Ankara: Forest fires not only devastate land but also endanger seas and rivers, carrying long-lasting damage to marine ecosystems, according to a Turkish expert. After the blazes in Trkiye, the main focus was on terrestrial destruction, but aquatic systems also suffered, said Herdem Aslan, chairperson of the Water Ecosystem Protection Association and a marine biologist at Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University's Faculty of Science, in an interview with Anadolu.

According to Anadolu Agency, Aslan observed the seabed covered with sediment when diving one and a half years after the 2021 Marmaris fire. "This sediment prevented all organisms from receiving light and oxygen, causing them to suffocate. I observed that many creatures had died. Especially sessile organisms living on the seafloor - such as corals, sponges, and seagrasses - as well as small organisms that serve as important food sources for fish, were literally buried alive. This is a phenomenon that can still be observed years later."

Aslan warned that iron particles in ash carried by wind or rivers create another danger. "This substance increases photosynthesis in microorganisms living in the sea. Phytoplankton - microscopic organisms found in both saltwater and freshwater and responsible for every second breath we take - multiply excessively with this fertilizer. As phytoplankton increase, so do zooplankton, the primary consumers that feed on them, which in turn can provide food for fish larvae," she said.

She explained that while this might seem beneficial initially, it leads to oxygen depletion in the seas. "After the major forest fires in Australia in 2021, excessive amounts of iron carried into the ocean caused mass die-offs in marine life," she added.

Aslan also highlighted the role of wildfires in releasing black carbon, formed when organic compounds burn at high temperatures, which is a driver of climate change. She stated that burned trees produce black carbon, contributing to marine sediment and potentially increasing due to climate change, human negligence, and inadequate precautions. Research shows coral reefs can suffer total mortality and seagrass meadows decline after fires.

Discussing the potential effects of fires near the Canakkale Strait, Aslan indicated that strong currents could limit accumulation but not eliminate the harm. "The lower Mediterranean current flows into the Sea of Marmara, while the upper Black Sea current flows into the Aegean. Because of these currents, black carbon and iron particles generated by fires may not remain in the Strait in large quantities, but they will still have an impact," she said.

She emphasized the need for controlled experiments to better understand the outcomes of fires on marine ecosystems, suggesting that such complex structures require careful study to attribute damages to specific causes.