Special Issue: Understanding Novel Fire Regimes Using Plant Trait-Based Approaches

Led by Kasey Barton, a special October 2025 issue of the American Journal of Botany synthesizes global research to address how “novel fire regimes”—wildfire patterns that differ significantly from historical norms—are shaped by specific plant functional traits. By shifting focus from individual species to measurable characteristics like leaf moisture, bark thickness, and flammability, this work establishes a predictive framework that connects vegetation biology directly to fire severity and ecosystem recovery. These findings provide critical tools for ecological forecasting and land management, offering a mechanistic approach to guide restoration and wildfire risk reduction in fire-prone ecosystems under a warming climate.