Cited by 91Fire effects on ecosystemsIndoor Air Quality and Microbial ExposureAtmospheric chemistry and aerosols

Pyroaerobiology: the aerosolization and transport of viable microbial life by wildland fire

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Kobziar, Leda N., Pingree, Melissa R. A., Larson, Heather, Dreaden, Tyler J., Green, Shelby, Smith, Jason A.·2018·Ecosphere

Abstract

The field of aerobiology is expanding due to a recognition of the diversity of roles microbes play in both terrestrial and atmospheric ecology. Smoke from global biomass burning has had significant and widespread ecological and human health consequences, but the living component of smoke has received little attention. Microbes aerosolized and transported by wildland fire may have profound effects on atmospheric and environmental factors, acting as nuclei for ice condensation, transporting pathogens or symbionts, and otherwise influencing ecosystems and human populations downwind. The potential for smoke to aerosolize and transport viable microbes is a virtually blank piece of the microbial biogeography puzzle with far‐reaching implications. This study characterized the aerosolization of viable microbes via wildland fire smoke from burns in contrasting coniferous forests. Seventy aerosolized microbial morphotypes were recovered, and of these, a subset was identified using DNA analysis which revealed both pathogenic and non‐pathogenic fungal species. Overall microbial colony‐forming units decreased with increasing distance from smoke source, driven by bacterial abundance. Organisms were more abundant in smoke derived from mechanically treated fuels than intact forest floors and were most abundant in smoke from a dry, biennially burned Pinus palustris sandhill forest in Florida. Our findings of smoke‐transported viable microbes have implications for ecosystem restoration/conservation, global biodiversity, meteorology, and human health.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1002/ecs2.2507

Cites

37 of 37 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The physical and chemical products of fuel consumption affect human health.

    “The physical and chemical products of fuel consumption -including smoke, aerosols and volatilized gases-influence the translocation of carbon, nutrients and living organisms, and affect human health (Bowman & Johnston, 2014;Kobziar et al., 2018).”

    From Fire as a fundamental ecological process: Research advances and frontiers (2020) · cites this paper as Kobziar et al., 2018

  • The physical and chemical products of fuel consumption influence the translocation of carbon, nutrients and living organisms.

    “The physical and chemical products of fuel consumption -including smoke, aerosols and volatilized gases-influence the translocation of carbon, nutrients and living organisms, and affect human health (Bowman & Johnston, 2014;Kobziar et al., 2018).”

    From Fire as a fundamental ecological process: Research advances and frontiers (2020) · cites this paper as Kobziar et al., 2018

  • Several aspects of smoke and particulate emissions are understudied from an ecological standpoint, including smoke transport of living microorganisms and the promotion of germination and plant growth by smoke.

    “Several aspects of smoke and particulate emissions are understudied from an ecological standpoint, including smoke transport of living microorganisms (Kobziar et al., 2018) and the promotion of germination and plant growth by smoke.”

    From Fire as a fundamental ecological process: Research advances and frontiers (2020) · cites this paper as Kobziar et al., 2018

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Authors
Kobziar, L. N., Pingree, M. R. A., Larson, H., Dreaden, T. J., Green, S., & Smith, J. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Idaho (US)
  • University of Florida (US)
  • US Forest Service (US)
Corresponding author
Kobziar, Leda N.
Venue
Ecosphere
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2018-11
Volume
9
Issue
11
ISSN
2150-8925 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2901484988
Cited by
91
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2
FWCI
3.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
Ecosphere (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Institute of Food and Agriculture
  • University of Idaho
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Fire effects on ecosystems
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
Keywords
wildfire smoke, microbial transport, biomass burning, fungal spores, bacterial abundance, microbial biogeography, fuel treatment

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