Fig. 1: Smoke can affect aquatic ecosystem metabolism through multiple mechanisms.
From: Wildfire smoke reduces lake ecosystem metabolic rates unequally across a trophic gradient
a Smoke events (black horizontal arrow) reduce light (PAR) within the water column. Whether a smoke event increases (green-colored region) or decreases GPP (brown-colored regions) depends on the pre-smoke PAR level and on the magnitude of PAR reduction (e.g., smoke density). In this example, a smoke event reduces GPP because primary producers shift from light-saturated to light-limited conditions. b Smoke events (black arrow) can reduce water temperature by scattering or absorbing incoming solar radiation, which should decrease metabolic rates (both GPP and R). c The degree to which nutrient fertilization from smoke particle deposition stimulates GPP depends on ambient nutrient availability within a water body.
