Effects of fire severity on soil organic matter: a multi-isotope (C, N, H, O) comparison of wildfires and experimental burns

10 páginas.- 2 figuras.- 3 tablas.- referencias.- Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2026

Bibliographic Details
Authors: San Emeterio, Layla M., Jiménez Morillo, N. T., Vega, J. A., Fernández Filgueira, Cristina, Fontúrbel Lliteras, Mª Teresa, Almendros-Martín Gonzalo, González-Pérez, José Antonio
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2026
Country:España
Institution:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repository:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/415670
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/415670
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Soil burn severity indexes
Elemental composition
Isotope fractionation
Wildfire
Experimental fire
Post-fire recovery
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spelling Effects of fire severity on soil organic matter: a multi-isotope (C, N, H, O) comparison of wildfires and experimental burnsSan Emeterio, Layla M.Jiménez Morillo, N. T.Vega, J. A.Fernández Filgueira, CristinaFontúrbel Lliteras, Mª TeresaAlmendros-Martín GonzaloGonzález-Pérez, José AntonioSoil burn severity indexesElemental compositionIsotope fractionationWildfireExperimental firePost-fire recovery10 páginas.- 2 figuras.- 3 tablas.- referencias.- Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2026Fire severity is key in shaping soil organic matter (SOM) composition, affecting biogeochemical cycles and post-fire recovery. However, accurately assessing fire severity is highly challenging, requiring the implementation of soil burn severity (SBS) indexes. This study employs a multi-isotope and elemental approach (C, N, H, O) to assess fire-induced changes in SOM quantity and quality across soil burn severity (SBS) levels in 0–2 cm mineral soil samples from wildfires and controlled experimental burns on intact soil monoliths in pine forests of Galicia (NW Spain). Results indicate that total organic carbon (TOC) and nitrogen (TN) decreased with increasing burn severity, with TOC losses reaching up to 90% in the most severe burns. Stable isotope analyses revealed divergent fractionation patterns: carbon isotope (δ13C) depletion in wildfire-affected soils suggested preferential combustion of lignin-derived compounds, whereas experimental burns exhibited slight δ13C enrichment due to the removal of thermolabile organic fractions. Similarly, nitrogen isotope (δ15N) values increased with burn severity, which may be linked to the alteration soil microbial community and selective nitrogen volatilization. Hydrogen (δ2H) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopes showed distinct evaporative and oxidative fractionation trends, with experimental fires displaying stronger δ2H enrichment due to more controlled combustion conditions. These findings highlight the utility of elemental and stable isotope analysis in distinguishing between fire types and assessing fire impacts on SOM. These results confirm the suitability of this system of visual indicators for assessing changes in the quality of organic matter in a simple way after a fire.LMSE thanks the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Portugal for the postdoctoral contract EURAXESS offer IR: 145344. This contract was supported by the EROFIRE project (PCIF/RPG/0079/2018) funded by the FCT and by the FIRE2C project (CNS2023-143750) funded by MICIU. NTJM thanks “Ramón y Cajal” contract (RYC2021-031253-I) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union “NextGenerationEU”/ PRTR”.Peer reviewedElsevierFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal)Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España)European CommissionMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)San Emeterio, Layla M. [0000-0002-0919-1283]Jiménez Morillo, N. T. [0000-0001-5746-1922]Fernández Filgueira, Cristina [0000-0003-4134-8727]Almendros Martín, Gonzalo [0000-0001-6794-9825]González-Pérez, José Antonio [0000-0001-7607-1444]Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]202620262026info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501Publisher's versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/415670reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSICinstname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)Inglés#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE##PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023/CNS2023-143750info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023/RYC2021-031253-Ihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2026Síinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:digital.csic.es:10261/4156702026-05-22T06:33:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Effects of fire severity on soil organic matter: a multi-isotope (C, N, H, O) comparison of wildfires and experimental burns
title Effects of fire severity on soil organic matter: a multi-isotope (C, N, H, O) comparison of wildfires and experimental burns
spellingShingle Effects of fire severity on soil organic matter: a multi-isotope (C, N, H, O) comparison of wildfires and experimental burns
San Emeterio, Layla M.
Soil burn severity indexes
Elemental composition
Isotope fractionation
Wildfire
Experimental fire
Post-fire recovery
title_short Effects of fire severity on soil organic matter: a multi-isotope (C, N, H, O) comparison of wildfires and experimental burns
title_full Effects of fire severity on soil organic matter: a multi-isotope (C, N, H, O) comparison of wildfires and experimental burns
title_fullStr Effects of fire severity on soil organic matter: a multi-isotope (C, N, H, O) comparison of wildfires and experimental burns
title_full_unstemmed Effects of fire severity on soil organic matter: a multi-isotope (C, N, H, O) comparison of wildfires and experimental burns
title_sort Effects of fire severity on soil organic matter: a multi-isotope (C, N, H, O) comparison of wildfires and experimental burns
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv San Emeterio, Layla M.
Jiménez Morillo, N. T.
Vega, J. A.
Fernández Filgueira, Cristina
Fontúrbel Lliteras, Mª Teresa
Almendros-Martín Gonzalo
González-Pérez, José Antonio
author San Emeterio, Layla M.
author_facet San Emeterio, Layla M.
Jiménez Morillo, N. T.
Vega, J. A.
Fernández Filgueira, Cristina
Fontúrbel Lliteras, Mª Teresa
Almendros-Martín Gonzalo
González-Pérez, José Antonio
author_role author
author2 Jiménez Morillo, N. T.
Vega, J. A.
Fernández Filgueira, Cristina
Fontúrbel Lliteras, Mª Teresa
Almendros-Martín Gonzalo
González-Pérez, José Antonio
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal)
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)
Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España)
European Commission
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)
San Emeterio, Layla M. [0000-0002-0919-1283]
Jiménez Morillo, N. T. [0000-0001-5746-1922]
Fernández Filgueira, Cristina [0000-0003-4134-8727]
Almendros Martín, Gonzalo [0000-0001-6794-9825]
González-Pérez, José Antonio [0000-0001-7607-1444]
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Soil burn severity indexes
Elemental composition
Isotope fractionation
Wildfire
Experimental fire
Post-fire recovery
topic Soil burn severity indexes
Elemental composition
Isotope fractionation
Wildfire
Experimental fire
Post-fire recovery
description 10 páginas.- 2 figuras.- 3 tablas.- referencias.- Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2026
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026
2026
2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
Publisher's version
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10261/415670
url http://hdl.handle.net/10261/415670
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv #PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023/CNS2023-143750
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/AEI/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2021-2023/RYC2021-031253-I
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2026
Sí
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
instname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
instname_str Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
reponame_str DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
collection DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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score 15.81155

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