Yellowstone Wildfires Increased Stream Ion Concentrations and Export
Wildfires in the western U.S. have increased in severity and duration in recent decades. Severe wildfires can enhance the rates of nutrient mineralization, causing large exports of inorganic nitrogen and other ions from forests to streams. Measuring the degree to which streams respond to severe, sta...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Nitrogen |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3129/5/4/75 |
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| author | Isabella G. Sadler Lusha M. Tronstad Christine Fisher Robert O. Hall Todd M. Koel |
| author_facet | Isabella G. Sadler Lusha M. Tronstad Christine Fisher Robert O. Hall Todd M. Koel |
| author_sort | Isabella G. Sadler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Wildfires in the western U.S. have increased in severity and duration in recent decades. Severe wildfires can enhance the rates of nutrient mineralization, causing large exports of inorganic nitrogen and other ions from forests to streams. Measuring the degree to which streams respond to severe, stand-replacing wildfires is critical to estimate in ecosystems prone to disturbance. In 2003, two severe crown wildfires burned in Yellowstone National Park, WY, USA. We studied the extent to which these fires increased nitrogen (ammonium, nitrate and nitrite), sulfate, chloride, and total dissolved phosphorus concentrations and export in three watersheds prior to and during the first four years post-fire. We measured higher concentrations of most ions after wildfire, and nitrate and chloride concentrations increased the most, increasing > 1000 µg/L. Concentrations of nitrate (≤146 times pre-fire concentrations), total dissolved nitrogen (≤11 times), chloride (≤9 times), and total dissolved phosphorus (≤7 times) were higher four years post-fire than before the wildfires burned. Exports of nitrate (≤1392 times), sulfate (≤14 times), and chloride (≤37 times) were also higher after wildfire, while nitrite (≤2.9 times) and ammonium (≤6.4 times) increased to a lesser degree. Stream concentrations of most ions were higher in watersheds that had a larger percent of the area burned. Comparing ion concentrations in streams before and after severe wildfires provides critical information to managers as the climate warms and the frequency of fire-conductive weather increases. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7b106d6fe63648e390e8fe0858a44e8c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2504-3129 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Nitrogen |
| spelling | doaj-art-7b106d6fe63648e390e8fe0858a44e8c2024-12-27T14:44:03ZengMDPI AGNitrogen2504-31292024-12-01541181119510.3390/nitrogen5040075Yellowstone Wildfires Increased Stream Ion Concentrations and ExportIsabella G. Sadler0Lusha M. Tronstad1Christine Fisher2Robert O. Hall3Todd M. Koel4Department of Zoology and Physiology, and Program in Ecology and Evolution, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Laramie, WY 82071, USADepartment of Zoology and Physiology, and Program in Ecology and Evolution, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Laramie, WY 82071, USADepartment of Zoology and Physiology, and Program in Ecology and Evolution, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Laramie, WY 82071, USADepartment of Zoology and Physiology, and Program in Ecology and Evolution, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Laramie, WY 82071, USAU.S. National Park Service, Yellowstone Center for Resources, Native Fish Conservation Program, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USAWildfires in the western U.S. have increased in severity and duration in recent decades. Severe wildfires can enhance the rates of nutrient mineralization, causing large exports of inorganic nitrogen and other ions from forests to streams. Measuring the degree to which streams respond to severe, stand-replacing wildfires is critical to estimate in ecosystems prone to disturbance. In 2003, two severe crown wildfires burned in Yellowstone National Park, WY, USA. We studied the extent to which these fires increased nitrogen (ammonium, nitrate and nitrite), sulfate, chloride, and total dissolved phosphorus concentrations and export in three watersheds prior to and during the first four years post-fire. We measured higher concentrations of most ions after wildfire, and nitrate and chloride concentrations increased the most, increasing > 1000 µg/L. Concentrations of nitrate (≤146 times pre-fire concentrations), total dissolved nitrogen (≤11 times), chloride (≤9 times), and total dissolved phosphorus (≤7 times) were higher four years post-fire than before the wildfires burned. Exports of nitrate (≤1392 times), sulfate (≤14 times), and chloride (≤37 times) were also higher after wildfire, while nitrite (≤2.9 times) and ammonium (≤6.4 times) increased to a lesser degree. Stream concentrations of most ions were higher in watersheds that had a larger percent of the area burned. Comparing ion concentrations in streams before and after severe wildfires provides critical information to managers as the climate warms and the frequency of fire-conductive weather increases.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3129/5/4/75cationsanionsloticbiogeochemistrynutrientswatershed export |
| spellingShingle | Isabella G. Sadler Lusha M. Tronstad Christine Fisher Robert O. Hall Todd M. Koel Yellowstone Wildfires Increased Stream Ion Concentrations and Export Nitrogen cations anions lotic biogeochemistry nutrients watershed export |
| title | Yellowstone Wildfires Increased Stream Ion Concentrations and Export |
| title_full | Yellowstone Wildfires Increased Stream Ion Concentrations and Export |
| title_fullStr | Yellowstone Wildfires Increased Stream Ion Concentrations and Export |
| title_full_unstemmed | Yellowstone Wildfires Increased Stream Ion Concentrations and Export |
| title_short | Yellowstone Wildfires Increased Stream Ion Concentrations and Export |
| title_sort | yellowstone wildfires increased stream ion concentrations and export |
| topic | cations anions lotic biogeochemistry nutrients watershed export |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3129/5/4/75 |
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