Aquatic Biodiversity Responses to Wildfire in Oregon
Wildfires change the structure and function of forests and may influence their ability to support biodiversity and cool, clean water. In 2020, multiple megafires spread through western Oregon and burned public and private forestland, often at high severity. To understand the effects of these wildfires on aquatic ecosystems, NCASI, PNW Research Station, Weyerhaeuser Company, and numerous other partners sampled aquatic biodiversity across 25 watersheds.
Keywords: Wildfire, Aquatic Ecosystem, Biodiversity, Environmental DNA, Species at Risk
Authors: Brooke Penaluna, PhD, Research Fish Biologist, PNW Research Station, USDA Forest Service; Ashley Coble, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, NCASI; Jessica Homyack, PhD, Director of Environmental Research and Operational Support, Weyerhaeuser Company
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