Table 1 Results for pairwise comparison of groups using Dunn’s test. Post-burn assessment response variables are divided into each of their analyzed groups: (1) non-UAS burning before the incorporation of the UAS, (2) non-UAS burning after the incorporation of the UAS, and (3) UAS burning. The P-value column is organized to facilitate all three pairwise comparison of groups, and an asterisk denotes statistically significant differences between groups (α = 0.05). Each row-column cross for a response variable (row) and P-value (column) group represents specific pairwise comparison results for those respective groups

Ha day⁻¹ burned

Non-UAS/before

245

50 (2.0)

44

Non-UAS/after

67

47 (4.5)

41

0.69

UAS

58

108 (10)

92

0.001>*

0.001>*

Substrate burn severity

Non-UAS/before

57

3.8 (0.07)

3.9

Non-UAS/after

13

3.4 (0.14)

3.2

0.096

UAS

17

4.0 (0.11)

4.0

0.27

0.007*

Vegetation burn severity

Non-UAS/before

57

3.9 (0.06)

3.9

Non-UAS/after

13

3.4 (0.14)

3.2

0.039*

UAS

17

4.0 (0.10)

4.0

0.28

0.003*

Unburned (%)

Non-UAS/before

57

14 (3.7)

0

Non-UAS/after

13

6.7 (3.8)

0

0.91

UAS

17

19 (7.2)

3.3

1

0.37

Crown scorch (%)

Non-UAS/before

56

12 (2.9)

1.8

Non-UAS/after

12

31 (7.6)

29

0.043*

UAS

17

11 (5.3)

2.0

1

0.11

Scorch height (m)

Non-UAS/before

39

8.0 (0.62)

7.0

Non-UAS/after

11

11 (2.2)

7.4

1

UAS

13

8.9 (1.7)

7.1

1

1

Char height (m)

Non-UAS/before

56

1.1 (0.14)

0.91

Non-UAS/after

12

2.3 (0.67)

1.2

0.16

UAS

17

1.0 (0.40)

0.36

0.58

0.030*