Sediment-phosphorus dynamics can shift aquatic ecology and cause downstream legacy effects after wildfire in large river systems

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Emelko, M. B., Stone, M., Silins, U., Allin, D., Collins, A. L., Williams, C. H. S., Martens, A. M. and Bladon, K. D. 2016. Sediment-phosphorus dynamics can shift aquatic ecology and cause downstream legacy effects after wildfire in large river systems. Global Change Biology. 22 (3), pp. 1168-1184. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13073

AuthorsEmelko, M. B., Stone, M., Silins, U., Allin, D., Collins, A. L., Williams, C. H. S., Martens, A. M. and Bladon, K. D.
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 (<125m) were sampled continuously during ice-free conditions over a two-year period (2009-2010), 6 and 7years 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 (EPC0) of suspended sediment were assessed. Concentrations of TPP and the EPC0 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 EPC0 persisted 6 and 7years 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.

Keywordsbiodiversity conservation; Ecology; Environmental Sciences
Year of Publication2016
JournalGlobal Change Biology
Journal citation22 (3), pp. 1168-1184
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13073
PubMed ID26313547
Open accessPublished as non-open access
FunderNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada
Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (Forest Management Division)
Alberta Water Research Institute/Alberta Innovates - Energy and Environment Solutions
Funder project or codeTransfer of ecological field kit
PublisherWiley
ISSN1354-1013

Permalink - https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/item/8v2y2/sediment-phosphorus-dynamics-can-shift-aquatic-ecology-and-cause-downstream-legacy-effects-after-wildfire-in-large-river-systems

Restricted files

Publisher's version

Under embargo indefinitely

198 total views
1 total downloads
0 views this month
0 downloads this month