Salinization alters fluxes of bioreactive elements from stream ecosystems across land use

Duan, Shuiwang; Kaushal, Sujay S.

doi:10.5194/bg-12-7331-2015

Cited by 58 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…Road salt can also increase the leaching of soil nutrients (Mg 2+ , K + , Na + ), potentially inhibiting the recovery of forested catchments affected by acid rain-induced soil acidification (Schweiger, Audorff, & Beierkuhnlein, 2015). Road salt concentrations ranging from 500 to 10,000 mg Cl − /L in urban watershed networks can also cause the release of Ca 2+ , K + , dissolved organic carbon, dissolved inorganic carbon, total dissolved Kjeldahl nitrogen (as NH 4 + + NH 3 + dissolved organic nitrogen), and can increase the water column concentration of soluble reactive phosphorus released from freshwater sediments or soils (Duan & Kaushal, 2015;Haq, Kaushal, & Duan, 2018). Concentrations of 2,500 mg Cl − /L in stream ecosystems can reduce denitrification rates, potentially decreasing the number of nitrate sinks in streams (Hale & Groffman, 2006).…”

Section: Ecosys Tem -Le Vel Re S P On S E Smentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Concentrations of 2,500 mg Cl − /L in stream ecosystems can reduce denitrification rates, potentially decreasing the number of nitrate sinks in streams (Hale & Groffman, 2006). Thus, in addition to the species-and community-level effects, road salt can disrupt nutrient and energy flow in contaminated stream watersheds through the mobilisation of nitrogen and carbon (Figure 3; Duan & Kaushal, 2015).…”

Section: Ecosys Tem -Le Vel Re S P On S E Smentioning

confidence: 99%

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A review of the species, community, and ecosystem impacts of road salt salinisation in fresh waters

2019

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Freshwater ecosystems worldwide are threatened by salinisation caused by human activities. Scientific attention on the ecological impacts of salinisation from road deicing salts is increasing exponentially. Spanning multiple trophic levels and ecosystem types, we review and synthesise the ecological impacts of road salt in freshwater ecosystems to understand species‐, community‐, and ecosystem‐level responses. In our review, we identify knowledge gaps that we hope will motivate future research directions. We found that road salts negatively affect species at all trophic levels, from biofilms to fish. The concentration at which road salt triggered an effect varied considerably. Species‐level impacts were generally sub‐lethal, leading to reductions in growth and reproduction, which can be magnified by natural stressors such as predation. Community‐level impacts including reductions of biodiversity were common, leading to communities of salt‐tolerant species, which may have implications for disease transmission from enhanced recruitment of salt‐tolerant host species such as mosquitoes. At the ecosystem level, road salts alter nutrient and energy flow. Contaminated wetlands could see greater export of greenhouse gases, streams will probably export more nitrogen and carbon, and lakes will encounter altered hydrology and oxygen dynamics, leading to greater phosphorus release from sediments. While it is necessary to keep roads safe for humans, the costs to freshwater ecosystems may be severe if actions are not taken to mitigate road salt salinisation. Cooperation among policy makers, environmental managers, transportation professionals, scientists, and the public will be crucial to prevent a loss of ecosystem services including water clarity, drinkable water, recreation venues, and fisheries.

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Section: Ecosys Tem -Le Vel Re S P On S E Smentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Ecosys Tem -Le Vel Re S P On S E Smentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of the species, community, and ecosystem impacts of road salt salinisation in fresh waters

2019

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“…The positive relationship between specific conductance and pH suggests that the pH change is embodied by an increase in alkaline salts. This relationship may result from mobile anions, such as chloride and nitrate, transported together as chemical mixtures and ion exchange reactions in soils [17,18]. There was a cyclical relationship between nitrate concentrations and specific conductance during a discrete snowstorm demonstrating a flushing effect in an urban stream and the nearby Potomac River (electronic supplementary material, figure S5).…”

Section: (B) Freshwater Salinization Syndrome Mobilizes Mixtures Of Amentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There was a cyclical relationship between nitrate concentrations and specific conductance during a discrete snowstorm demonstrating a flushing effect in an urban stream and the nearby Potomac River (electronic supplementary material, figure S5). Winter flushing of urban contaminants indicates potential water quality impacts from snowstorms which have been less studied than urban rainstorms [17,18]. Inverse and more complex relationships between specific conductance and nitrate at other sites were probably related to shifts in nitrate and other ion sources across streamflow and season (e.g.…”

Section: (B) Freshwater Salinization Syndrome Mobilizes Mixtures Of Amentioning

confidence: 99%

“…CO 2À 3 [39,40]. Alkaline conditions favour the release of phosphorus from oxyhydroxides in sediments and soils which contribute to freshwater eutrophication [17,18]. Microbial nitrification and denitrification are both stimulated at slightly alkaline pH in soils and sediments affected by road salts, which contributes to either nitrogen transformations and/or coastal eutrophication (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Novel ‘chemical cocktails' in inland waters are a consequence of the freshwater salinization syndrome

Kaushal

Likens

Pace

et al. 2018

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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Widespread changes in water temperatures, salinity, alkalinity and pH have been documented in inland waters in North America, which influence ion exchange, weathering rates, chemical solubility and contaminant toxicity. Increasing major ion concentrations from pollution, human-accelerated weathering and saltwater intrusion contribute to multiple ecological stressors such as changing ionic strength and pH and mobilization of chemical mixtures resulting in the freshwater salinization syndrome (FSS). Here, we explore novel combinations of elements, which are transported together as chemical mixtures containing salts, nutrients and metals as a consequence of FSS. First, we show that base cation concentrations have increased in regions primarily in North America and Europe over 100 years. Second, we show interactions between specific conductance, pH, nitrate and metals using data from greater than 20 streams located in different regions of the USA. Finally, salinization experiments and routine monitoring demonstrate mobilization of chemical mixtures of cations, metals and nutrients in 10 streams draining the Washington, DC–Baltimore, MD metropolitan regions. Freshwater salinization mobilizes diverse chemical mixtures influencing drinking water quality, infrastructure corrosion, freshwater CO 2 concentrations and biodiversity. Most regulations currently target individual contaminants, but FSS requires managing mobilization of multiple chemical mixtures and interacting ecological stressors as consequences of freshwater salinization. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Salt in freshwaters: causes, ecological consequences and future prospects’.

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Five state factors control progressive stages of freshwater salinization syndrome

Kaushal

Mayer

Likens

et al. 2022

Limnol Oceanogr Letters

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Factors driving freshwater salinization syndrome (FSS) influence the severity of impacts and chances for recovery. We hypothesize that spread of FSS across ecosystems is a function of interactions among five state factors: human activities, geology, flowpaths, climate, and time. (1) Human activities drive pulsed or chronic inputs of salt ions and mobilization of chemical contaminants. (2) Geology drives rates of erosion, weathering, ion exchange, and acidification‐alkalinization. (3) Flowpaths drive salinization and contaminant mobilization along hydrologic cycles. (4) Climate drives rising water temperatures, salt stress, and evaporative concentration of ions and saltwater intrusion. (5) Time influences consequences, thresholds, and potentials for ecosystem recovery. We hypothesize that state factors advance FSS in distinct stages, which eventually contribute to failures in systems‐level functions (supporting drinking water, crops, biodiversity, infrastructure, etc.). We present future research directions for protecting freshwaters at risk based on five state factors and stages from diagnosis to prognosis to cure.

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Salinization alters fluxes of bioreactive elements from stream ecosystems across land use

Cited by 58 publications

References 73 publications

A review of the species, community, and ecosystem impacts of road salt salinisation in fresh waters

A review of the species, community, and ecosystem impacts of road salt salinisation in fresh waters

Novel ‘chemical cocktails' in inland waters are a consequence of the freshwater salinization syndrome

Five state factors control progressive stages of freshwater salinization syndrome

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