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Abstract. Turnover of organic matter (OM) is an essential ecological function in inland water bodies and relevant for water quality. This is especially important for the potential of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal as well as for emissions of CO2. In this study, we investigated various phases of OM including DOC, autochthonous particulate organic carbon (auto-POC), allochthonous particulate organic carbon (allo-POC), and sedimentary matter (SED) in a temperate drinking water reservoir (Rappbode Reservoir, Germany) by means of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations and carbon stable isotope ratios. In order to best outline carbon turnover, we focused on the metalimnion and the hypolimnion of the reservoir, where respiration is expected to be dominant and hardly disturbed by atmospheric exchange or photosynthesis. DIC concentrations ranged between 0.30 and 0.53 mmol L−1, while δ13CDIC values ranged between −15.1 ‰ and −7.2 ‰ versus the VPDB (Vienna PeeDee Belemnite) standard. Values of δ13CDOC and δ13Cauto-POC ranged between −28.8 ‰ and −27.6 ‰ and between −35.2 ‰ and −26.8 ‰, respectively. Isotope compositions of sedimentary material and allochthonous POC were inferred from the literature and from measurements from previous studies with δ13CSED=-31.1 ‰ and δ13Callo-POC ranging from −31.8 ‰ to −28.6 ‰. Comparison of DIC concentration gains and stable isotope mass balances showed that auto-POC from primary producers was the main contributor to increases in the DIC pool. Calculated OM turnover rates (0.01 to 1.3 µmol L−1 d−1) were within the range for oligotrophic water bodies. Some higher values in the metalimnion are likely due to increased availability of settling auto-POC from the photic zone. Samples from a metalimnetic oxygen minimum (MOM) also showed dominance of respiration over photosynthesis. Our work shows that respiration in temperate lentic water bodies largely depends on auto-POC production as a major carbon source. Such dependencies can influence the vulnerabilities of these aqueous systems.

Abstract. Turnover of organic matter (OM) is an essential ecological function in inland water bodies and relevant for water quality especially for the potential of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal as well as due to emissions of CO2. We investigated various sources of OM including DOC, autochthonous particulate organic carbon (POC), allochthonous particulate organic carbon (ExtPOC), and sedimentary matter (SED) in a temperate drinking water reservoir (Rappbode Reservoir, Germany) with respect to carbon isotope ratios and concentration dynamics. For this purpose, we focused on the metalimnion and the hypolimnion, where respiratory turnover is expected to be dominant and hardly disturbed by atmospheric exchange. The observation period of nine months covered a complete stratification period of the water body. Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations and its isotopes (δ13CDIC) were considered together with isotope data of DOC and POC (δ13CDOC and δ13CPOC) as input parameters for mass balances. DIC concentrations ranged between 0.30 and 0.53 mmol L-1, while δ13CDIC values were between -15.1 and -7.2 ‰ versus the VPDB (Vienna PeeDee Belemnite) standard. Values of δ13CDOC and δ13CPOC ranged between -28.8 and -27.6 ‰ and between -35.2 and -26.8 ‰, respectively. Isotope compositions of sedimentary material and allochthonous POC were inferred from the literature with average values of δ13CSED = -30.7 ‰, and δ13CExtPOC = -31.8 ‰. Comparison of DIC concentration gains and stable isotope mass balances showed that autochthonous POC from primary producers was the main contributor to DIC increases, while contributions from DOC, ExtPOC and SED played a minor role. OM turnover rates, i.e. the conversion of organic carbon towards DIC, calculated with our isotope approach were within the range for oligotrophic water bodies (0.01 to 1.3 µmol L-1 d-1). Some higher values in the metalimnion are likely due the availability of settling POC from the photic zone. Samples from a Metalimnetic Oxygen Minimum (MOM) showed a clear dominance of respiration over photosynthesis through bacterial degradation of autochthonous POC. These high turnover rates further highlight a close link with planktonic biological assemblages. Our work shows that respiration in temperate lentic water bodies largely depends on autochthonous POC production as a major carbon source.

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The water composition of the river Adige displays a Ca–HCO3 hydrochemical facies, mainly due to rock weathering. Nitrate is the only component that has increased in relation to growing anthropogenic inputs. The aim of this paper was to identify the origin of the dissolved components in this river and to establish the relationship between these components and critical zone processes within an evolving framework where climatic and human impacts are influencing the riverine system. In particular, emphasis is given to a wide spectrum of isotope data (δ18O, δ2H, δ13C, δ15N, δ34S, 87Sr/86Sr, δ11B), which is considered useful for determining water origin as well as natural and anthropogenic impacts on riverine geochemistry. Together with oxygen and hydrogen isotopes, which are strictly related to the climatic conditions (precipitation, temperature, humidity), the carbon, sulphur, strontium and boron signatures can describe the magnitude of rock weathering, which is in turn linked to the climatic parameters. δ13CDIC varies regularly along the riverine profile between −4.5‰ and −9.5‰, and δ34SSO4 varies regularly between +4.4‰ and +11.4‰. On the other hand, δ15NNO3 shows a more scattered distribution between +3.9‰ and +10.5‰, with sharp variations along the riverine profile. 87Sr/86Sr varies between 0.72797 in the upper part of the catchment and 0.71068 in the lower part. δ11B also shows a rough trend, with values approaching 7.6‰ in the upper part and 8.5‰ in the lower part. In our view, the comparatively low δ34S, δ11B, and high 87Sr/86Sr values, could be a proxy for increasing silicate weathering, which is a process that is sensitive to increases in temperature.