Does functional diversity increase resilience to more extreme fire regimes in a subalpine forest?

Functional diversity is often expected to increase ecological resilience to extreme events, but this idea is poorly tested. We used an individual-based model for a 50 km² conifer forest in the Northern Rocky Mountains, with parameter values and initial conditions based on empirical data. We simulated responses to projected changes in extreme fire events through the 21^st century, factorially crossed with manipulations of functional diversity. Preliminary results suggest that functional diversity alone does not increase resilience; other factors, such as spatial heterogeneity, may be more important for avoiding lasting transitions from forest to steppe.