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Xu MD, Dong WJ, Long XZ, Yang XW, Han XY, Cui LY, Tong Q. Impact of wildfire ash on skin and gut microbiomes and survival of Rana dybowskii. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 474:134729. [PMID: 38805811 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Climate change and human activities escalate the frequency and intensity of wildfires, threatening amphibian habitats and survival; yet, research on these impacts remains limited. Wildfire ash alters water quality, introduces contaminants, and may disrupt microbial communities, impacting gut and skin microbiota; however, the effects on gut and skin microbiota remain unclear. Rana dybowskii were exposed to five concentrations (0 g L-1, 1.25 g L-1, 2.5 g L-1, 5 g L-1, and 10 g L-1) of aqueous extracts of wildfire ashes (AEAs) for 30 days to assess AEAs' metal content, survival, and microbiota diversity via Illumina sequencing. Our results showed that the major elements in ash were Ca > K > Mg > Al > Fe > Na > Mn, while in AEA they were K > Ca > Na > Mg > As > Al > Cu. A significant decrease in amphibian survival rates with increased AEA concentration was shown. The beta diversity analysis revealed distinct shifts in microbiota composition. Notably, bacterial genera associated with potential health risks showed increased abundance in skin microbiota, emphasising the potential for ash exposure to affect amphibian health. Functional prediction analyses revealed significant shifts in metabolic pathways related to health and disease, indicating that wildfire ash exposure may influence amphibian health through changes in microbial functions. This study highlights the urgent need for strategies to mitigate wildfire ash impacts on amphibians, as it significantly alters microbiota and affects their survival and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-da Xu
- School of Biology and Agriculture, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154007, China
| | - Wen-Jing Dong
- School of Biology and Agriculture, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154007, China
| | - Xin-Zhou Long
- School of Biology and Agriculture, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154007, China
| | - Xue-Wen Yang
- School of Biology and Agriculture, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154007, China
| | - Xiao-Yun Han
- School of Biology and Agriculture, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154007, China
| | - Li-Yong Cui
- Jiamusi Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Forestry Sciences, Jiamusi 154002, China
| | - Qing Tong
- School of Biology and Agriculture, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154007, China; Jiamusi Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Forestry Sciences, Jiamusi 154002, China.
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He F, Svenning JC, Chen X, Tockner K, Kuemmerle T, le Roux E, Moleón M, Gessner J, Jähnig SC. Freshwater megafauna shape ecosystems and facilitate restoration. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1141-1163. [PMID: 38411930 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Freshwater megafauna, such as sturgeons, giant catfishes, river dolphins, hippopotami, crocodylians, large turtles, and giant salamanders, have experienced severe population declines and range contractions worldwide. Although there is an increasing number of studies investigating the causes of megafauna losses in fresh waters, little attention has been paid to synthesising the impacts of megafauna on the abiotic environment and other organisms in freshwater ecosystems, and hence the consequences of losing these species. This limited understanding may impede the development of policies and actions for their conservation and restoration. In this review, we synthesise how megafauna shape ecological processes in freshwater ecosystems and discuss their potential for enhancing ecosystem restoration. Through activities such as movement, burrowing, and dam and nest building, megafauna have a profound influence on the extent of water bodies, flow dynamics, and the physical structure of shorelines and substrata, increasing habitat heterogeneity. They enhance nutrient cycling within fresh waters, and cross-ecosystem flows of material, through foraging and reproduction activities. Freshwater megafauna are highly connected to other freshwater organisms via direct consumption of species at different trophic levels, indirect trophic cascades, and through their influence on habitat structure. The literature documenting the ecological impacts of freshwater megafauna is not evenly distributed among species, regions, and types of ecological impacts, with a lack of quantitative evidence for large fish, crocodylians, and turtles in the Global South and their impacts on nutrient flows and food-web structure. In addition, population decline, range contraction, and the loss of large individuals have reduced the extent and magnitude of megafaunal impacts in freshwater ecosystems, rendering a posteriori evaluation more difficult. We propose that reinstating freshwater megafauna populations holds the potential for restoring key ecological processes such as disturbances, trophic cascades, and species dispersal, which will, in turn, promote overall biodiversity and enhance nature's contributions to people. Challenges for restoration actions include the shifting baseline syndrome, potential human-megafauna competition for habitats and resources, damage to property, and risk to human life. The current lack of historical baselines for natural distributions and population sizes of freshwater megafauna, their life history, trophic interactions with other freshwater species, and interactions with humans necessitates further investigation. Addressing these knowledge gaps will improve our understanding of the ecological roles of freshwater megafauna and support their full potential for facilitating the development of effective conservation and restoration strategies to achieve the coexistence of humans and megafauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengzhi He
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, State Key Laboratory of Black Soils Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shengbei Street 4888, Changchun, 130102, China
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, Berlin, 12587, Germany
- Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, Berlin, 10099, Germany
- Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO) and Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
| | - Jens-Christian Svenning
- Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO) and Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
| | - Xing Chen
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, Berlin, 12587, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Klement Tockner
- Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany
- Faculty for Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 9, Frankfurt am Main, 60438, Germany
| | - Tobias Kuemmerle
- Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, Berlin, 10099, Germany
| | - Elizabeth le Roux
- Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO) and Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
| | - Marcos Moleón
- Department of Zoology, University of Granada, Avenida de Fuente Nueva S/N, Granada, 18071, Spain
| | - Jörn Gessner
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, Berlin, 12587, Germany
| | - Sonja C Jähnig
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, Berlin, 12587, Germany
- Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, Berlin, 10099, Germany
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Dong WJ, Xu MD, Yang XW, Yang XM, Long XZ, Han XY, Cui LY, Tong Q. Rice straw ash and amphibian health: A deep dive into microbiota changes and potential ecological consequences. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171651. [PMID: 38490417 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Rice straw is burned as a result of agricultural practices and technical limitations, generating significant volumes of ash that might have environmental and ecological consequences; however, the effects on organisms have not been researched. Amphibians depend on their gut and skin microbiomes. Ash exposure may cause inflammation and changes in microbial diversity and function in frogs' skin and gut microbiota due to its chemical composition and physical presence, but the implications remain unclear. Rana dybowskii were exposed to five aqueous extracts of ashes (AEA) concentrations for 30 days to study survival, metal concentrations, and microbial diversity, analyzing the microbiota of the cutaneous and gut microbiota using Illumina sequencing. Dominant elements in ash: K > Ca > Mg > Na > Al > Fe. In AEA, K > Na > Ca > Mg > As > Cu. Increased AEA concentrations significantly reduced frog survival. Skin microbiota alpha diversity varied significantly among all treatment groups, but not gut microbiota. Skin microbiota differed significantly across treatments via Bray-Curtis and weighted UniFrac; gut microbiota was only affected by Bray-Curtis. Skin microbiota varied significantly with AEA levels in Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes, while the gut microbiota's dominant phyla, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria, remained consistent across all groups. Lastly, the functional prediction showed that the skin microbiota had big differences in how it worked and looked, which were linked to different health and environmental adaptation pathways. The gut microbiota, on the other hand, had smaller differences. In conclusion, AEA exposure affects R. dybowskii survival and skin microbiota diversity, indicating potential health and ecological impacts, with less effect on gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jing Dong
- School of Biology and Agriculture, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154007, China
| | - Ming-da Xu
- School of Biology and Agriculture, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154007, China
| | - Xue-Wen Yang
- School of Biology and Agriculture, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154007, China
| | - Xiu-Mei Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Xin-Zhou Long
- School of Biology and Agriculture, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154007, China
| | - Xiao-Yun Han
- School of Biology and Agriculture, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154007, China
| | - Li-Yong Cui
- School of Biology and Agriculture, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154007, China
| | - Qing Tong
- School of Biology and Agriculture, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154007, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
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Mallett MC, Thiem JD, Butler GL, Kennard MJ. A systematic review of approaches to assess fish health responses to anthropogenic threats in freshwater ecosystems. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 12:coae022. [PMID: 38706739 PMCID: PMC11069195 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coae022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Anthropogenic threats such as water infrastructure, land-use changes, overexploitation of fishes and other biological resources, invasive species and climate change present formidable challenges to freshwater biodiversity. Historically, management of fish and fishery species has largely been based on studies of population- and community-level dynamics; however, the emerging field of conservation physiology promotes the assessment of individual fish health as a key management tool. Fish health is highly sensitive to environmental disturbances and is also a fundamental driver of fitness, with implications for population dynamics such as recruitment and resilience. However, the mechanistic links between particular anthropogenic disturbances and changes in fish health, or impact pathways, are diverse and complex. The diversity of ways in which fish health can be measured also presents a challenge for researchers deciding on methods to employ in studies seeking to understand the impact of these threats. In this review, we aim to provide an understanding of the pathway through which anthropogenic threats in freshwater ecosystems impact fish health and the ways in which fish health components impacted by anthropogenic threats can be assessed. We employ a quantitative systematic approach to a corpus of papers related to fish health in freshwater and utilize a framework that summarizes the impact pathway of anthropogenic threats through environmental alterations and impact mechanisms that cause a response in fish health. We found that land-use changes were the most prolific anthropogenic threat, with a range of different health metrics being suitable for assessing the impact of this threat. Almost all anthropogenic threats impacted fish health through two or more impact pathways. A robust understanding of the impact pathways of anthropogenic threats and the fish health metrics that are sensitive to these threats is crucial for fisheries managers seeking to undertake targeted management of freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell C Mallett
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Jason D Thiem
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Narrandera Fisheries Centre, 70 Buckingbong Road, Narrandera, NSW 2700, Australia
| | - Gavin L Butler
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Grafton Fisheries Centre,16 Experiment Farm Road, Trenayr, NSW 2460, Australia
| | - Mark J Kennard
- Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
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Smoot J, Padilla S, Kim YH, Hunter D, Tennant A, Hill B, Lowery M, Knapp BR, Oshiro W, Hazari MS, Hays MD, Preston WT, Jaspers I, Gilmour MI, Farraj AK. Burn pit-related smoke causes developmental and behavioral toxicity in zebrafish: Influence of material type and emissions chemistry. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29675. [PMID: 38681659 PMCID: PMC11053193 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Combustion of mixed materials during open air burning of refuse or structural fires in the wildland urban interface produces emissions that worsen air quality, contaminate rivers and streams, and cause poor health outcomes including developmental effects. The zebrafish, a freshwater fish, is a useful model for quickly screening the toxicological and developmental effects of agents in such species and elicits biological responses that are often analogous and predictive of responses in mammals. The purpose of this study was to compare the developmental toxicity of smoke derived from the burning of 5 different burn pit-related material types (plywood, cardboard, plastic, a mixture of the three, and the mixture plus diesel fuel as an accelerant) in zebrafish larvae. Larvae were exposed to organic extracts of increasing concentrations of each smoke 6-to-8-hr post fertilization and assessed for morphological and behavioral toxicity at 5 days post fertilization. To examine chemical and biological determinants of toxicity, responses were related to emissions concentrations of polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAH). Emissions from plastic and the mixture containing plastic caused the most pronounced developmental effects, including mortality, impaired swim bladder inflation, pericardial edema, spinal curvature, tail kinks, and/or craniofacial deformities, although all extracts caused concentration-dependent effects. Plywood, by contrast, altered locomotor responsiveness to light changes to the greatest extent. Some morphological and behavioral responses correlated strongly with smoke extract levels of PAHs including 9-fluorenone. Overall, the findings suggest that material type and emissions chemistry impact the severity of zebrafish developmental toxicity responses to burn pit-related smoke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Smoot
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | | | - Yong Ho Kim
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Deborah Hunter
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Alan Tennant
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Bridgett Hill
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Morgan Lowery
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Bridget R. Knapp
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Wendy Oshiro
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Mehdi S. Hazari
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Michael D. Hays
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | | | - M. Ian Gilmour
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Aimen K. Farraj
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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Villarruel CM, Figueroa LA, Ranville JF. Quantification of Bioaccessible and Environmentally Relevant Trace Metals in Structure Ash from a Wildland-Urban Interface Fire. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:2502-2513. [PMID: 38277687 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Wildfires at the wildland-urban interface (WUI) are increasing in frequency and intensity, driven by climate change and anthropogenic ignitions. Few studies have characterized the variability in the metal content in ash generated from burned structures in order to determine the potential risk to human and environmental health. Using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), we analyzed leachable trace metal concentration in soils and ash from structures burned by the Marshall Fire, a WUI fire that destroyed over 1000 structures in Boulder County, Colorado. Acid digestion revealed that ash derived from structures contained 22 times more Cu and 3 times more Pb on average than surrounding soils on a mg/kg basis. Ash liberated 12 times more Ni (mg/kg) and twice as much Cr (mg/kg) as soils in a water leach. By comparing the amount of acid-extractable metals to that released by water and simulated epithelial lung fluid (SELF), we estimated their potential for environmental mobility and human bioaccessibility. The SELF leach showed that Cu and Ni were more bioaccessible (mg of leachable metal/mg of acid-extractable metal) in ash than in soils. These results suggest that structure ash is an important source of trace metals that can negatively impact the health of both humans and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen M Villarruel
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Linda A Figueroa
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - James F Ranville
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
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Downie AT, Wu NC, Cramp RL, Franklin CE. Sublethal consequences of ultraviolet radiation exposure on vertebrates: Synthesis through meta-analysis. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:6620-6634. [PMID: 37366045 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16848] [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: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun is a natural daytime stressor for vertebrates in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. UVR effects on the physiology of vertebrates manifest at the cellular level, but have bottom-up effects at the tissue level and on whole-animal performance and behaviours. Climate change and habitat loss (i.e. loss of shelter from UVR) could interact with and exacerbate the genotoxic and cytotoxic impacts of UVR on vertebrates. Therefore, it is important to understand the range and magnitude of effects that UVR can have on a diversity of physiological metrics, and how these may be shaped by taxa, life stage or geographical range in the major vertebrate groups. Using a meta-analytical approach, we used 895 observations from 47 different vertebrate species (fish, amphibian, reptile and bird), and 51 physiological metrics (i.e. cellular, tissue and whole-animal metrics), across 73 independent studies, to elucidate the general patterns of UVR effects on vertebrate physiology. We found that while UVR's impacts on vertebrates are generally negative, fish and amphibians were the most susceptible taxa, adult and larvae were the most susceptible life stages, and animals inhabiting temperate and tropical latitudes were the most susceptible to UVR stress. This information is critical to further our understanding of the adaptive capacity of vulnerable taxon to UVR stress, and the wide-spread sublethal physiological effects of UVR on vertebrates, such as DNA damage and cellular stress, which may translate up to impaired growth and locomotor performance. These impairments to individual fitness highlighted by our study may potentially cause disruptions at the ecosystem scale, especially if the effects of this pervasive diurnal stressor are exacerbated by climate change and reduced refuge due to habitat loss and degradation. Therefore, conservation of habitats that provide refuge to UVR stress will be critical to mitigate stress from this pervasive daytime stressor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam T Downie
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicholas C Wu
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rebecca L Cramp
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Craig E Franklin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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Sánchez-García C, Santín C, Neris J, Sigmund G, Otero XL, Manley J, González-Rodríguez G, Belcher CM, Cerdà A, Marcotte AL, Murphy SF, Rhoades CC, Sheridan G, Strydom T, Robichaud PR, Doerr SH. Chemical characteristics of wildfire ash across the globe and their environmental and socio-economic implications. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108065. [PMID: 37562341 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
The mobilisation of potentially harmful chemical constituents in wildfire ash can be a major consequence of wildfires, posing widespread societal risks. Knowledge of wildfire ash chemical composition is crucial to anticipate and mitigate these risks. Here we present a comprehensive dataset on the chemical characteristics of a wide range of wildfire ashes (42 types and a total of 148 samples) from wildfires across the globe and examine their potential societal and environmental implications. An extensive review of studies analysing chemical composition in ash was also performed to complement and compare our ash dataset. Most ashes in our dataset had an alkaline reaction (mean pH 8.8, ranging between 6 and 11.2). Important constituents of wildfire ash were organic carbon (mean: 204 g kg-1), calcium, aluminium, and iron (mean: 47.9, 17.9 and 17.1 g kg-1). Mean nitrogen and phosphorus ranged between 1 and 25 g kg-1, and between 0.2 and 9.9 g kg-1, respectively. The largest concentrations of metals of concern for human and ecosystem health were observed for manganese (mean: 1488 mg kg-1; three ecosystems > 1000 mg kg-1), zinc (mean: 181 mg kg-1; two ecosystems > 500 mg kg-1) and lead (mean: 66.9 mg kg-1; two ecosystems > 200 mg kg-1). Burn severity and sampling timing were key factors influencing ash chemical characteristics like pH, carbon and nitrogen concentrations. The highest readily dissolvable fractions (as a % of ash dry weight) in water were observed for sodium (18 %) and magnesium (11.4 %). Although concentrations of elements of concern were very close to, or exceeded international contamination standards in some ashes, the actual effect of ash will depend on factors like ash loads and the dilution into environmental matrices such as water, soil and sediment. Our approach can serve as an initial methodological standardisation of wildfire ash sampling and chemical analysis protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Sánchez-García
- Centre for Wildfire Research, Department of Geography, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - C Santín
- Centre for Wildfire Research, Department of Geography, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom; Research Institute of Biodiversity (IMIB; CSIC-UniOvi-PA), Mieres, Spain
| | - J Neris
- Centre for Wildfire Research, Department of Geography, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom; Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - G Sigmund
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands; Department of Environmental Geosciences, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - X L Otero
- CRETUS, Departamento de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - J Manley
- Centre for Wildfire Research, Department of Geography, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | | | - C M Belcher
- University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - A Cerdà
- Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - A L Marcotte
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - S F Murphy
- U.S. Geological Survey, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - C C Rhoades
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - G Sheridan
- The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - T Strydom
- South African National Parks, Skukuza, South Africa
| | - P R Robichaud
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - S H Doerr
- Centre for Wildfire Research, Department of Geography, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom.
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Pal TK, Ray A, Nag Chowdhury S, Ghosh D. Extreme rotational events in a forced-damped nonlinear pendulum. CHAOS (WOODBURY, N.Y.) 2023; 33:2895983. [PMID: 37307164 DOI: 10.1063/5.0152699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Since Galileo's time, the pendulum has evolved into one of the most exciting physical objects in mathematical modeling due to its vast range of applications for studying various oscillatory dynamics, including bifurcations and chaos, under various interests. This well-deserved focus aids in comprehending various oscillatory physical phenomena that can be reduced to the equations of the pendulum. The present article focuses on the rotational dynamics of the two-dimensional forced-damped pendulum under the influence of the ac and dc torque. Interestingly, we are able to detect a range of the pendulum's length for which the angular velocity exhibits a few intermittent extreme rotational events that deviate significantly from a certain well-defined threshold. The statistics of the return intervals between these extreme rotational events are supported by our data to be spread exponentially at a specific pendulum's length beyond which the external dc and ac torque are no longer sufficient for a full rotation around the pivot. The numerical results show a sudden increase in the size of the chaotic attractor due to interior crisis, which is the source of instability that is responsible for triggering large amplitude events in our system. We also notice the occurrence of phase slips with the appearance of extreme rotational events when the phase difference between the instantaneous phase of the system and the externally applied ac torque is observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tapas Kumar Pal
- Physics and Applied Mathematics Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata 700108, India
| | - Arnob Ray
- Physics and Applied Mathematics Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata 700108, India
| | - Sayantan Nag Chowdhury
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Dibakar Ghosh
- Physics and Applied Mathematics Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata 700108, India
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Walls FN, McGarvey DJ. A systems-level model of direct and indirect links between environmental health, socioeconomic factors, and human mortality. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 874:162486. [PMID: 36858240 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Major efforts are being made to better understand how human health and ecosystem health are influenced by climate and other environmental factors. However, studies that simultaneously address human and ecosystem health within a systems-level framework that accounts for both direct and indirect effects are rare. Using path analysis and a large database of environmental and socioeconomic variables, we create a systems-level model of direct and indirect effects on human and ecosystem health in counties throughout the conterminous United States. As indicators of human and ecosystem health, we use age-adjusted mortality rate and an index of biological integrity in streams and rivers, respectively. We show that: (i) geology and climate set boundary conditions for all other variables in the model; (ii) hydrology and land cover have predictable but distinct effects on human and ecosystem health; and (iii) forest cover is a key link between the environment and the socioeconomic variables that directly influence human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felisha N Walls
- Integrative Life Sciences Doctoral Program, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1000 West Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23284, USA.
| | - Daniel J McGarvey
- Center for Environmental Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1000 West Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23284, USA.
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11
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Song M, McDaniel MD, Zhu C, Lin F, Zhang Y. Prescribed fire alters nematode communities in an old‐field grassland. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9977. [PMID: 37013101 PMCID: PMC10065976 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Fire is a common disturbance in many biomes, with both beneficial and detrimental effects on soil biology, which largely depend on fire intensity. However, little is known about the impact of fire on soil nematode communities in terrestrial ecosystem. In the present study, we investigated the effects of short‐term prescribed fire on soil nematode communities and soil properties in an old‐field grassland in Northern China. The results showed that burning significantly increased soil nematode abundance by 77% and genus richness by 49% compared to the control. Burning also decreased taxon dominance by 45% (Simpson's D) and increased nematode diversity by 31% (Shannon‐Weaver H'). However, burning increased plant parasites (particularly genera Cephalenchus and Pratylenchus) and shifted community to more bacterial‐feeding genera (i.e., decreased Channel Index). Generally, burning increased soil bio‐available nitrogen (NH4+–N and NO3−–N) content, which would be the main drivers causing nematode community to flourish via a “bottom‐up” effect. These results suggest that prescribed fire increases nematode diversity and alters community composition toward more plant parasites and bacterial feeders. Our findings highlight the importance of prescribed fire management in shaping short‐term nematode community structure and function, but the long‐term effects and impacts of these changes on soil nutrient and carbon cycling remain unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Song
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, School of Life SciencesHenan UniversityKaifengHenan475004China
| | | | - Chen Zhu
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, School of Life SciencesHenan UniversityKaifengHenan475004China
| | - Feng Lin
- School of Environmental EngineeringNanjing Institute of TechnologyNanjingJiangsu211167China
| | - Yaojun Zhang
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, School of Life SciencesHenan UniversityKaifengHenan475004China
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12
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Jesus F, Mesquita F, Virumbrales Aldama E, Marques A, Gonçalves AMM, Magalhães L, Nogueira AJA, Ré A, Campos I, Pereira JL, Gonçalves FJM, Abrantes N, Serpa D. Do Freshwater and Marine Bivalves Differ in Their Response to Wildfire Ash? Effects on the Antioxidant Defense System and Metal Body Burden. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1326. [PMID: 36674083 PMCID: PMC9859076 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Wildfires constitute a source of contamination to both freshwater and marine ecosystems. This study aimed to compare the antioxidant defense response of the freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea and the marine cockle (Cerastoderma edule) to wildfire ash exposure and the concomitant metal body burden. Organisms were exposed to different concentrations (0%, 12.5%, 25%, 50%, and 100%) of aqueous extracts of Eucalypt ash (AEAs) from a moderate-to-high severity wildfire. The activity of various enzymes, as well as lipid peroxidation, protein content, and metal body burden, were determined after 96 h of exposure. A significant increase in the protein content of soft tissues was observed for C. edule at AEA concentrations ≥ 25%, unlike for C. fluminea. Similarly, significant effects on lipid peroxidation were observed for cockles, but not for clams. For both species, a significant effect in the total glutathione peroxidase activity was observed at AEA concentrations ≥ 25%. Relative to the control, AEAs-exposed clams showed higher Cd content, whereas AEAs-exposed cockles showed higher Cu content, thus exhibiting different responses to the exposure to wildfire ash. The susceptibility of bivalves to ashes, at environmentally relevant concentrations, raises concern about the effects of post-fire runoff to bivalve species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fátima Jesus
- CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Filipa Mesquita
- CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Elisa Virumbrales Aldama
- Faculty of Veterinary and Experimental Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia, Calle Guillem de Castro 94, 46001 Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Marques
- CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana M. M. Gonçalves
- CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
- University of Coimbra, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET—Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luísa Magalhães
- CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - António J. A. Nogueira
- CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana Ré
- CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Isabel Campos
- CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Joana Luísa Pereira
- CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Fernando J. M. Gonçalves
- CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Nelson Abrantes
- CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Dalila Serpa
- CESAM—Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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13
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Bracewell SA, Barros TL, Mayer-Pinto M, Dafforn KA, Simpson SL, Johnston EL. Contaminant pulse following wildfire is associated with shifts in estuarine benthic communities. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 316:120533. [PMID: 36341829 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Novel combinations of climatic conditions due to climate change and prolonged fire seasons have contributed to an increased occurrence of "megafires". Such large-scale fires pose an unknown threat to biodiversity due to the increased extent and severity of burn. Assessments of wildfires often focus on terrestrial ecosystems and effects on aquatic habitats are less documented, particularly in coastal environments. In a novel application of eDNA techniques, we assessed the impacts of the 2019-2020 Australian wildfires on the diversity of estuarine benthic sediment communities in six estuaries in NSW, Australia, before and after the fires. Estuaries differed in area of catchment burnt (0-92%) and amount of vegetative buffer that remained post-fire between burnt areas and waterways. We found greater dissimilarities in the composition and abundance of eukaryotic and bacterial sediment communities in estuaries from burnt catchments with no buffer compared to those with an intact buffer or from unburnt catchments. Shifts in composition in highly burnt catchments were associated with increased concentrations of nutrients, carbon, including fire-derived pyrogenic carbon, and copper, which was representative of multiple highly correlated trace metals. Changes in the relative abundances of certain taxonomic groups, such as sulfate-reducing and nitrifying bacterial groups, in the most impacted estuaries indicate potential consequences for the functioning of sediment communities. These results provide a unique demonstration of the use of eDNA to identify wildfire impacts on ecological communities and emphasize the importance of vegetative buffers in limiting wildfire-associated impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally A Bracewell
- Applied Marine and Estuarine Ecology Laboratory, Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Thayanne L Barros
- Applied Marine and Estuarine Ecology Laboratory, Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mariana Mayer-Pinto
- Applied Marine and Estuarine Ecology Laboratory, Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Katherine A Dafforn
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
| | - Stuart L Simpson
- CSIRO Land and Water, Tharawal Country, Centre for Environmental Contaminants Research, NSW, 2232, Australia
| | - Emma L Johnston
- Applied Marine and Estuarine Ecology Laboratory, Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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14
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Ward M, Southwell D, Gallagher RV, Raadik TA, Whiterod NS, Lintermans M, Sheridan G, Nyman P, Suárez‐Castro AF, Marsh J, Woinarski J, Legge S. Modelling the spatial extent of post‐fire sedimentation threat to estimate the impacts of fire on waterways and aquatic species. DIVERS DISTRIB 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Ward
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science The University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland Australia
- WWF‐Aus Brisbane Queensland Australia
| | - Darren Southwell
- Conservation Biology Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences The University of Newcastle Callaghan NSW Australia
| | - Rachael V. Gallagher
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment Western Sydney University Penrith New South Wales Australia
| | - Tarmo A. Raadik
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Heidelberg Victoria Australia
| | - Nick S. Whiterod
- Aquasave−Nature Glenelg Trust Victor Harbor South Australia Australia
| | - Mark Lintermans
- Centre for Applied Water Science University of Canberra Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Gary Sheridan
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
| | - Petter Nyman
- Alluvium Consulting Australia Cremorne Victoria Australia
| | - Andrés F. Suárez‐Castro
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science The University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia
- Australian Rivers Institute Griffith University Nathan Queensland Australia
| | - Jessica Marsh
- Harry Butler Research Institute Murdoch University Murdoch Western Australia Australia
| | - John Woinarski
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods Charles Darwin University Darwin Northern Territory Australia
| | - Sarah Legge
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science The University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland Australia
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods Charles Darwin University Darwin Northern Territory Australia
- Fenner School of Environment & Society The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
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15
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Barros TL, Bracewell SA, Mayer-Pinto M, Dafforn KA, Simpson SL, Farrell M, Johnston EL. Wildfires cause rapid changes to estuarine benthic habitat. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 308:119571. [PMID: 35661807 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Estuaries are one of the most valuable biomes on earth. Although humans are highly dependent on these ecosystems, anthropogenic activities have impacted estuaries worldwide, altering their ecological functions and ability to provide a variety of important ecosystem services. Many anthropogenic stressors combine to affect the soft sedimentary habitats that dominate estuarine ecosystems. Now, due to climate change, estuaries and other marine areas might be increasingly exposed to the emerging threat of megafires. Here, by sampling estuaries before and after a megafire, we describe impacts of wildfires on estuarine benthic habitats and justify why megafires are a new and concerning threat to coastal ecosystems. We (1) show that wildfires change the fundamental characteristics of estuarine benthic habitat, (2) identify the factors (burnt intensity and proximity to water's edge) that influence the consequences of fires on estuaries, and (3) identify relevant indicators of wildfire impact: metals, nutrients, and pyrogenic carbon. We then discuss how fires can impact estuaries globally, regardless of local variability and differences in catchment. In the first empirical assessment of the impact of wildfires on estuarine condition, our results highlight indicators that may assist waterway managers to empirically detect wildfire impacts in estuaries and identify catchment factors that should be included in fire risk assessments for estuaries. Overall, this study highlights the importance of considering fire threats in current and future estuarine and coastal management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thayanne L Barros
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Bedegal Country, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | - Sally A Bracewell
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Bedegal Country, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Mariana Mayer-Pinto
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Bedegal Country, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Katherine A Dafforn
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Wallamattagal Country, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Stuart L Simpson
- CSIRO Land and Water, Tharawal Country, Centre for Environmental Contaminants Research, NSW, 2234, Australia
| | - Mark Farrell
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, Kaurna Country, Locked Bag 2, Glen Osmond, South Australia, 5064, Australia
| | - Emma L Johnston
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Bedegal Country, NSW, 2052, Australia
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16
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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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