Résumé
This study investigated the long-term role and drivers offire in the central European temperate spruce-beech forests from Prasilske jezero, Czech Republic. The results illustrate the complex relationship be-tween broad-scale climate, vegetation composition, and local human activities onfire throughout theHolocene. Biomass burning was the highest (average 3fires/1000 years) and most severe during the earlyHolocene whenfire resistant taxa (Pinus,CorylusandBetula) dominated. Using a Generalized AdditiveModel to assess the response of dominant canopy taxa to changes in biomass burning andfire severity,response curves demonstrate a positive relationship (p<0.01) betweenfire resistant taxa and increasesin biomass burning. Norway spruce (Picea abies) established ~10,000 cal yr BP and expanded during peakbiomass burning. Response curves show a slight negative relationship withPiceaand increasing biomassburning, and a positive relationship with increasingfire severity. This suggests that central Europeanspruce forests may not be significantly impacted byfire. Regional biomass burning dramaticallydecreased with the expansion offire sensitive taxa (e.g.Fagus sylvatica) ~6500 cal yr BP, yet no dramaticreduction in localfire frequency occurred. This suggests either human activities or rarefire-promotingclimatic events were important in shaping localfire regimes. Fire activity peaked (6fires/1000 years)~2500 cal yr BP and paralleled increases in anthropogenic pollen indicators.Fagusresponse curves il-lustrates a negative (p<0.01) relationship with increasing biomass burning andfire severity suggestingthat naturalFagusforests may be increasingly vulnerable to projected increases in wildfire occurrence.