Wildfires and Yellowstone's Stream Ecosystems

Minshall, G. Wayne; Brock, James T.; Varley, John D.

doi:10.2307/1311002

Cited by 141 publications

(107 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Streams with eroded catchments and severe streambed scour may experience prolonged recovery times, or they may move to a new steady-state final configuration (Matthaei et al 2004). In severe disturbance regimes, such as repeated scouring of the stream channel over a long time period, new lower levels of biotic richness and abundance may be established (Minshall et al 1989).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Present Effects of Past Wildfires on the Diets of Stream Fish

Koetsier¹,

Tuckett²,

White³

2007

Western North American Naturalist

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Present Effects of Past Wildfires on the Diets of Stream Fish

Koetsier¹,

Tuckett²,

White³

2007

Western North American Naturalist

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“…Following the 1988 fire season in nearby Yellowstone National Park, Minshall et al (1989) predicted a shift from allochthonous to autochthonous energy sources in stream food webs. Results from our d 15 N analysis appear to be consistent with this prediction.…”

Section: Long-term Biotic Impacts Via Stable Isotope Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Small forested streams generally have allochthonous-based food webs, supported by substantial inputs of terrestrial plant material (Minshall, 1967;Fisher and Likens, 1973;Cummins et al, 1982). Following the extensive fire season of 1988 in the western US, Minshall et al (1989) predicted a post-fire shift to more autochthonous-based stream food webs, resulting from reduced inputs of terrestrial vegetation following the fires together with expected stimulation of aquatic primary production due to increased availability of light and nutrients following the fires. This prediction stems largely from theories developed in the river continuum concept (Vannote et al, 1980).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildfire effects on stream food webs and nutrient dynamics in Glacier National Park, USA

Spencer

Gabel²,

Hauer³

2003

Forest Ecology and Management

162

136

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We documented immediate and mid-term (5 years) impacts on streams from a large (15,500 ha) wildfire in northwestern Montana. Fire-related impacts were ecosystem-wide, extending from water chemistry to fish. During the initial firestorm, phosphorus and nitrogen levels increased 5-to 60-fold above background levels resulting from aerial deposition from smoke and ash. Nutrients returned to background concentrations within several weeks after the fire. During subsequent years, nutrient concentrations periodically increased in fire-impacted sites compared to reference sites, especially during spring run-off.Evidence of post-fire changes was also documented in the aquatic food web via stable isotope analyses. Macroinvertebrates and fish from fire-impacted sites were significantly more enriched in 15 N and depleted in 13 C than consumers from forested reference sites (P < 0:001). The post-fire isotopic shift in consumers was consistent with increased utilization of algae and/or other autochthonous food sources together with decreased reliance on terrestrial leaf litter and other allochthonous food sources. Such a post-fire shift from a detritus based on a periphyton-based food web fits predictions of the river continuum concept following canopy removal and nutrient enrichment.Following decades of active fire suppression, forest managers are now contemplating aggressive efforts to reduce the fuel build-up noted in forests throughout the western US. Such efforts could involve increased use of fire and mechanical thinning and harvest. Results from our work and others suggest that expanded fire activity could mobilize substantial quantities of highly available nutrients to lakes and streams. With significant nutrient delivery mechanisms involving water, as well as airborne transport via smoke and ash, the potential for increased nutrient loadings to surface waters could extend well beyond the catchment of any particular fire. As natural resource managers contemplate expanding the use of fire as a forest restoration tool, they face the dilemma that such efforts could run counter to a decades-long effort to reduce nutrient loadings to lakes and other surface waters threatened by eutrophication. #

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“…Soils coated with ash are more water repellent than unburned sediments, causing increased erosion and higher runoff (Onda et al 2008;Shakesby and Doerr 2006). While the effect of fires on lake sedimentation and water chemistry has been well documented (Gresswell 1999;Malmon et al 2007;Minshall et al 1989;Spencer et al 2003), the impact of wildfires on historical sediment Hg levels has not previously been investigated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of over 100 years of wildfires on mercury levels and accumulation rates in two lakes in southern California, USA

et al. 2009

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In southern California, USA, wildfires may be an important source of mercury (Hg) to local watersheds. Hg levels and Hg accumulation rates were investigated in dated sediment cores from two southern California lakes, Big Bear Lake and Crystal Lake, located approximately 40-km apart. Between 1895 and 2006, fires were routinely minimized or suppressed around Big Bear Lake, while fires regularly subsumed the forest surrounding Crystal Lake. Mean Hg concentrations and mean Hg accumulation rates were significantly higher in Crystal Lake sediments compared to Big Bear Lake sediments (Hg levels: Crystal Lake 220 ± 93 ng g -1 , Big Bear Lake 92 ± 26 ng g -1 ; Hg accumulation: Crystal Lake 790 ± 1,200 lg m -2 year -1 , Big Bear 240 ± 54 lg m -2 year -1 ). In Crystal Lake, the ratio between post-1965 and pre-1865 Hg concentrations was 1.1, and several spikes in Hg levels occurred between 1910 and 1985. Given the remote location of the lake, the proximity of fires, and the lack of point sources within the region, these results suggested wildfires (rather than industrial sources) were a continuous source of Hg to Crystal Lake over the last 150 years.

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Wildfires and Yellowstone's Stream Ecosystems

Cited by 141 publications

References 35 publications

Present Effects of Past Wildfires on the Diets of Stream Fish

Present Effects of Past Wildfires on the Diets of Stream Fish

Wildfire effects on stream food webs and nutrient dynamics in Glacier National Park, USA

The impact of over 100 years of wildfires on mercury levels and accumulation rates in two lakes in southern California, USA

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