Nickolas Kichas, PhD
@kichas.bsky.social
Fire Ecologist, Yellowstone National Park --
Ph.D. (Ecology & Environmental Science) Montana State University --
B.S. (Forestry) CalPoly Humboldt
Ph.D. (Ecology & Environmental Science) Montana State University --
B.S. (Forestry) CalPoly Humboldt
Reposted by Nickolas Kichas, PhD
🗓️🔥 It’s Week 2 of our #FirePrepFriday series.
This week, create a Go Bag for your pet(s).
I started writing blog posts to accompany each week’s tasks, so please visit my website to read more details and find links to additional resources.
www.kristaleewest.com/fireprepfrid...
This week, create a Go Bag for your pet(s).
I started writing blog posts to accompany each week’s tasks, so please visit my website to read more details and find links to additional resources.
www.kristaleewest.com/fireprepfrid...
April 4, 2025 at 3:57 PM
🗓️🔥 It’s Week 2 of our #FirePrepFriday series.
This week, create a Go Bag for your pet(s).
I started writing blog posts to accompany each week’s tasks, so please visit my website to read more details and find links to additional resources.
www.kristaleewest.com/fireprepfrid...
This week, create a Go Bag for your pet(s).
I started writing blog posts to accompany each week’s tasks, so please visit my website to read more details and find links to additional resources.
www.kristaleewest.com/fireprepfrid...
Reposted by Nickolas Kichas, PhD
1/n
Our team just published a new paper in Global Change Biology 🧪🔥
The title succinctly describes the main take home message, but here's the deal:
We produced gridded, fine-scale (resolution = 30m) daily fire progression maps for 623 wildfires in the SW US using satellite fire data.
read on ...
Our team just published a new paper in Global Change Biology 🧪🔥
The title succinctly describes the main take home message, but here's the deal:
We produced gridded, fine-scale (resolution = 30m) daily fire progression maps for 623 wildfires in the SW US using satellite fire data.
read on ...
Extreme Fire Spread Events Burn More Severely and Homogenize Postfire Landscapes in the Southwestern United States
Extreme fire spread events rapidly burn large areas and are predicted to increase under a warmer and drier climate. Using satellite data, we analyzed the daily progression of over 600 wildfires in th...
dx.doi.org
February 27, 2025 at 2:41 PM
1/n
Our team just published a new paper in Global Change Biology 🧪🔥
The title succinctly describes the main take home message, but here's the deal:
We produced gridded, fine-scale (resolution = 30m) daily fire progression maps for 623 wildfires in the SW US using satellite fire data.
read on ...
Our team just published a new paper in Global Change Biology 🧪🔥
The title succinctly describes the main take home message, but here's the deal:
We produced gridded, fine-scale (resolution = 30m) daily fire progression maps for 623 wildfires in the SW US using satellite fire data.
read on ...
Reposted by Nickolas Kichas, PhD
1/4 We have a new paper in Forest Ecology and Management! We modeled bark beetle caused tree mortality as a function of host basal area for eight bark beetle species across the western US. With Jeff Hicke, Chang Gyo Jung, and @mhurteau.bsky.social www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Modeling the probability of bark beetle-caused tree mortality as a function of watershed-scale host species presence and basal area
In recent decades, bark beetle outbreaks have caused mass tree mortality in western US forests, which has led to altered wildfire characteristics, hyd…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 11, 2025 at 4:25 PM
1/4 We have a new paper in Forest Ecology and Management! We modeled bark beetle caused tree mortality as a function of host basal area for eight bark beetle species across the western US. With Jeff Hicke, Chang Gyo Jung, and @mhurteau.bsky.social www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Nickolas Kichas, PhD
1/n
Please see our new paper in Nature Communications!
We used 1,851 tree-ring fire-scar sites and contemporary fire perimeters to quantify the prevalence of wildfire from 1600-1880 compared to 1984-2022. 🧪🌍🔥
Our key findings are as follows ...
Please see our new paper in Nature Communications!
We used 1,851 tree-ring fire-scar sites and contemporary fire perimeters to quantify the prevalence of wildfire from 1600-1880 compared to 1984-2022. 🧪🌍🔥
Our key findings are as follows ...
A fire deficit persists across diverse North American forests despite recent increases in area burned - Nature Communications
Across many North American forests, recent years with exceptional area burned are not unprecedented when considering the multi-century perspective offered by fire-scarred trees. Nevertheless, abundant...
www.nature.com
February 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
1/n
Please see our new paper in Nature Communications!
We used 1,851 tree-ring fire-scar sites and contemporary fire perimeters to quantify the prevalence of wildfire from 1600-1880 compared to 1984-2022. 🧪🌍🔥
Our key findings are as follows ...
Please see our new paper in Nature Communications!
We used 1,851 tree-ring fire-scar sites and contemporary fire perimeters to quantify the prevalence of wildfire from 1600-1880 compared to 1984-2022. 🧪🌍🔥
Our key findings are as follows ...
Reposted by Nickolas Kichas, PhD
Explore the world of Scotland’s #dendrochronology with me at my upcoming talks and workshop.
What can tree-rings tell us about our built heritage, timber trade & environment?
The Dendrochronicle website events page has just been updated for 2025’s first few gigs.
dendrochronicle.co.uk/events/
What can tree-rings tell us about our built heritage, timber trade & environment?
The Dendrochronicle website events page has just been updated for 2025’s first few gigs.
dendrochronicle.co.uk/events/
Events - Dendrochronicle
This page lists events organised by, or featuring Dendrochronicle. We can offer talks and workshops on dendrochronology and woodland heritage, guided walks and ancient woodworking demonstrations. If i...
dendrochronicle.co.uk
February 6, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Explore the world of Scotland’s #dendrochronology with me at my upcoming talks and workshop.
What can tree-rings tell us about our built heritage, timber trade & environment?
The Dendrochronicle website events page has just been updated for 2025’s first few gigs.
dendrochronicle.co.uk/events/
What can tree-rings tell us about our built heritage, timber trade & environment?
The Dendrochronicle website events page has just been updated for 2025’s first few gigs.
dendrochronicle.co.uk/events/
Reposted by Nickolas Kichas, PhD
Our new paper in #Ecosystems! Short-interval #fires in lodgepole pine change aboveground N stocks (a lot) but not total ecosystem N, tho available NO3- goes up. #GreaterYellowstone #FireEcology #NSFfunded W/ @nathankiel.bsky.social C Cleveland, J Warren, R Heumann
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reburning Before Recovery: Effects of Short-Interval Fire on Subalpine Forest Nitrogen Stocks and Fluxes - Ecosystems
In forests adapted to infrequent (> 100-year) stand-replacing fires, novel short-interval (< 30-year) fires burn young forests before they recover from previous burns. Postfire tree regeneration is re...
link.springer.com
January 21, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Our new paper in #Ecosystems! Short-interval #fires in lodgepole pine change aboveground N stocks (a lot) but not total ecosystem N, tho available NO3- goes up. #GreaterYellowstone #FireEcology #NSFfunded W/ @nathankiel.bsky.social C Cleveland, J Warren, R Heumann
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Nickolas Kichas, PhD
Honored to write a commentary recent Pederson et al paper with an AMAZING floating tree-ring chron from whitebark melting out of the ice. The way they use that (unique) resource with ESMs is so well done and gives us a look at the mid Holocene. Freq response y'all! www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
January 21, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Honored to write a commentary recent Pederson et al paper with an AMAZING floating tree-ring chron from whitebark melting out of the ice. The way they use that (unique) resource with ESMs is so well done and gives us a look at the mid Holocene. Freq response y'all! www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Nickolas Kichas, PhD
Melting ice reveals buried trees dating back almost 6000 years in the Rocky Mountains, offering us a “time capsule” into previous climate conditions. www.newscientist.com/article/2463...
Melting ice reveals millennia old forest buried in the Rocky Mountains
Trees dating back almost 6000 years ago have come to scientists' attention due to ice melting in the Rocky Mountains, offering a "time capsule" into the past
www.newscientist.com
January 13, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Melting ice reveals buried trees dating back almost 6000 years in the Rocky Mountains, offering us a “time capsule” into previous climate conditions. www.newscientist.com/article/2463...
Reposted by Nickolas Kichas, PhD
Scientists recently unearthed remnants of a ~5900-year-old pine forest melting out of alpine ice high in the Rockies. 🌲🧪🏺
The rare find reveals an exceptional view of our recent climate past, including the effects of Icelandic volcanos on global temperatures.
New from me @newscientist.bsky.social
The rare find reveals an exceptional view of our recent climate past, including the effects of Icelandic volcanos on global temperatures.
New from me @newscientist.bsky.social
Melting ice reveals millennia-old forest buried in the Rocky mountains
Trees dating back almost 6000 years have come to scientists' attention due to ice melting in the Rocky mountains, offering a "time capsule" into the past
www.newscientist.com
January 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Scientists recently unearthed remnants of a ~5900-year-old pine forest melting out of alpine ice high in the Rockies. 🌲🧪🏺
The rare find reveals an exceptional view of our recent climate past, including the effects of Icelandic volcanos on global temperatures.
New from me @newscientist.bsky.social
The rare find reveals an exceptional view of our recent climate past, including the effects of Icelandic volcanos on global temperatures.
New from me @newscientist.bsky.social
Reposted by Nickolas Kichas, PhD
I'm thrilled to share our new @nature.com paper! We present ice core methane isotope data revealing that past abrupt climate changes likely triggered surges in wildfires, simultaneously driving rapid methane—and possibly CO2—rises 🌎🔥
Read it here 👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Read it here 👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Abrupt changes in biomass burning during the last glacial period - Nature
An increase in wildfire extent and related greenhouse gas emissions can be linked to abrupt climatic changes during the last glacial period.
www.nature.com
January 2, 2025 at 6:26 PM
I'm thrilled to share our new @nature.com paper! We present ice core methane isotope data revealing that past abrupt climate changes likely triggered surges in wildfires, simultaneously driving rapid methane—and possibly CO2—rises 🌎🔥
Read it here 👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Read it here 👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Nickolas Kichas, PhD
Very cool work by Greg Pederson et al. using a remnant whitebark pine forest preserved in a perennial ice patch to look at Mid-Holocene treeline dynamics in the Greater Yellowstone region www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
December 31, 2024 at 4:02 PM
Very cool work by Greg Pederson et al. using a remnant whitebark pine forest preserved in a perennial ice patch to look at Mid-Holocene treeline dynamics in the Greater Yellowstone region www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Delighted to share our latest research:
dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...
We found that whitebark pine trees showed positive responses to thinning, including increased growth and resin duct production. Thinning also created conditions favorable for seedling and sapling establishment. Check it out!
dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...
We found that whitebark pine trees showed positive responses to thinning, including increased growth and resin duct production. Thinning also created conditions favorable for seedling and sapling establishment. Check it out!
Thinning enhances whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) growth and resin duct defenses
Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is an important component of high-elevation ecosystems throughout the northern Rocky Mountains; however, the species was recently listed as “threatened” under the En...
dx.doi.org
December 15, 2024 at 3:43 PM
Delighted to share our latest research:
dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...
We found that whitebark pine trees showed positive responses to thinning, including increased growth and resin duct production. Thinning also created conditions favorable for seedling and sapling establishment. Check it out!
dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...
We found that whitebark pine trees showed positive responses to thinning, including increased growth and resin duct production. Thinning also created conditions favorable for seedling and sapling establishment. Check it out!
Reposted by Nickolas Kichas, PhD
Damn but I'm a day late for #FireScarFriday but thought this would be a good one to include: a cross section from a log we cut at Zion National Park with three recent Rx and managed wildfires in the Park since 1988! So great to see fire coming back to at least some locations. flic.kr/p/QBRe47
Zion_WC3F1
This is one of the neatest samples we cut. The tree recorded three recent wildfires that occurred on Horse Pasture Plateau on the west side of the main canyon: Hiker 1988 - 1,503 acres - started on 6...
flic.kr
December 14, 2024 at 2:59 PM
Damn but I'm a day late for #FireScarFriday but thought this would be a good one to include: a cross section from a log we cut at Zion National Park with three recent Rx and managed wildfires in the Park since 1988! So great to see fire coming back to at least some locations. flic.kr/p/QBRe47
Reposted by Nickolas Kichas, PhD
🐴 PhD Opportunity: Wild Horses & Fire Dynamics 🔥
@econovoau.bsky.social invites applications for an exciting PhD project exploring the ecological impacts of wild horses on fire dynamics and ecosystem functionality in sagebrush ecosystems.
More information here: phd.nat.au.dk/for-applican....
@econovoau.bsky.social invites applications for an exciting PhD project exploring the ecological impacts of wild horses on fire dynamics and ecosystem functionality in sagebrush ecosystems.
More information here: phd.nat.au.dk/for-applican....
Impact of Wild Horses on Fire Dynamics and Ecosystem Functionality in a Novel Ecosystem
phd.nat.au.dk
December 12, 2024 at 12:16 PM
🐴 PhD Opportunity: Wild Horses & Fire Dynamics 🔥
@econovoau.bsky.social invites applications for an exciting PhD project exploring the ecological impacts of wild horses on fire dynamics and ecosystem functionality in sagebrush ecosystems.
More information here: phd.nat.au.dk/for-applican....
@econovoau.bsky.social invites applications for an exciting PhD project exploring the ecological impacts of wild horses on fire dynamics and ecosystem functionality in sagebrush ecosystems.
More information here: phd.nat.au.dk/for-applican....
Reposted by Nickolas Kichas, PhD
Our recent paper traces the bacteria 🦠 in wildland fire 🔥 smoke back to ground sources for the 1st time.
We found that 70% of smoke-borne bacteria originated from the aspen (33%) & soil (37%) communities at the burn location.
🌎🔥🧪💻🧬
doi.org/10.1029/2024...
#FireEcology #smoke #microbiology #NSF
We found that 70% of smoke-borne bacteria originated from the aspen (33%) & soil (37%) communities at the burn location.
🌎🔥🧪💻🧬
doi.org/10.1029/2024...
#FireEcology #smoke #microbiology #NSF
December 4, 2024 at 8:18 PM
Our recent paper traces the bacteria 🦠 in wildland fire 🔥 smoke back to ground sources for the 1st time.
We found that 70% of smoke-borne bacteria originated from the aspen (33%) & soil (37%) communities at the burn location.
🌎🔥🧪💻🧬
doi.org/10.1029/2024...
#FireEcology #smoke #microbiology #NSF
We found that 70% of smoke-borne bacteria originated from the aspen (33%) & soil (37%) communities at the burn location.
🌎🔥🧪💻🧬
doi.org/10.1029/2024...
#FireEcology #smoke #microbiology #NSF
Reposted by Nickolas Kichas, PhD
🚨 Funded PhD opportunity: forests & climate change
Drought reduces growth, triggers dieback & can kill trees, but how does it affect tree reproduction? Help us answer this question! Join a great team in Liverpool & Kew, inc. @belenfadrique.bsky.social 🌳🌱🌲 Deadline = Jan
Info: tinyurl.com/3z9z3ad6
Drought reduces growth, triggers dieback & can kill trees, but how does it affect tree reproduction? Help us answer this question! Join a great team in Liverpool & Kew, inc. @belenfadrique.bsky.social 🌳🌱🌲 Deadline = Jan
Info: tinyurl.com/3z9z3ad6
November 27, 2024 at 3:14 PM
🚨 Funded PhD opportunity: forests & climate change
Drought reduces growth, triggers dieback & can kill trees, but how does it affect tree reproduction? Help us answer this question! Join a great team in Liverpool & Kew, inc. @belenfadrique.bsky.social 🌳🌱🌲 Deadline = Jan
Info: tinyurl.com/3z9z3ad6
Drought reduces growth, triggers dieback & can kill trees, but how does it affect tree reproduction? Help us answer this question! Join a great team in Liverpool & Kew, inc. @belenfadrique.bsky.social 🌳🌱🌲 Deadline = Jan
Info: tinyurl.com/3z9z3ad6
Reposted by Nickolas Kichas, PhD
My first Bluesky post is (coincidentally) my first Nature paper! Soil microbiomes show consistent and predictable responses to extreme events doi.org/ntzk. Huge props to @frantecol.bsky.social and the other collaborators for this mammoth effort.
#Soil #Microbiome #ClimateChange
#Soil #Microbiome #ClimateChange
Soil microbiomes show consistent and predictable responses to extreme events - Nature
Soils from 30 grasslands across Europe were subjected to 4 contrasting extreme climatic events under drought, flood, freezing and heat conditions, with the results suggesting that soil microbiomes fro...
doi.org
November 28, 2024 at 2:26 PM
My first Bluesky post is (coincidentally) my first Nature paper! Soil microbiomes show consistent and predictable responses to extreme events doi.org/ntzk. Huge props to @frantecol.bsky.social and the other collaborators for this mammoth effort.
#Soil #Microbiome #ClimateChange
#Soil #Microbiome #ClimateChange
Reposted by Nickolas Kichas, PhD
Joshua Tree National Park is looking for a new Vegetation Ecologist, a great chance to take on an important hands-on role in conservation of Mojave Desert plant communities 🌿
buff.ly
November 25, 2024 at 9:44 PM
Joshua Tree National Park is looking for a new Vegetation Ecologist, a great chance to take on an important hands-on role in conservation of Mojave Desert plant communities 🌿