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Erdozain M, Cardil A, de-Miguel S. Fire impacts on the biology of stream ecosystems: A synthesis of current knowledge to guide future research and integrated fire management. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17389. [PMID: 38984506 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems host disproportionately high biodiversity and provide unique ecosystem services, yet they are being degraded at an alarming rate. Fires, which are becoming increasingly frequent and intense due to global change, can affect these ecosystems in many ways, but this relationship is not fully understood. We conducted a systematic review to characterize the literature on the effects of fires on stream ecosystems and found that (1) abiotic indicators were more commonly investigated than biotic ones, (2) most previous research was conducted in North America and in the temperate evergreen forest biome, (3) following a control-impact (CI) or before-after (BA) design, (4) predominantly assessing wildfires as opposed to prescribed fires, (5) in small headwater streams, and (6) with a focus on structural and not functional biological indicators. After quantitatively analyzing previous research, we detected great variability in responses, with increases, decreases, and no changes being reported for most indicators (e.g., macroinvertebrate richness, fish density, algal biomass, and leaf decomposition). We shed light on these seemingly contradicting results by showing that the presence of extreme hydrological post-fire events, the time lag between fire and sampling, and whether the riparian forest burned or not influenced the outcome of previous research. Results suggest that although wildfires and the following hydrological events can have dramatic impacts in the short term, most biological endpoints recover within 5-10 years, and that detrimental effects are minimal in the case of prescribed fires. We also detected that no effects were more often reported by BACI studies than by CI or BA studies, raising the question of whether this research field may be biased by the inherent limitations of CI and BA designs. Finally, we make recommendations to help advance this field of research and guide future integrated fire management that includes the protection of freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maitane Erdozain
- Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia, Solsona, Spain
| | - Adrián Cardil
- Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia, Solsona, Spain
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
- Technosylva Inc, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Sergio de-Miguel
- Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
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2
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Beyene MT, Leibowitz SG. Heterogeneity in post-fire thermal responses across Pacific Northwest streams: A multi-site study. JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY: X 2024; 23:1-16. [PMID: 39026600 PMCID: PMC467527 DOI: 10.1016/j.hydroa.2024.100173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Over the past century, water temperatures in many streams across the Pacific Northwest (PNW) have steadily risen, shrinking endangered salmonid habitats. The warming of PNW stream reaches can be further accelerated by wildfires burning forest stands that provide shade to streams. However, previous research on the effect of wildfires on stream water temperatures has focused on individual streams or burn events, limiting our understanding of the diversity in post-fire thermal responses across PNW streams. To bridge this knowledge gap, we assessed the impact of wildfires on daily summer water temperatures across 31 PNW stream sites, where 10-100% of their riparian area burned. To ensure robustness of our results, we employed multiple approaches to characterize and quantify fire effects on post-fire stream water temperature changes. Averaged across the 31 burned sites, wildfires corresponded to a 0.3 - 1°C increase in daily summer water temperatures over the subsequent three years. Nonetheless, post-fire summer thermal responses displayed extensive heterogeneity across burned sites where the likelihood and rate of a post-fire summer water temperature warming was higher for stream sites with greater proportion of their riparian area burned under high severity. Also, watershed features such as basin area, post-fire weather, bedrock permeability, pre-fire riparian forest cover, and winter snowpack depth were identified as strong predictors of the post-fire summer water temperature responses across burned sites. Our study offers a multi-site perspective on the effect of wildfires on summer stream temperatures in the PNW, providing insights that can inform freshwater management efforts beyond individual streams and basins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mussie T. Beyene
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Post-doc, c/o US Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Scott G. Leibowitz
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Corvallis, OR, USA
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Holmquist AJ, Cody Markelz RJ, Martinez CC, Gillespie RG. The importance of habitat type and historical fire regimes in arthropod community response following large-scale wildfires. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17135. [PMID: 38273502 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Novel wildfire regimes are rapidly changing global ecosystems and pose significant challenges for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. In this study, we used DNA metabarcoding to assess the response of arthropod pollinator communities to large-scale wildfires across diverse habitat types in California. We sampled six reserves within the University of California Natural Reserve System, each of which was partially burned in the 2020 Lightning Complex wildfires in California. Using yellow pan traps to target pollinators, we collected arthropods from burned and unburned sites across multiple habitat types including oak woodland, redwood, scrub, chamise, grassland, forest, and serpentine habitats. We found no significant difference in alpha diversity values between burned and unburned sites; instead, seasonal variations played a significant role in arthropod community dynamics, with the emergence of plant species in Spring promoting increased pollinator richness at all sites. When comparing all sites, we found that burn status was not a significant grouping factor. Instead, compositional differences were largely explained by geographic differences, with distinct communities within each reserve. Within a geographic area, the response of arthropods to fire was dependent on habitat type. While communities in grasslands and oak woodlands exhibited recovery following burn, scrublands experienced substantial changes in community composition. Our study highlights the importance of examining community responses to wildfires across broad spatial scales and diverse habitat types. By understanding the nuanced dynamics of arthropod communities in response to fire disturbances, we can develop effective conservation strategies that promote resilience and maintain biodiversity in the face of increasing wildfire frequency and severity driven by climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna J Holmquist
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California: Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Center for Comparative Genomics, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - R J Cody Markelz
- Berkeley Institute for Data Science, University of California: Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Ciera C Martinez
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California: Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Berkeley Institute for Data Science, University of California: Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Eric and Wendy Schmidt Center for Data Science and Environment, University of California: Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Rosemary G Gillespie
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California: Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
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Tarbill GL, White AM, Sollmann R. Response of pollinator taxa to fire is consistent with historic fire regimes in the Sierra Nevada and mediated through floral richness †. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10761. [PMID: 38107425 PMCID: PMC10721959 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Many fire-prone forests are experiencing wildfires that burn outside the historical range of variation in extent and severity. These fires impact pollinators and the ecosystem services they provide, but how the effects of fire are mediated by burn severity in different habitats is not well understood. We used generalized linear mixed models in a Bayesian framework to model the abundance of pollinators as a function of burn severity, habitat, and floral resources in post-fire, mid-elevation, conifer forest, and meadow in the Sierra Nevada, California. Although most species-level effects were not significant, we found highly consistent negative impacts of burn severity in meadows where pollinators were most abundant, with only hummingbirds and some butterfly families responding positively to burn severity in meadows. Moderate-severity fire tended to increase the abundance of most pollinator taxa in upland forest habitat, indicating that even in large fires that burn primarily at high- and moderate-severity patches may be associated with improved habitat conditions for pollinator species in upland forest. Nearly all pollinator taxa responded positively to floral richness but not necessarily to floral abundance. Given that much of the Sierra Nevada is predicted to burn at high severity, limiting high-severity effects in meadow and upland habitats may help conserve pollinator communities whereas low- to moderate-severity fire may be needed in both systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina L. Tarbill
- Pacific Southwest Research StationUSDA, Forest ServiceDavisCaliforniaUSA
- Wildlife, Fish, & Conservation BiologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Angela M. White
- Pacific Southwest Research StationUSDA, Forest ServiceDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Rahel Sollmann
- Wildlife, Fish, & Conservation BiologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Ecological DynamicsLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
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Delheimer MS, Moriarty KM, Munro HL, Early DA, Hamm KA, Green RE. Structural complexity characterizes fine‐scale forest conditions used by Pacific martens. J Wildl Manage 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S. Delheimer
- USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station 2480 Carson Road Placerville CA 95667 USA
| | - Katie M. Moriarty
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc. 2438 NW Professional Drive Corvallis OR 97330 USA
| | - Holly L. Munro
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc. 180 E Green Street Athens GA 30602 USA
| | | | - Keith A. Hamm
- Green Diamond Resource Company PO Box 68 Korbel CA 95550 USA
| | - Rebecca E. Green
- USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station 2081 E. Sierra Avenue Fresno CA 93710 USA
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Warren DR, Roon DA, Swartz AG, Bladon KD. Loss of riparian forests from wildfire led to increased stream temperatures in summer, yet salmonid fish persisted. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dana R. Warren
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
| | - David A. Roon
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
- Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
| | - Allison G. Swartz
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
| | - Kevin D. Bladon
- Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
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Barrile GM, Chalfoun AD, Estes‐Zumpf WA, Walters AW. Wildfire influences individual growth and breeding dispersal, but not survival and recruitment in a montane amphibian. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel M. Barrile
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Program in Ecology, Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming USA
| | - Anna D. Chalfoun
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Ecology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming USA
| | | | - Annika W. Walters
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology and Program in Ecology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming USA
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Characterization of Wildfire Smoke over Complex Terrain Using Satellite Observations, Ground-Based Observations, and Meteorological Models. REMOTE SENSING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/rs14102344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The severity of wildfires is increasing globally. In this study, we used data from the Global Change Observation Mission-Climate/Second-generation Global Imager (GCOM-C/SGLI) to characterize the biomass burning aerosols that are generated by large-scale wildfires. We used data from the September 2020 wildfires in western North America. The target area had a complex topography, comprising a basin among high mountains along a coastal region. The SGLI was essential for dealing with the complex topographical changes in terrain that we encountered, as it contains 19 polarization channels ranging from near ultraviolet (380 nm and 412 nm) to thermal infrared (red at 674 nm and near-infrared at 869 nm) and has a fine spatial resolution (1 km). The SGLI also proved to be efficient in the radiative transfer simulations of severe wildfires through the mutual use of polarization and radiance. We used a regional numerical model SCALE (Scalable Computing for Advanced Library and Environment) to account for variations in meteorological conditions and/or topography. Ground-based aerosol measurements in the target area were sourced from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Aerosol Robotic Network; currently, official satellite products typically do not provide the aerosol properties for very optically thick cases of wildfires. This paper used satellite observations, ground-based observations, and a meteorological model to define an algorithm for retrieving the aerosol properties caused by severe wildfire events.
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Hydroclimatic Conditions, Wildfire, and Species Assemblages Influence Co-Occurrence of Bull Trout and Tailed Frogs in Northern Rocky Mountain Streams. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14071162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Although bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and tailed frogs (Ascaphus montanus) have co-existed in forested Pacific Northwest streams for millennia, these iconic cold-water specialists are experiencing rapid environmental change caused by a warming climate and enhanced wildfire activity. Our goal was to inform future conservation by examining the habitat associations of each species and conditions that facilitate co-occupancy. We repurposed data from previous studies in the northern Rocky Mountains to assess the efficacy of bull trout electrofishing surveys for determining the occurrence of tailed frogs and the predictive capacity of habitat covariates derived from in-stream measurements and geospatial sources to model distributions of both species. Electrofishing reliably detected frog presence (89.2% rate). Both species were strongly associated with stream temperature and flow regime characteristics, and less responsive to riparian canopy cover, slope, and other salmonids. Tailed frogs were also sensitive to wildfire, with occupancy probability peaking around 80 years after a fire. Co-occupancy was most probable in locations with low-to-moderate frequencies of high winter flow events, few other salmonids, a low base-flow index, and intermediate years since fire. The distributions of these species appear to be sensitive to environmental conditions that are changing this century in forests of the northern Rocky Mountains. The amplification of climate-driven effects after wildfire may prove to be particularly problematic in the future. Habitat differences between these two species, considered to be headwater specialists, suggest that conservation measures designed for one may not fully protect the other. Additional studies involving future climate and wildfire scenarios are needed to assess broader conservation strategies and the potential to identify refuge streams where both species are likely to persist, or complementary streams where each could exist separately into the future.
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Huysman AE, Johnson MD. Habitat selection by a predator of rodent pests is resilient to wildfire in a vineyard agroecosystem. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:18216-18228. [PMID: 35003668 PMCID: PMC8717278 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Conservation of uncultivated habitats can increase the potential for ecosystem services in agroecosystems, but these lands are also susceptible to wildfires in the arid western United States. In Napa Valley, California, abundant rodent pests and an interest in integrated pest management have led wine producers to use nest boxes to attract Barn Owls (Tyto furcata) to winegrape vineyards. The viability of this practice as a method to control rodent pests depends heavily on the amount of hunting effort that Barn Owls expend in vineyards, which is known to be influenced by the amount of uncultivated land cover types surrounding the nest box. Wildfires burned nearly 60,000 ha of mainly urban and uncultivated lands surrounding Napa Valley in 2017, altering Barn Owl habitats. We compared GPS tracking data from 32 Barn Owls nesting in 24 individual nest boxes before and after the fires to analyze their hunting habitat selection. Owls with burned areas available to them after the fires had home ranges that shifted toward the fires, but selection was not strongly associated with burned areas. Though there was some spatial use of burned areas, selection of land cover types was similar for birds before and after the fires and in burned and unburned areas. The strongest selection was for areas closest to the nest box, and most recorded locations were in grassland, though selection indicated that owls used land cover types in proportion to their availability. Overall, habitat selection was resilient to changes caused by wildfires. These results are important for farmers who use nest boxes as a means of rodent control, which may be affected after dramatic disturbance events, especially as wildfires increase in the western United States.
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