, was relatively higher. Shrubs recovered rapidly valleys, maximized approximately 11 years after fire. it 17–18 fire on Numerous shade-tolerant were present not until 18 Larch appeared earlier than its slow quickly established dominance early. Our study provides some new insights into succession at local scales. After fire, processes differ topography affects initial rate stages.