Sediment‐phosphorus dynamics can shift aquatic ecology and cause downstream legacy effects after wildfire in large river systems
Abstract
Global increases in the occurrence of large, severe wildfires in forested watersheds threaten drinking water supplies and aquatic ecology. Wildfire effects on water quality, particularly nutrient levels and forms, can be significant. The longevity and downstream propagation of these effects as well as the geochemical mechanisms regulating them remain largely undocumented at larger river basin scales. Here, phosphorus (P) speciation and sorption behavior of suspended sediment were examined in two river basins impacted by a severe wildfire in southern Alberta, Canada. Fine‐grained suspended sediments (<125 μm) were sampled continuously during ice‐free conditions over a two‐year period (2009–2010), 6 and 7 years after the wildfire. Suspended sediment samples were collected from upstream reference (unburned) river reaches, multiple tributaries within the burned areas, and from reaches downstream of the burned areas, in the Crowsnest and Castle River basins. Total particulate phosphorus ( TPP ) and particulate phosphorus forms (nonapatite inorganic P, apatite P, organic P), and the equilibrium phosphorus concentration ( EPC 0 ) of suspended sediment were assessed. Concentrations of TPP and the EPC 0 were significantly higher downstream of wildfire‐impacted areas compared to reference (unburned) upstream river reaches. Sediments from the burned tributary inputs contained higher levels of bioavailable particulate P ( NAIP ) – these effects were also observed downstream at larger river basin scales. The release of bioavailable P from postfire, P‐enriched fine sediment is a key mechanism causing these effects in gravel‐bed rivers at larger basin scales. Wildfire‐associated increases in NAIP and the EPC 0 persisted 6 and 7 years after wildfire. Accordingly, this work demonstrated that fine sediment in gravel‐bed rivers is a significant, long‐term source of in‐stream bioavailable P that contributes to a legacy of wildfire impacts on downstream water quality, aquatic ecology, and drinking water treatability.
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Nutrients released following fires can contribute to downstream eutrophication and harmful algal blooms, adversely affecting drinking water quality and recreational uses.
“Nutrients released following fires can contribute to downstream eutrophication and harmful algal blooms, adversely affecting drinking water quality and recreational uses, such as boating and swimming (Cook & Holland, 2012; Emelko et al., 2016).”
From Wildfire Induces Changes in Receiving Waters: A Review With Considerations for Water Quality Management (2022) · cites this paper as Emelko et al., 2016
Both nitrogen and phosphorus generally increase in streams post-fire, observed in temperate, Mediterranean, and boreal forests as well as grasslands and wetlands.
“Both nitrogen and phosphorus generally increase in streams post-fire, and this has been observed in temperate, Mediterranean, and boreal forests as well as grasslands and wetlands (Chanasyk et al., 2003; Emelko et al., 2016; Hohner et al., 2016, 2019; Knoepp & Swank, 1993; Minshall et al., 1997; Ranalli, 2004; Rust et al., 2018; Sherson et al., 2015; Smith et al., 2011).”
From Wildfire Induces Changes in Receiving Waters: A Review With Considerations for Water Quality Management (2022) · cites this paper as Emelko et al., 2016
Proposed mechanisms explaining increased responses of nutrients post-fire include volatilization and deposition, reduced plant and microbial uptake, and increased leaching and runoff into waterbodies.
“Proposed mechanisms explaining increased responses of nutrients post-fire include volatilization and deposition, reduced plant and microbial uptake, and increased leaching and runoff into waterbodies (Emelko et al., 2016; Rust et al., 2018; Smith et al., 2011).”
From Wildfire Induces Changes in Receiving Waters: A Review With Considerations for Water Quality Management (2022) · cites this paper as Emelko et al., 2016
Cites
Warming and earlier spring increase western U.S. forest wildfire activity.
Westerling, A. L., Hidalgo, H. G., Cayan, D. R., & Swetnam, T. W. (2006) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1128834 · Cited by 5,176 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Increased occurrence of large, severe wildfires and longer fire seasons have been attributed to climate change (Stocks et al., 2002; Westerling et al., 2006, 2011; Flannigan et al., 2009).”
BackgroundWildfire and the Future of Water Supply
Bladon, K. D., Emelko, M. B., Silins, U., & Stone, M. (2014) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es500130g · Cited by 354 · see citing works
Self-citationSilins, 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., et al. (2014) · Ecohydrology · doi:10.1002/eco.1474 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
Self-citationHauer, F., & Spencer, C. (1998) · International Journal of Wildland Fire · doi:10.1071/wf9980183 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
Forest Fire Effects on Mercury Deposition in the Boreal Forest
Witt, E. L., Kolka, R. K., Nater, E. A., & Wickman, T. R. (2009) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es802634y · Cited by 53 · see citing works
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Wildfires Alter Forest Watersheds and Threaten Drinking Water Quality
Hohner, A. K., Rhoades, C. C., Wilkerson, P., & Rosario-Ortiz, F. L. (2019) · Accounts of Chemical Research · doi:10.1021/acs.accounts.8b00670 · Cited by 237 · see citing works
Paul, M. J., LeDuc, S. D., Lassiter, M. G., Moorhead, L. C., Noyes, P. D., & Leibowitz, S. G. (2022) · Water Resources Research · doi:10.1029/2021wr030699 · Cited by 219 · see citing works
“…need to consider fire impacts as they influence variability in physical, chemical, and biological conditions of water in reference watersheds (e.g., Bixby et al., 2015), especially as these impacts can last for many years (e.g., Emelko et al., 2016; Minshall et al., 2001; Rhoades et al., 2019).”
InfluentialNunes, J. P., Doerr, S. H., Sheridan, G., Neris, J., Santín, C., Emelko, M. B., Silins, U., Robichaud, P. R., Elliot, W. J., & Keizer, J. (2018) · Hydrological Processes · doi:10.1002/hyp.11434 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Emelko, M. B., Stone, M., Silins, U., Allin, D., Collins, A. L., Williams, C. H. S., Martens, A. M., & Bladon, K. D.
- Affiliations
- University of Waterloo (CA)
- University of Alberta (CA)
- Rothamsted Research (GB)
- Oregon State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Stone, Micheal
- ORCID
- Venue
- Global Change Biology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2015-12-26
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 1168-1184
- ISSN
- 1354-1013 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-2486
- OpenAlex
- W2127016607
- Cited by
- 149
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2
- FWCI
- 3.68
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Global Change Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Rothamsted Repository (Rothamsted Repository) (submittedVersion)
- ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Alberta Water Research Institute
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Fire effects on ecosystems
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Keywords
- wildfire effects, sediment phosphorus, phosphorus speciation, suspended sediment, bioavailable phosphorus, legacy effects, gravel-bed rivers, water quality, apatite phosphorus, organic phosphorus, equilibrium phosphorus concentration, forested watersheds
- MeSH terms
- Adsorption, Alberta, Fires, Phosphorus, Seasons, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Geologic Sediments, Rivers, Water Quality
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