Spatial and temporal characterization of nutrient net uptake in a vegetated urban stream: Stream bank features leading to net uptake hotspots

Abstract

Urban stream features can be used to promote nutrient retention; however, their interactions with different hydrological regimes impact nutrient cycling, decrease their retention capacity, and inhibit stream ecosystem functioning. This study analysed the temporal and spatial dynamics of the uptake of three nutrients (nitrate, ammonium, and phosphorus) in an urban drainage stream during high flows. In particular, we studied variations in net uptake along the right margin (with native vegetation and a roots mat) comparatively to the left margin (a non-rooted grassy bank).Applying the spiralling approach within each subreach on either side, we determined nutrient subreach (sr) retention metrics: uptake rate coefficients K sr net , mass transfer rates vf sr net À Á , and areal uptake rates U sr net À Á . Our results showed nitrate (NO 3 ) and ammonium (NH 4 ) net uptakes on the right side were higher and more frequent along subreaches where the root mat was more abundant (U sr net [μg m −2 s −1 ] = 22.80 ± 1.13 for NO 3 and 10.50 ± 0.81 for NH 4 ), whereas on the left side both nutrients showed patchy and inconsistent net uptake patterns despite the homogeneous grass distribution. Net uptake for filtered reactive phosphorus (FRP) was not observed on either side at any flow rate. The impact of hydrological factors such as discharge, travel time, water depth, and concentration, on uptake metrics was studied. Despite increases in travel time as the flow decreased, there was a reduction in net uptake rates, vf sr net and U sr net , on either side. This was attributed to a reduction in water level with declining flows, which decreased hydrologic connectivity with the stream banks, combined with a decrease in water velocity and a reduction in nutrient concentrations. We concluded the rooted bank acted as an effective retention area by systematically promoting net uptake resulting in a twofold increased dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) retention relative to the non-rooted side where net uptake was spatially localized and highly dynamic.Overall, this work emphasized the importance of strategically sampling close to biologically active surfaces to more accurately determine areas where gross uptake surpasses release process.

Preface to the Hydrological processes in urban environments: Updates on urbanization, naturalization and climate change Special Issue

“…The metrics only captured the hydrological impacts of restoration of one of the three watersheds, which Fanelli et al () attributed to variation in the initial degree of degradation between the restored watersheds. Singh and Oldham () characterized how differences in riparian vegetation along receiving waters resulted in differences in nutrient spiralling and uptake. In the riparian zone with native vegetation and deeper root mats connecting with the streamwater, nitrate and ammonium were more frequently and more efficiently removed from the stream, as compared with riparian zones with non‐native grass where roots were shallower.…”

Optimizing environmental flow and macrophyte management for restoring a large eutrophic lake‐marsh system

“…On the other hand, particular characteristics associated with specific aquatic systems will also influence phytoremediation performance, and management strategies should therefore pay more attention to these characteristics (Singh & Oldham, 2017;Q. Zhang, Dong, Yang, Odgaard, & Jeppesen, 2019).…”

“…On the other hand, particular characteristics associated with specific aquatic systems will also influence phytoremediation performance, and management strategies should therefore pay more attention to these characteristics (Singh & Oldham, 2017; Q. Zhang, Dong, Yang, Odgaard, & Jeppesen, 2019). Hydrological conditions are among the most important characteristics of aquatic systems (Naja, Childers, & Gaiser, 2017; Xu, Yang, Yin, Cai, & Sun, 2016).…”