Restoration temporarily supports the resilience of sagebrush‐steppe ecosystems subjected to repeated fires

Many ecosystems are experiencing increased fire frequencies and species invasions that can erode their resilience cause a shift to alternative states. In the sagebrush-steppe, semi-arid shrubland ecosystem in North America, restoration treatments often implemented following wildfire enhance invasion. However, little is known about long-term effectiveness of these treatments. We investigated whether repeated efforts provide greater sagebrush-steppe communities initially dominated by with different post-fire regeneration traits subjected compounding wildfires invasion Bromus tectorum over 25 years. studied 37 permanent transects (Columbia Basin, Washington, USA) which abundance was recorded multiple times from 1992 2017. quantified community change its relationship fire, restoration, moisture availability. Resilience evaluated quantifying resistance stability indices. The greatest occurred where obligate seeding shrub Artemisia tridentata common. Repeated fires led extirpation this eventual dominance B. tectorum. Herbicide applications temporarily suppressed post-fire. Seeding above average precipitation native cover. Although resprouting were common showed least change, did lead gradual but substantial decline (86%) shrubs. Synthesis applications. Our findings show efforts, together elevated precipitation, support re-establishment systems altered disturbance regimes invasions. unique dataset demonstrates, however, many such interventions have short-lived effects due strong ‘unhelpful resilience’ highly invaded systems. This implicitly suggests experienced fundamental shifts state. likelihood occurring strongly associated dominant traits. predict composition will continue degrade unless management prioritizes suppression an adaptive approach considers resource