Plants of the Mexican semi-desert: a solution based on nature as living barriers to cut off fire
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| Autori: | , |
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| Natura: | artículo original |
| Status: | Versión publicada |
| Data di pubblicazione: | 2026 |
| Descrizione: | [Introduction]: Climate change is intensifying wildfires, leading to a search for preventative alternatives, such as nature-based solutions (NBS), like creating living barriers of low-flammability plants. However, there is a lack of quantitative information on the thermal response of the epidermal structures of native semi-desert flora to heat. [Objective]: To evaluate under laboratory conditions the thermal resistance and combustion behavior of isolated epidermal tissue from Myrtillocactus geometrizans, Agave salmiana, Opuntia spinulifera, and Aloe vera to estimate their potential suitability as green firebreaks. [Methodology]: Thickness, density, hardness, and cellular structure (LABOMED-CxL optical microscopy) of manually sampled epidermal sections were determined, subsequently subjecting them to combustion and controlled thermal stress assays. [Results]: The epidermis of M. geometrizans recorded the highest physical properties: thickness (0.65 ± 0.035 mm), density (694.34 ± 0.002 g/m²), and hardness (74.00 ± 2.944°), outperforming A. vera by 20.66x, 13.57x, and 5.88x, respectively. Furthermore, it exhibited three-dimensional (3D) stomatal structures. During the assays, while A. salmiana and O. spinulifera reached maximum temperatures (~270 °C) before 28 minutes, the epidermis of M. geometrizans extended its stable thermal resistance up to 42 minutes (292.27 ± 18.25 °C). [Conclusions]: The morphological properties of the M. geometrizans epidermis, followed by that of A. salmiana, provide notable cellular stability and thermal retardation under laboratory conditions. Although these tissue-level data cannot be directly extrapolated to a landscape scale, they establish an essential scientific baseline for the design and future field validation of plant palettes aimed at the implementation of green firebreaks as an NbS for preventive fuel management in the region. |
| Stato: | Portal de Revistas UNA |
| Istituzione: | Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica |
| Repositorio: | Portal de Revistas UNA |
| Lingua: | Español Inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:www.revistas.una.ac.cr:article/22156 |
| Accesso online: | https://www.revistas.una.ac.cr/index.php/ambientales/article/view/22156 |
| Keyword: | epidermis, fuego, barrera natural, prevención, paisaje natural barrier epidermis fire prevention landscape barra natural epiderme fogo prevenção paisagem |