Gao_et_al_Data and Code

Terrestrial C: N: P ratios are critical to production, food-web dynamics, and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. Fire risk continues to increase globally; however, its influence on terrestrial C: N: P and the drives of post-fire terrestrial C: N: P remains uncertain. By conducting a global meta-analysis of 1393 paired observations in fire disturbance from 206 studies, we show that, on average across all observations, the post-fire terrestrial ecosystem N/P responds with a moderately positive significant effect on fire disturbance, whereas C/N and C/P don’t show significant responses. The magnitude of the fire disturbance effects on the terrestrial C: N: P ratio was driven by variation in fire-induced changes in fire seasonality, in particular on the plant's organization in C: N and N: P ratio. Sites with higher mean annual temperature seemed particularly sensitive in terrestrial ecosystems C: N: P ratio response to fire disturbance. The results highlight the importance of local plant nutrient background and fire-induced changes therein for the future climatic impact of terrestrial C: N: P stoichiometry.