Rivers and Soils: Parallels in Carbon and Nutrient Processing

Wagener, Stephen M.; Oswood, Mark W.; Schimel, Joshua P.

doi:10.2307/1313135

Cited by 88 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The difference in elevation between the highest-and lowest-lying stream sampling locations is about 61 m, stretching over about 6 km. All but two of the sampling locations are separate tributaries to the main stream channel (S15, S14, S13, S12, S11, S10), and their solute concentrations are thought to be spatially independent (Legendre and Fortin, 1989;Wagener et al, 1998;Dent and Grimm, 1999). Further, parts of the Archer Creek system are steep and fast-flowing.…”

Section: Stream Discharge and Water Chemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and temporal dynamics of stream chemistry in a forested watershed

Piatek

Christopher

Mitchell

2009

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Spatial dynamics of solute chemistry and natural abundance isotopes of nitrate ( 15 N and 18 O) were examined in seven locations and at the watershed outlet in 2001 and 2002 in a forest watershed in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, USA. Temporal dynamics were examined during five discharge periods: winter, snowmelt, spring, summer, and fall, based on discharge levels at the watershed outlet. Solute concentrations were variable across space and time with significant (p≤0.05) interaction effects. Year*period was significant for pH, NH + 4 , NO − 3 , total N, DOC, and total Al suggesting that inter-annual variability in discharge levels was more important for these solutes than intra-annual variability. Period*sampling point was significant for pH, Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , sum of base cations, Si, and total Al suggesting that the differences in concentration of these solutes among sampling points were moderated by discharge levels. In general, groundwater sources located in upper watershed controlled stream chemistry at higher elevations with highest pH, Ca 2+ , sum of base cations, Si, and SO 2− 4 concentrations, with higher values in summer, and dilution effects during snowmelt. Two low elevation wetlands had a substantial influence over stream chemistry at those locations contributing lowest NO − 3 and highest DOC. Snowmelt exhibited among the lowest pH, sum of base cations, and SO 2− 4 , and highest NO

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Section: Stream Discharge and Water Chemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and temporal dynamics of stream chemistry in a forested watershed

Piatek

Christopher

Mitchell

2009

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…This dimension has been described in terms of spiraling length (S): the distance over which a nutrient transforms from inorganic to organic and back to inorganic form Patten 1979, Newbold et al 1981). Diffusive and capillary forces dictate flow and organize nutrient cycling in unsaturated soils (Wagener et al 1998) such that residence times are long and transport distances are minimized. In contrast, streams are dominated by advective transport, though zones of relatively slow water movement can have strong influences on system biogeochemistry (Triska et al 1989, Thomas et al 2003.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coupled Cycling of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen and Carbon in a Forest Stream

Brookshire

Valett

Thomas

et al. 2005

Ecology

131

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Abstract. Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) is an abundant but poorly understood pool of N in many ecosystems. We assessed DON cycling in a N-limited headwater forest stream via whole-ecosystem additions of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and labile dissolved organic matter (DOM), hydrologic transport and biogeochemical modeling, and laboratory experiments with native sediments. We sampled surface and subsurface waters to understand how interaction among hydrologic exchange, DIN, DON, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) influence stream N losses at summer baseflow. Added DON was taken up rapidly from the water column at rates exceeding DOC and DIN. A significant fraction of this DON was mineralized and nitrified. Combined DON and NO 3 -N uptake lengths resulted in spiraling lengths of ϳ210 m, suggesting the potential for multiple transformations of labile N loads within catchment boundaries. Simultaneous addition of DIN increased DOM uptake, but more so for C, resulting in an upward shift in the C:N ratio of uptake. Sediment incubations also showed a strong biotic influence on DOC and DON dynamics. Despite efficient uptake of added DOM, background DON and high molecular mass DOC concentrations increased downstream, resulting in higher DOM loads than could be accounted for by groundwater discharge and suggesting net release of less bioavailable forms from the channel/hyporheic zone. At the same time, subsurface DOM was characterized by very low C:N ratios and a disproportionately large DON pool despite rapid hydrologic mixing with dilute and high C:N ratio surface waters. Analysis of expected DON loads from conservative hyporheic fluxes indicated that watershed losses of DON would have been seven times greater in the absence of apparent benthic demand, suggesting tight internal cycling of subsurface DON. Our study further demonstrates the potential for significant transformation of N in headwater streams before export to downstream ecosystems.

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“…This may be attributed to the fact that the local-scale environmental factors can vary significantly among different ecosystem types during different decomposition periods. For example, in streams, the buffered water temperature in winter and the constant water flow and continuous nutrient supply from upstream sources can sustain microbial communities related to cellulose degradation over the entire year [15,18]. Thus, cellulose in decomposing litter incubated in streams had a higher degradation rate than in other ecosystems, showing an order of stream > riparian zone > forest floor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These include the buffered temperature ranges, unlimited water availability, and limiting oxygen levels in aquatic ecosystems [17]. Even in aquatic ecosystems, some factors can vary between lotic (e.g., forest stream) and stagnant (e.g., forest fen) waters, such as the abrasion induced by sediment transport [17] and continuous nutrient supply from upstream in streams [18]. However, previous studies have focused mainly on litter mass loss or decomposition rate in terrestrial or aquatic ecosystem separately, and whether these substantially varying local-scale environmental factors among different types of ecosystems will differently moderate the process of cellulose degradation during litter decomposition is still elusive.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cellulose Dynamics during Foliar Litter Decomposition in an Alpine Forest Meta-Ecosystem

Yue

Yang

et al. 2016

Forests

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Abstract:To investigate the dynamics and relative drivers of cellulose degradation during litter decomposition, a field experiment was conducted in three individual ecosystems (i.e., forest floor, stream, and riparian zone) of an alpine forest meta-ecosystem on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Four litter species (i.e., willow: Salix paraplesia, azalea: Rhododendron lapponicum, cypress: Sabina saltuaria, and larch: Larix mastersiana) that had varying initial litter chemical traits were placed separately in litterbags and then incubated on the soil surface of forest floor plots or in the water of the stream and riparian zone plots. Litterbags were retrieved five times each year during the two-year experiment, with nine replicates each time for each treatment. The results suggested that foliar litter lost 32.2%-89.2% of the initial dry mass depending on litter species and ecosystem type after two-year's incubation. The cellulose lost 60.1%-96.8% of the initial mass with degradation rate in the order of stream > riparian zone > forest floor. Substantial cellulose degradation occurred at the very beginning (i.e., in the first pre-freezing period) of litter decomposition. Litter initial concentrations of phosphorus (P) and lignin were found to be the dominant chemical traits controlling cellulose degradation regardless of ecosystems type. The local-scale environmental factors such as temperature, pH, and nutrient availability were important moderators of cellulose degradation rate. Although the effects of common litter chemical traits (e.g., P and lignin concentrations) on cellulose degradation across different individual ecosystems were identified, local-scale environmental factors such as temperature and nutrient availability were found to be of great importance for cellulose degradation. These results indicated that local-scale environmental factors should be considered apart from litter quality for generating a reliable predictive framework for the drivers of cellulose degradation and further on litter decomposition at a global scale.

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Rivers and Soils: Parallels in Carbon and Nutrient Processing

Cited by 88 publications

References 29 publications

Spatial and temporal dynamics of stream chemistry in a forested watershed

Spatial and temporal dynamics of stream chemistry in a forested watershed

Coupled Cycling of Dissolved Organic Nitrogen and Carbon in a Forest Stream

Cellulose Dynamics during Foliar Litter Decomposition in an Alpine Forest Meta-Ecosystem

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