Spatial, temporal and experimental: Three study design cornerstones for establishing defensible numeric criteria in freshwater ecosystems

Taylor, Jason M.; Back, Jeffrey A.; Brooks, Bryan W.; King, Ryan S.

doi:10.1111/1365-2664.13150

Cited by 26 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…However, developing nutrient stressor–response relationships and translating them into meaningful, scientifically defensible benchmarks for managing P and N within MAP streams will require increasing sampling frequency and spatial coverage to more accurately represent the entire region, as well as refinements to sampling methodology. Future studies that include greater spatial coverage within the region, temporal sampling, and experiments to control for confounding factors will further the development of diatom‐based measures for evaluating ecological responses to BMPs within the MAP (Bowes et al, 2007; Taylor et al, 2018). Current study results were only significant for TP, but including BMPs that reduce N export from agricultural watersheds in the Mississippi River basin can also help reduce widespread coastal hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico (Turner and Rabalais, 2003; Alexander et al, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Diatom assemblages can be excellent indicators of nutrient status, and researchers have developed many indices to assess trophic status of water bodies on multiple continents (Kelly and Whitton, 1995;Bellinger et al, 2006;Stevenson et al, 2008;Tan et al, 2013). Additionally, previous observational and experimental work has shown that diatom assemblage responses to nutrient enrichment gradients are robust, despite temporal shifts in species composition associated with variation in potentially confounding factors (Taylor et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diatom Assemblage Changes in Agricultural Alluvial Plain Streams and Application for Nutrient Management

Hicks¹,

Taylor

2019

J of Env Quality

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In large, alluvial floodplains dominated by agriculture, small streams have the potential to experience nutrient enrichment affecting algal assemblage structure and metabolism. Nutrient enrichment is largely driven by application of nutrients and altered hydrologic regimes. To inform stressor–response‐based nutrient reduction goals for agricultural alluvial plain streams, diatom assemblages were sampled from 25 streams located within the Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAP) with various land management practices and associated P and N inputs. From August through September 2015, epidendric diatom assemblage samples were collected from instream woody debris. Field nutrient gradients were skewed toward higher concentrations, and ranges of previously reported diatom assemblage response thresholds indicative of oligotrophic conditions were not well represented. Ordination analysis identified a gradient in species composition associated with increasing P and decreasing dissolved oxygen. A significant shift in diatom assemblage structure occurred when total P concentrations in the MAP streams exceeded 0.12 mg L−1. Phosphorus‐enriched systems were represented by a distinct set of indicator species, lower abundances of ubiquitous species, greater abundances of highly tolerant species, and greater abundances of high‐P indicator species. No relationships were observed among diatom assemblage measures or traits with increasing N. Current results do not address potential criteria for identifying high‐quality, oligotrophic streams. However, measures of diatom assemblage structure have potential for helping set benchmarks to reduce nutrient impacts and monitor effects of agricultural best management practices on MAP streams. Core Ideas Identifying stream nutrient indicators is difficult in agricultural landscapes. Diatoms found in Mississippi Alluvial Plain streams are sensitive to changes in P concentrations. Diatom assemblages shifted when stream total P concentrations exceeded ∼0.12 mg L−1. Diatom measures can help set nutrient reduction goals for agricultural streams. Stream diatom indicators may improve monitoring success of nutrient best management practices.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diatom Assemblage Changes in Agricultural Alluvial Plain Streams and Application for Nutrient Management

Hicks¹,

Taylor

2019

J of Env Quality

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“…As one example, Taylor et al (2018) recently demonstrated the usefulness of employing coupled field studies with experimental stream mesocosm experiments to identify ecological thresholds associated with P enrichment. As one example, Taylor et al (2018) recently demonstrated the usefulness of employing coupled field studies with experimental stream mesocosm experiments to identify ecological thresholds associated with P enrichment.…”

Section: Multiple Stressors and Mixturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards Sustainable Environmental Quality: Priority Research Questions for the Australasian Region of Oceania

Gaw

Harford

Pettigrove

et al. 2019

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

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Environmental challenges persist across the world, including the Australasian region of Oceania, where biodiversity hotspots and unique ecosystems such as the Great Barrier Reef are common. These systems are routinely affected by multiple stressors from anthropogenic activities, and increasingly influenced by global megatrends (e.g., the food–energy–water nexus, demographic transitions to cities) and climate change. Here we report priority research questions from the Global Horizon Scanning Project, which aimed to identify, prioritize, and advance environmental quality research needs from an Australasian perspective, within a global context. We employed a transparent and inclusive process of soliciting key questions from Australasian members of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Following submission of 78 questions, 20 priority research questions were identified during an expert workshop in Nelson, New Zealand. These research questions covered a range of issues of global relevance, including research needed to more closely integrate ecotoxicology and ecology for the protection of ecosystems, increase flexibility for prioritizing chemical substances currently in commerce, understand the impacts of complex mixtures and multiple stressors, and define environmental quality and ecosystem integrity of temporary waters. Some questions have specific relevance to Australasia, particularly the uncertainties associated with using toxicity data from exotic species to protect unique indigenous species. Several related priority questions deal with the theme of how widely international ecotoxicological data and databases can be applied to regional ecosystems. Other timely questions, which focus on improving predictive chemistry and toxicology tools and techniques, will be important to answer several of the priority questions identified here. Another important question raised was how to protect local cultural and social values and maintain indigenous engagement during problem formulation and identification of ecosystem protection goals. Addressing these questions will be challenging, but doing so promises to advance environmental sustainability in Oceania and globally.

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“…Ideal studies for investigating nutrient effects would pair experimental and field-based approaches and include measurement of nutrient forms relevant to the question at hand and to management (e.g., Taylor et al 2018). To achieve this goal, we first recommend more complete and transparent data reporting (Reichman et al 2011;Lortie 2014), as several studies measured total nutrient fractions but either did not report these measures or measured them only prior to the experimental addition of nutrients.…”

Section: Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving estimates and forecasts of lake carbon dynamics using data assimilation

Zwart

Hararuk

Prairie

et al. 2019

Limnology & Ocean Methods

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Lakes are biogeochemical hotspots on the landscape, contributing significantly to the global carbon cycle despite their small areal coverage. Observations and models of lake carbon pools and fluxes are rarely explicitly combined through data assimilation despite successful use of this technique in other fields. Data assimilation adds value to both observations and models by constraining models with observations of the system and by leveraging knowledge of the system formalized by the model to objectively fill observation gaps. In this article, we highlight the utility of data assimilation in lake carbon cycling research by using the ensemble Kalman filter to combine simple lake carbon models with observations of lake carbon pools and fluxes. We demonstrate that data assimilation helps reduce uncertainty in estimates of lake carbon pools and fluxes and more accurately estimate the true carbon pool size compared to estimates derived from observations alone. Data assimilation techniques should be embraced as valuable tools for lake biogeochemists interested in learning about ecosystem dynamics and forecasting ecosystem states and processes.

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Spatial, temporal and experimental: Three study design cornerstones for establishing defensible numeric criteria in freshwater ecosystems

Cited by 26 publications

References 40 publications

Diatom Assemblage Changes in Agricultural Alluvial Plain Streams and Application for Nutrient Management

Diatom Assemblage Changes in Agricultural Alluvial Plain Streams and Application for Nutrient Management

Towards Sustainable Environmental Quality: Priority Research Questions for the Australasian Region of Oceania

Improving estimates and forecasts of lake carbon dynamics using data assimilation

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