Low-level addition of dissolved organic carbon increases basal ecosystem function in a boreal headwater stream
Caleb J. Robbins,Ryan S. King,Alyse D. Yeager,Coowe M. Walker,Jeffrey A. Back,Robert D. Doyle,Dennis F. Whigham +6 more
TLDR
In this article, the influence of the highly labile portion of wetland-derived DOC subsidies on microbial production and ecosystem processes in a stream with high landscape-derived nutrient inputs was simulated.Abstract:
Comprehension of basic stream ecosystem function relies on an understanding of aquatic–terrestrial linkages. One major component of such linkages is the incorporation of landscape-derived energy and nutrients into the aquatic food web via microbes. In many boreal streams, wetlands and alder are known to be primary sources of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), respectively. To simulate the influence of the highly labile portion of wetland-derived DOC subsidies on microbial production and ecosystem processes in a stream with high landscape-derived nutrient inputs, we enriched a boreal headwater stream situated in a high-alder, low-wetland cover catchment (i.e., high DIN, low DOC) with low levels (~0.25 mg/L) of labile DOC (as acetate-C) for 9 weeks. We compared nutrient uptake, bacterial biomass production, and photosynthesis of periphyton and ecosystem metabolism in physicochemically similar upstream (reference) and downstream (treatment) reaches. DIN uptake was greater in the treatment than in reference reach on six out of nine dates during the dosing period. Bacterial biomass production positively responded to C enrichment. Ecosystem respiration increased up to ~50% after dosing began. Gross primary production responded positively to DOC enrichment early in the study when riparian vegetation did not limit light availability, but negatively later on in the growing season. We conclude that even low levels of labile DOC may act as a strong subsidy to headwater stream ecosystems, particularly those with high levels of DIN inputs from alder. Headwater streams influenced by high contributions of both alder and wetlands may represent biogeochemical hotspots, and these landscape features should be viewed as vital and complementary in their roles for ecosystem function.read more
Citations
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AquaSat: A Data Set to Enable Remote Sensing of Water Quality for Inland Waters
Matthew R. V. Ross,S. Topp,Alison P. Appling,Xiao Yang,C. Kuhn,David Butman,Marc Simard,Tamlin M. Pavelsky +7 more
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Discussion of "Delta Method for Estimating Primary Production, Respiration, and Reaeration in Streams"
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Balancing macronutrient stoichiometry to alleviate eutrophication.
TL;DR: Stoichiometric rebalancing through reconnecting landscape beneficial OC sources has considerable potential for river management to alleviate eutrophication, improve water quality and aquatic ecosystem health, if augmenting nutrient source control.
Journal ArticleDOI
Stream Dissolved Organic Matter in Permafrost Regions Shows Surprising Compositional Similarities but Negative Priming and Nutrient Effects.
Ethan Wologo,Sarah Shakil,Scott Zolkos,Scott Zolkos,Sadie R. Textor,Stephanie A. Ewing,Jane K. Klassen,Robert G. M. Spencer,David C. Podgorski,Suzanne E. Tank,Michelle A. Baker,Jonathan A. O'Donnell,Kimberly P. Wickland,Sydney S. Foks,Jay P. Zarnetske,Joseph Lee-Cullin,Futing Liu,Yuanhe Yang,Pirkko Kortelainen,Jaana Kolehmainen,Joshua F. Dean,Joshua F. Dean,Jorien E. Vonk,Robert M. Holmes,Gilles Pinay,Michaela M. Powell,Jansen C. Howe,Rebecca J. Frei,Rebecca J. Frei,Samuel P. Bratsman,Benjamin W. Abbott +30 more
TL;DR: It is concluded that priming and nutrient effects are coupled in northern aquatic ecosystems and that quantifying two‐way interactions between DOM properties and environmental conditions could resolve conflicting observations about the drivers of DOM in permafrost zone waterways.
Journal ArticleDOI
Dissolved organic carbon in eastern Canadian lakes: Novel patterns and relationships with regional and global factors.
TL;DR: There was considerable variation in DOC patterns across this large geographic region of Canada and potential drivers of these patterns were not consistent across these diverse sites.
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