Cited by 130Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecologyFire effects on ecosystemsSoil and Water Nutrient Dynamics

Five‐year legacy of wildfire and salvage logging impacts on nutrient runoff and aquatic plant, invertebrate, and fish productivity

Silins, Uldis, Bladon, Kevin D., Kelly, Erin N., Esch, Evan, Spence, John R., Stone, Micheal, Emelko, Monica B., Boon, Sarah +3 more·2014·Ecohydrology

Abstract

Ecohydrological linkages between phosphorus (P) production, stream algae, benthic invertebrate, and fish communities were studied for 4 years after severe wildfire in the Rocky Mountains (Alberta, Canada). Mean concentrations of all forms of P (soluble reactive, total dissolved, particulate, and total) were 2 to 13 times greater in burned and post‐fire salvage‐logged streams than in unburned streams ( p < 0.001). Post‐disturbance recovery of P was slow with differences in P‐discharge relationships still evident 5 years after the fire ( p < 0.001). Coupled P and sediment interactions were likely responsible for slow recovery of P regimes in fire‐disturbed watersheds. P loading was associated with strong ecological responses in stream biota. Annual algal productivity was 5 to 71 times greater in streams within burned watersheds than in reference watersheds and persisted for 5 years after the fire ( p < 0.001). Elevated algal production was associated with strong differences in benthic invertebrate community structure, including greater invertebrate densities, biomass, species diversity, and shifts in species composition. Monotonic shifts in invertebrate stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios indicated increased consumption of autochthonous food sources and effects on energy pathways for invertebrates from fire‐affected streams. Wildfire‐related changes at lower trophic lead to increases in size (weight and length) and growth rate (weight : age ratios) of cutthroat trout ( Oncorhynchus clarki ). This cascading series of effects of wildfire on stream productivity (primary production, secondary invertebrate consumers, and fish) may be long‐lived legacies of wildfire because of the slow recovery of P regimes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Integrity signals

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Crossref · 10.1002/eco.1474

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  • Small increases in phosphorus and nitrogen, combined with greater light availability from reduced riparian canopy shade, can accelerate growth of aquatic plants and benthic communities, altering aquatic ecosystem structure and composition.

    “Small increases in nutrients P and N, for example, in combination with greater light availability because of reduced shade from the burned riparian canopy can accelerate growth of aquatic plants and benthic communities, which alter aquatic ecosystem structure and composition.8,64”

    From Wildfire and the Future of Water Supply (2014) · cites this paper as [8]

  • In wildfire-affected streams, nitrogen production can range from approximately 2 to 250 times greater than in undisturbed streams.

    “In wildfire-affected streams, the production of N can range from ∼2to 250-times greater than those in undisturbed streams.8”

    From Wildfire and the Future of Water Supply (2014) · cites this paper as [8]

  • In contrast to nitrogen, phosphorus transport in surface runoff from hillslopes to receiving waters is predominantly particle-associated and linked with erosion, which can become an important long-term source of phosphorus for aquatic ecosystems.

    “In contrast to N, P transport in surface runoff from hillslopes to receiving waters is predominantly particle-associated and linked with erosion, which can become an important long-term source of P for aquatic ecosystems.8,69”

    From Wildfire and the Future of Water Supply (2014) · cites this paper as [8]

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Authors
Silins, U., Bladon, K. D., Kelly, E. N., Esch, E., Spence, J. R., Stone, M., Emelko, M. B., Boon, S., Wagner, M. J., Williams, C. H. S., & Tichkowsky, I.
Affiliations
  • University of Alberta (CA)
  • Oregon State University (US)
  • Government of Northwest Territories (CA)
  • University of Waterloo (CA)
  • University of Lethbridge (CA)
  • Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (CA)
  • Matrix Solutions Environment and Engineering Edmonton AB T6H 5H6 Canada
Corresponding author
Silins, Uldis
Venue
Ecohydrology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2014-02-17
Volume
7
Issue
6
Pages
1508-1523
ISSN
  • 1936-0584 (ISSN-L)
  • 1936-0592
OpenAlex
W2120961352
Cited by
130
References
81
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2
FWCI
4.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Ecohydrology (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Alberta Innovates
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Fire effects on ecosystems
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
Keywords
salvage logging, phosphorus runoff, algal productivity, benthic invertebrate communities, stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes, trophic cascades, post-fire recovery

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