Seed sources and safe sites as drivers of <i>Larix <scp>c</scp>ajanderi</i> regeneration following wildfire in the Siberian Arctic

Larix cajanderi forests, which occupy vast regions of Siberia, grow atop and protect carbon-rich permafrost. Regeneration these forests has important implications for long-term feedbacks into the climate system their regeneration is strongest following stand-replacing fires. The goal this project was to assess sources limitation in L. northeastern Siberia. We focused on (1) potential stands varying tree density (2) analyzing seedling establishment patterns relationship microsite conditions (safe sites) landscape. Seed were assessed through cone counts stand surveys summers 2017 2018 17 mature stands. recruitment safe site availability 15 areas, spanning approximately 800 km2 along northern portion Kolyma River (69.5477° N, 161.3641° E). Density trees a negatively related number cones that average produced moderate more per area than either high- or low-density facilitated by sites discovered strong evidence are considerably lowland upland areas. biological explanation pattern presently unknown; however, we hypothesize driven persistently wet (marshy) soils some as limiter establishment. Overall, data suggest complex linkages between forest density, propagule availability, fire, sight colonization, may regulate dynamics understudied Siberian Arctic.