Climate Change and Wildfires: Impact on Aquatic Ecosystems
In devastating events dotting the globe, climate warming has led to an increase in the number and severity of destructive wildfires. Climate change projections indicate that environmental and economic damage from wildfires will increase in the years ahead.
Introduction
While studies have analyzed fires’ impacts on land, research by scientists at the University of California San Diego and other institutions indicates that aquatic ecosystems are also undergoing rapid changes because of wildfires.
Research Findings
Led by UC San Diego scientist Jonathan Shurin, the researchers showed how aquatic systems change with the input of burnt plant matter. The U.S. National Science Foundation-supported results are reported in two papers published in the journal Global Change Biology.
“This work improves our understanding of the connectivity between aquatic and terrestrial systems, and the impact of fire on ecosystem function,” said Andrea Porras-Alfaro, a program director in NSF’s Division of Environmental Biology.
Among the findings, scientists show that fire chemically transforms plant debris and changes the role of aquatic ecosystems as key players in the carbon cycle. The shifts point to a fundamental change in the way these aquatic systems store, process, and emit carbon.
Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The results are important as aquatic ecosystems serve as sinks that capture water flows and store carbon in their sediments.
- The findings contribute to SDG 13: Climate Action by highlighting the impact of wildfires on aquatic ecosystems and their role in the carbon cycle.
- They also align with SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation as wildfires can affect water resources and quality.
- Furthermore, the research supports SDG 15: Life on Land by providing insights into the effects of wildfires on terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity.
“The effects of wildfires are not limited to terrestrial systems,” said Chris Wall, first author of one of the studies. “When we think about wildfires increasing, especially in the West, burned materials flow into waterways that are vital for people and wildlife. We’re now recognizing that wildfires can greatly influence ecosystem health, with implications for water resources like aquifers and recreational fishing.”
Conclusion
The results have implications for aquatic ecosystems in areas such as the Sierra Nevada.
“We’ve seen the impact these huge fires have had on watersheds, so we’re working to understand how different components of climate change are altering ecosystems,” said Shurin.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article:
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 14: Life Below Water
- SDG 15: Life on Land
2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Based on the Article’s Content:
- SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
- SDG 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.
- SDG 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems.
3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article to Measure Progress towards the Identified Targets:
- Indicator for SDG 13.1: Number of policies, plans, and measures implemented to reduce the vulnerability of ecosystems and societies to climate change.
- Indicator for SDG 14.2: Proportion of coastal and marine areas protected to conserve biodiversity.
- Indicator for SDG 15.1: Coverage by protected areas of important sites for freshwater biodiversity.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
---|---|---|
SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. | Number of policies, plans, and measures implemented to reduce the vulnerability of ecosystems and societies to climate change. |
SDG 14: Life Below Water | 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts. | Proportion of coastal and marine areas protected to conserve biodiversity. |
SDG 15: Life on Land | 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems. | Coverage by protected areas of important sites for freshwater biodiversity. |
Explanation:
The article discusses the impact of wildfires on aquatic ecosystems, highlighting the connection between climate change, wildfires, and changes in aquatic systems. This aligns with SDG 13 (Climate Action) as it addresses the need to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters, including wildfires. Additionally, the article mentions the importance of managing and protecting marine and coastal ecosystems (SDG 14: Life Below Water) and terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems (SDG 15: Life on Land) to avoid significant adverse impacts.
Based on the content of the article, specific targets under these SDGs can be identified. SDG 13.1 focuses on reducing vulnerability to climate change, which is relevant to the article’s discussion on understanding the impact of wildfires on aquatic ecosystems. SDG 14.2 emphasizes the sustainable management and protection of marine and coastal ecosystems, which are affected by the input of burnt plant matter from wildfires. SDG 15.1 highlights the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems, which are impacted by the changes in aquatic systems caused by wildfires.
The article implies indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. For SDG 13.1, the indicator could be the number of policies, plans, and measures implemented to reduce the vulnerability of ecosystems and societies to climate change, including measures to mitigate the impact of wildfires on aquatic ecosystems. For SDG 14.2, the indicator could be the proportion of coastal and marine areas protected to conserve biodiversity, considering the impact of wildfires on these ecosystems. For SDG 15.1, the indicator could be the coverage by protected areas of important sites for freshwater biodiversity, taking into account the changes in aquatic systems caused by wildfires.
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Fuente: new.nsf.gov
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