Fire intensity and ecosystem oligotrophic status drive relative phosphorus release and retention in freshwater marshes

Ecosystems have been shaped by fire for millions of years. Many oligotrophic ecosystems rely on biogeochemical cycling and maintenance key processes. However, it is uncertain how intensity interacts with nutrient limitation to drive differential responses in postfire ecosystem recovery. In this study, we compare pre- carbon pools two adjacent wetlands characterized either lower or higher phosphorus (P) inputs thus different levels P limitation. Carbon (C), nitrogen (N), litter root decomposition rates were measured starting 1 year prefire until lower-P (LP) higher-P (HP) freshwater marshes the Florida Everglades. Dominant vegetation biomass composition monitored as well. Fire energy release was link causal mechanism, heat transfer, fluxes. We observed temporary increases surface water, periphyton, leaf tissue concentrations both wetland types following fire. Soil increased soil C:P N:P ratios decreased LP but did not change HP wetland. Prefire greater than wetland, differ month postfire. Vegetation structure marginally affected highly variable within wetlands. Increasing correlated increasing accumulation organic matter types, between Litter rapidly intensity, seemed stabilize after a certain threshold reached. Our results indicate that can temporarily ease wetlands, affecting stoichiometry processing, while maintaining community composition. Further, identified dosing, expressed radiative release, be an effective control cycling. Hence, management should incorporated into burn prioritization tools and, when applying prescribed fires, natural resource managers also consider attributes, such impact other