4.4 Implications for aquatic ecosystem health
Understanding and predicting solute mobilization is critical as changes
in nitrate and DOC export can have severe consequences for human and
ecosystem health
(Emmerton et al.,
2020; Harper et al., 2018; Hohner et al., 2019; Paul et al., 2022). For
example, elevated nitrate levels can lead to eutrophication in aquatic
systems inducing harmful algal blooms
(Minshall, 2003; Smith
et al., 2011). Additional inputs of pyrogenic carbon and harmful algal
blooms could create disinfection byproducts (DBP) during water treatment
processes making it unsafe to drink, resulting in the exceedance of
drinking water standards presenting a concern for water providers
following wildfire
(Chow et al., 2019).
Most studies that report increases in DOC concentration note that
drinking water quality will degrade
(Hohner et al.,
2019). There is less literature discussing the potential implications
for a decrease in DOC concentrations. Changes in DOC concentrations may
influence in-stream metabolic processes post-fire
(Betts & Jones,
2009). Additionally, an increase in aromatic compounds comprising DOC
could decrease aquatic productivity as bacterial production is often
stimulated by more labile forms of DOC
(Santos et al.,
2019). As wildfire is predicted to increase with climate change, it is
critical to be able to constrain the effects of wildfire on DOC
concentrations to improve management strategies for vulnerable
communities (Hohner et
al., 2016).