Impact of burning on soil properties and respiration; Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada; June 2019

Burning boreal forest soil significantly alters its properties and respiration rates, with effects lasting up to six months. Research conducted in Wood Buffalo National Park revealed that fire simulations under high and low moisture conditions increased soil temperature during burns but reduced total carbon (C) content post-fire. Soil pH and nitrogen (N) levels also shifted, while soil respiration varied depending on burn severity and moisture conditions. The study used controlled heat treatments to mimic wildfires, measuring soil properties and respiration over extended periods. Key data, including temperature readings, respiration measurements, and soil chemistry, were collected from 19 sampling sites within the park. These findings contribute to understanding post-fire carbon cycling in boreal ecosystems, a critical factor for ecosystem resilience and management.

Johnson, D., Yedinak, K., Woolet, J., & Whitman, T. (2022). Impact of burning on soil properties and respiration; Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada; June 2019 [Dataset]. Environmental System Science Data Infrastructure for a Virtual Ecosystem; Modelling Microbes to Predict Post-fire Carbon Cycling in the Boreal Forest across Burn Severities. https://doi.org/10.15485/1959350