Friday, July 20, 2007
Long-term Effects of Wildfire on Streams and Native Species
Previous studies have documented both beneficial and detrimental effects of wildfire on terrestrial species, but few studies have focused on the effects of wildfire on native aquatic species. USGS scientist Jason Dunham co-authored a new publication that examined stream temperatures in central Idaho to understand how changes following fire affected the distribution of sensitive species. Results indicated that summer maximum water temperatures can remain significantly elevated for at least a decade following wildfire, particularly in streams with severe channel reorganization. Rainbow trout and tailed frog larvae occurred in nearly every site sampled, but tailed frogs were found in much warmer water than previously reported. This suggests that wildfire may be less of a threat to some native species than human influences that alter the capacity of stream-living vertebrates to persist in the face of natural disturbance.
Dunham, J.B., Rosenberger, A.E., Luce, C.H., Rieman, B.E., 2007, Influences of wildfire and channel reorganization on spatial and temporal variation in stream temperature and the distribution of fish and amphibians: Ecosystems, v. 10, p. 335-346. [FullText] Catalog No: 1555
Contact:
Jason
Dunham,
FRESC,
541-750-7397,
jdunham@usgs.gov
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