A novel sediment fingerprinting method using filtration: application to the Mara River, East Africa

Dutton, Christopher L.; Anisfeld, Shimon C.; Ernstberger, H.

doi:10.1007/s11368-013-0725-z

Cited by 40 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…We measured river discharge from 2011 to 2014 at the lower reach of our study region using a depth transducer at a rated cross-section of the river (46). We measured nutrient uptake length (S w ), uptake velocity (v f ), and aerial uptake (U) for NH 4 + and SRP after a mass drowning of 5,000 wildebeest in 2011, using the carcasses as a high-input nutrient source and declines in concentration downstream as an indication of nutrient uptake in the river (27,28,47,48) (Table S3).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Annual mass drownings of the Serengeti wildebeest migration influence nutrient cycling and storage in the Mara River

Subalusky

Dutton

Rosi‐Marshall

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

135

179

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The annual migration of ∼1.2 million wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) through the Serengeti Mara Ecosystem is the largest remaining overland migration in the world. One of the most iconic portions of their migration is crossing of the Mara River, during which thousands drown annually. These mass drownings have been noted, but their frequency, size, and impact on aquatic ecosystems have not been quantified. Here, we estimate the frequency and size of mass drownings in the Mara River and model the fate of carcass nutrients through the river ecosystem. Mass drownings (>100 individuals) occurred in at least 13 of the past 15 y; on average, 6,250 carcasses and 1,100 tons of biomass enter the river each year. Half of a wildebeest carcass dry mass is bone, which takes 7 y to decompose, thus acting as a longterm source of nutrients to the Mara River. Carcass soft tissue decomposes in 2-10 wk, and these nutrients are mineralized by consumers, assimilated by biofilms, transported downstream, or moved back into the terrestrial ecosystem by scavengers. These inputs comprise 34-50% of the assimilated diet of fish when carcasses are present and 7-24% via biofilm on bones after soft tissue decomposition. Our results show a terrestrial animal migration can have large impacts on a river ecosystem, which may influence nutrient cycling and river food webs at decadal time scales. Similar mass drownings may have played an important role in rivers throughout the world when large migratory herds were more common features of the landscape.animal migration | mass drowning | nutrient cycling | Serengeti wildebeest | stable isotope

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Annual mass drownings of the Serengeti wildebeest migration influence nutrient cycling and storage in the Mara River

Subalusky

Dutton

Rosi‐Marshall

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

135

179

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“…However, the combined use of both particle size and organic matter correction factors resulted in an over-correction in both the As and Mn concentrations for the source soil relative to the eroded sediment for both watersheds and runoff periods. This is in agreement with researchers that do not use both particle size and organic matter correction factors citing the risk of over-correction of the data (e.g., Dutton et al 2013). The relation between particle size, organic matter and their interaction on the concentration of many geochemical concentration in soils and sediment is not well quantified and it may be difficult to generalize.…”

Section: Beaver Valleysupporting

confidence: 90%

“…In addition, applying both a particle size and an organic matter correction factors assumes that the effects of SSA and SOC on the geochemical concentration are additive. However, some researchers do not use both, citing that SSA and SOC are often correlated which can result in the over-correction of fingerprint values (e.g., Dutton et al 2013). The use of correction factors also assumes that the relations are the same for each element; however, there is a growing amount of evidence to suggest that the direction and magnitude of these relations is element specific and varies between watersheds (Russell et al…”

Section: ; Reiffarth Et Al 2016)mentioning

confidence: 99%

It's sedimentary, my dear Watson : implications of watershed processes on the sediment fingerprinting approach

Koiter¹

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The sediment source fingerprinting approach is based on the assumption that the potential sources of sediment within a watershed can be linked to in-stream sediment by using the inherent physical or biogeochemical characteristics of the sediment (i.e., sediment properties) as fingerprints. At present, one of the main limitations of the sediment source fingerprinting approach is the ability to link sediment back to their sources due to the nonconservative nature of many sediment properties. Ideally, sediment properties do not change as the sediment (i.e., transported unconsolidated soil or rock particles) move through a watershed allowing for a direct comparison between sources and sediment. However, sediment collected downslope or downstream from its source is often found to have a finer grain-size distribution and a higher organic matter content as compared to the source material as the smaller and less dense particles are preferentially mobilized and transported.Accounting for changes in both particle size distribution and organic matter content are important as many fingerprint concentrations are correlated with both properties, but it is unclear as to what is the best approach to account for these changes. In an effort to provide a more reliable and robust link between sources and sediment, a series of experimental and observational studies were conducted to investigate the factors that control particle size and organic matter selectivity and their subsequent effect on a broad suite of geochemical fingerprints. These studies investigated particle selectivity at the landscape scale, represented by a sequence of hillslope, riparian and fluvial environments. Processes within each of these three environments were found to preferentially mobilize and transport fine-grained and organic-rich particles. Many commonly used particle size and organic matter correction ii factors assume that the relation between both particle size and fingerprint concentrations are similar for all fingerprints. However, this research has demonstrated that these relations are fingerprint specific in terms of the magnitude, direction and linearity which suggests that the use of correction factors needs to be given careful consideration. In addition, a watershedscale application of the sediment fingerprinting approach found that the scale of observation and the geomorphic connectivity of the watershed influenced the apportionment results.Overall, this research can be used to guide sampling design and protocols, fingerprint selection, data correction factors and the interpretation of apportionment results.iii

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“…The papers in this special issue reflect a range of studies that address both topics. Studies emphasize traditional field approaches to determine sediment yields and sources (Davis and Sims 2013;Zhu 2013) as well as the use of the sediment fingerprinting approach to determine significant sediment sources (Dutton et al 2013;Gellis and Noe 2013;Huisman et al 2013;Koiter et al 2013;Mckinley et al 2013;Voli et al 2013). Several papers highlight site-specific methods and approaches to streamline the sediment fingerprinting approach into a practical management tool.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An improved method to collect the necessary mass for sediment fingerprinting was highlighted in the paper by Dutton et al (2013). Faced with collecting suspended sediment in a remote area of Kenya, Africa, the authors utilized sediment-laden filters to obtain river samples.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Watershed sediment source identification: tools, approaches, and case studies

Gellis

Mukundan

2013

J Soils Sediments

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A novel sediment fingerprinting method using filtration: application to the Mara River, East Africa

Cited by 40 publications

References 30 publications

Annual mass drownings of the Serengeti wildebeest migration influence nutrient cycling and storage in the Mara River

Annual mass drownings of the Serengeti wildebeest migration influence nutrient cycling and storage in the Mara River

It's sedimentary, my dear Watson : implications of watershed processes on the sediment fingerprinting approach

Watershed sediment source identification: tools, approaches, and case studies

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