168459 20260205155159.0 doi 10.1016/j.foreco.2026.123568 sideral 147919 ART-2026-147919 eng Pérez-Cabello, Fernando Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-4831-4060 The climate-fire nexus: Understanding post-fire vegetation recovery 2026 In Mediterranean ecosystems, high-frequency hydroclimatic variability, along with shifts in the fire regime, are key drivers of forest degradation. In this context, understanding post-fire vegetation recovery is crucial for both ecological research and forest management standpoint. Satellite-based remote sensing, particularly through orbital platforms, provides a robust framework for tracking post-fire vegetation dynamics. We assessed recovery patterns across 30 fire-affected areas in Aragón (northeastern Spain) by analyzing temporal trends in the Leaf Area Index (LAI), a widely used proxy for canopy structure, primary productivity, and vegetation health. Using Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs), we modeled LAI trajectories as a function of fire severity, dominant plant regenerative traits, and post-fire climatic conditions (drought or wet periods), including fire location as a random effect to account for spatial heterogeneity among burn sites. The models showed strong predictive capacity (R² ≈ 0.80), and the inclusion of random effects substantially improved model fit, underscoring the importance of site-specific factors in shaping recovery dynamics. Fire severity and post-fire moisture availability—particularly during the first years—were the most influential drivers of LAI regeneration. The regeneration mechanism of dominant vegetation also contributed to early post-fire recovery, although its influence diminished over time. From a forest management perspective, these findings can inform the design of post-fire recovery strategies based on different post-fire moisture and severity conditions. Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/S74-23R info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MCIN-AEI/PID2020-118886RB-I00-AEI-10.13039-501100011033 info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/RYC2021-034330-I info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Serrano-Notivoli, Roberto Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-7663-1202 Montorio, Raquel Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-7403-1764 Iranzo, Cristian Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-3359-6213 3006 430 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Geograf. Ordenac.Territ. Área Geografía Física 3006 010 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Geograf. Ordenac.Territ. Área Análisis Geográfico Regi. 606 (2026), 123568 [13 pp.] For. ecol. manag. Forest Ecology and Management 0378-1127 4207957 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/168459/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2789864 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/168459/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:168459 articulos driver 2026-02-05-14:37:00 ARTICLE