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Chronic prescribed burning alters nutrient deposition and sediment stoichiometry in a lake ecosystem

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A Correction to this article was published on 05 April 2019

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Abstract

Prescribed fire is a common management practice for forests and other terrestrial environments. Following a prescribed burn, ash erodes into aquatic environments potentially altering terrestrial–aquatic connectivity and water quality. In this study, we collected a sediment core from Ocean Pond, FL, USA, a lake that has received fire ash from decades of prescribed burning events. Paleolimnological measurements of macrocharcoal, nutrients, stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N), and photosynthetic pigments were used to reconstruct fire regimes, material inputs, and lake primary producer responses for periods of prescribed burns and other lake periods throughout the last 6000 years. Results show that the period of repeated modern-prescribed fires coincided with decreased C and N depositions in the lake, while P deposition increased causing alterations to nutrient storage and stoichiometry. However, photosynthetic pigments indicated low primary producer abundance during the prescribed fire period. These changes in nutrient dynamics could provide new insights into biogeochemical pathways in land–water connected systems where burning has not been considered.

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Change history

  • 05 April 2019

    The publication contained a dating model that was based on AD/BC dates instead of years before present (YBP) dates for the three C<Superscript>14</Superscript> AMS values. As a result, dates reported as YBP should be reported as BC. While all of the dates for the prescribed burning period are correct given that they were based on the <Superscript>210</Superscript>Pb model, all dates reported as YBP should read BC. Specific changes to the manuscript are as follows: The abstract should read, “throughout the last 8000 years.” The final paragraph in the introduction should read, “from the mid-Holocene (~ 6000 BC) to present.” The end of the first paragraph in the Results section should read, “the sediment core represented the past ~ 8000 YBP and the core sections below the <Superscript>210</Superscript>Pb record averaged sedimentation rates of 1.73 ± 2.1 mg cm<Superscript>−2</Superscript> year<Superscript>−1</Superscript>.” All dates presented as Years Before Present or YPB for the remainder of the manuscript should be reported as BC. Added to Acknowledgements: “The authors would like to thank Sally Horn and Matt Boehm with help with the age model and dating.” Table 1 has been updated with the “Calibrated Age” column reflecting the correct dates in YBP notation. Figure 2 has been updated to reflect the BC to YBP changes in the calibrated AMS C<Superscript>14</Superscript> dates. Both panels have been changed to include the older dates.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this research was provided by Valdosta State University through a Faculty Research Seed Grant and by Auburn University with funds provided to MNW. Ted West, James Ragan, Sean Earley, and Ben Webster aided in fieldwork and lab analysis. Christopher Lydick supplied important information of prescribed fire in the Osceola National Forest. Ben Webster constructed Fig. 1. We are very grateful to two anonymous reviewers whose comments greatly improved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Department, Auburn University, 201 Funchess Hall, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA

    Matthew N. Waters & Alexander P. Metz

  2. Environmental Science University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA

    Joseph M. Smoak

  3. Biology Department, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA, 31698, USA

    Hunter Turner

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  1. Matthew N. Waters
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  2. Alexander P. Metz
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Correspondence to Matthew N. Waters.

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Waters, M.N., Metz, A.P., Smoak, J.M. et al. Chronic prescribed burning alters nutrient deposition and sediment stoichiometry in a lake ecosystem. Ambio 48, 672–682 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-018-1094-z

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