Stream nitrate and DOC dynamics during three spring storms across land uses in glaciated landscapes of the Midwest

Wagner, Laura E.; Vidon, P.; Tedesco, Lenore P.; Gray, Mark H.

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2008.08.013

Cited by 55 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 53 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…2) were indicative of degraded stream conditions throughout the study watershed. Nitrate concentrations at study sites generally exceeded summer values recently reported from streams in other row-crop dominated watersheds of the Midwestern U.S.A., where nitrate concentrations are consistently among the highest in the nation (Bernot et al, 2006;Figueroa-Nieves et al, 2006;Schilling and Spooner, 2006;Heatherly et al, 2007;Renwick et al, 2008;Wagner et al, 2008;Diebel and Vander Zanden, 2009;Warrner et al, 2009). Additionally, nitrate concentration at each of our study sites (range 5 5.6-29.0 mg/L) was higher than 3.2 mg/L, a threshold value that, based on a USEPA Wadeable Streams Assessment, is indicative of poor conditions in Midwestern streams (Van Sickle and Paulsen, 2008).…”

Section: Results Land Cover Stream Habitat and Invertebrate Assemblagescontrasting

confidence: 55%

Land Use, Stream Habitat and Benthic Invertebrate Assemblages in a Highly Altered Iowa Watershed

Herringshaw

Stewart

Thompson

et al. 2011

The American Midland Naturalist

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Knowledge of relationships between land cover (i.e., land use) and abiotic and biotic features of headwater streams enhances our ability to predict and effectively assess conditions in a variety of aquatic ecosystems. We evaluated land use effects on stream condition in an Iowa watershed dominated by intensive row crop agriculture and low-intensity urban development by quantifying relationships among land cover, stream invertebrate assemblages and other stream biophysical characteristics (i.e., invertebrate habitat) at 29 sites. On average, 81% of subbasin land cover was agricultural and 6% of land cover was urban across study sites. High nitrate concentrations (range = 5.6-29.0 mg/L) and high relative abundance of oligochaetes and chironomid midges reflected degraded conditions at all sites. However, agriculture and urban land use appeared to have different effects on stream features. Nitrate concentrations were positively related to agricultural land cover, and turbidity and nitrate concentrations were negatively related to urban land cover (P ≤ 0.05). Invertebrate densities and taxonomic diversity (i.e., total taxa richness, % EPT) were also positively related to agricultural land cover and negatively related to urban land cover. Regardless of land use, highest invertebrate abundance and taxonomic diversity occurred at sites with abundant coarse particulate organic matter, plants and coarse inorganic substrate. Relationships between land cover and invertebrate variables were strong at both local and subbasin measurement scales. Based on invertebrate assemblages, which integrate multiple instream features, we conclude that urban land use had greater adverse effect on stream condition than agriculture in our study watershed. ABSTRACT.-Knowledge of relationships between land cover (i.e., land use) and abiotic and biotic features of headwater streams enhances our ability to predict and effectively assess conditions in a variety of aquatic ecosystems. We evaluated land use effects on stream condition in an Iowa watershed dominated by intensive row crop agriculture and lowintensity urban development by quantifying relationships among land cover, stream invertebrate assemblages and other stream biophysical characteristics (i.e., invertebrate habitat) at 29 sites. On average, 81% of subbasin land cover was agricultural and 6% of land cover was urban across study sites. High nitrate concentrations (range 5 5.6-29.0 mg/L) and high relative abundance of oligochaetes and chironomid midges reflected degraded conditions at all sites. However, agriculture and urban land use appeared to have different effects on stream features. Nitrate concentrations were positively related to agricultural land cover, and turbidity and nitrate concentrations were negatively related to urban land cover (P # 0.05). Invertebrate densities and taxonomic diversity (i.e., total taxa richness, % EPT) were also positively related to agricultural land cover and negatively related to urban land cover. Regardless of land use, highest invertebr...

show abstract

Section: Results Land Cover Stream Habitat and Invertebrate Assemblagescontrasting

confidence: 55%

Land Use, Stream Habitat and Benthic Invertebrate Assemblages in a Highly Altered Iowa Watershed

Herringshaw

Stewart

Thompson

et al. 2011

The American Midland Naturalist

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Nitrogen leaching during storm events was described by other authors (e.g. Inamdar et al, 2004;Wagner et al, 2008). All samples at site B and C exceeded the concentration of 5.6 mg l −1 and two and three out of seven samples, respectively, even exceeded 8.4 mg l −1 .…”

Section: Spatial and Temporal Dynamics Of Tn In Sediments And Of Nitratesupporting

confidence: 70%

Organic matter dynamics and stable isotope signature as tracers of the sources of suspended sediment

Wildhaber¹,

Liechti²,

Alewell³

2012

Biogeosciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Suspended sediment (SS) and organic matter in rivers can harm brown trout Salmo trutta by affecting the health and fitness of free swimming fish and by causing siltation of the riverbed. The temporal and spatial dynamics of sediment, carbon (C), and nitrogen (N) during the brown trout spawning season in a small river of the Swiss Plateau were assessed and C isotopes as well as the C/N atomic ratio were used to distinguish autochthonous and allochthonous sources of organic matter in SS loads. The visual basic program IsoSource with 13 C tot and 15 N as input isotopes was used to quantify the temporal and spatial sources of SS. Organic matter concentrations in the infiltrated and suspended sediment were highest during low flow periods with small sediment loads and lowest during high flow periods with high sediment loads. Peak values in nitrate and dissolved organic C were measured during high flow and high rainfall, probably due to leaching from pasture and arable land. The organic matter was of allochthonous sources as indicated by the C/N atomic ratio and δ 13 C org . Organic matter in SS increased from up-to downstream due to an increase of pasture and arable land downstream of the river. The mean fraction of SS originating from upper watershed riverbed sediment decreased from up to downstream and increased during high flow at all measuring sites along the course of the river. During base flow conditions, the major sources of SS are pasture, forest and arable land. The latter increased during rainy and warmer winter periods, most likely because both triggered snow melt and thus erosion. The measured increase in DOC and nitrate concentrations during high flow support these modeling results. Enhanced soil erosion processes on pasture and arable land are expected with increasing heavy rain events and less snow during winter seasons due to climate change. Consequently, SS and organic matter in the river will increase, which will possibly affect brown trout negatively.

show abstract

“…Anticlockwise hysteresis highlighted the role of subsurface water in transport of metolachlor and DOC. The findings of Probst (1985), Kattan et al (1986) and Wagner et al (2008) have revealed the role of subsurface water in transport of other soluble elements, such as nitrate. This result confirms the pre-eminent role of subsurface flow in metolachlor and DOC displacement, and both of them are transported with each other by complexation processes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

The role of storm flows in concentration of pesticides associated with particulate and dissolved fractions as a threat to aquatic ecosystems - Case study: the agricultural watershed of Save river (Southwest of France)

Taghavi

Merlina

Probst

2011

Knowl. Managt. Aquatic Ecosyst.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Key-words: pesticide, TSM, DOC, hysteresis patterns, flood flowMeasurement of the fluxes of pesticides was carried out for a year, ending in March 2009, in the Save catchment, in the vicinity of Toulouse. The hydrograph separation technique was used to evaluate the respective contribution of stormflow and baseflow in transport of 12 pesticide molecules. Transport of over 59% of pesticides and their controlling factors such as total suspended matter (TSM), particulate organic carbon (POC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) occurred during storm periods. Hysteresis patterns could be observed in the concentration-discharge relationships only for some molecules between rising and falling periods of the storm hydrograph. Clockwise hysteresis was noticed for low to moderately soluble pesticide molecules and for particulate fractions, which explains the role of surface runoff in pesticide displacement. In contrast, anticlockwise hysteresis was registered for soluble molecules and dissolved fractions, explaining the role of subsurface flows and soil leaching processes. The important role of TSM, POC and DOC in pesticide transport was clearly established. We also came to the conclusion that the role of stormy periods in pesticide movement and their controlling factors worked as a threat to aquatic ecosystems. And there was a positive relation between riverine TSM, POC, DOC and pesticides according to pesticide properties. RÉSUMÉLe rôle des crues sur la concentration en pesticides associés aux fractions particulaires et dissoutes, une menace pour les écosystèmes aquatiques Cas d'étude : le bassin versant agricole de la rivière Save (sud-ouest de la France) Mots-clés :pesticide, MES, COD, hystérésis, crue transportés durant les périodes de crue. Des hystérésis peuvent être observées sur les relations concentrations-débits, uniquement pour quelques molécules, entre la montée et la descente de crue. Des hystérésis dextres (sens des aiguilles d'une montre) sont observées pour les molécules peu ou modérément solubles et pour les fractions particulaires montrant le rôle du ruissellement de surface dans le transfert des pesticides. Au contraire, des hystérésis senestres (sens inverse) sont observées pour les molécules solubles et les fractions dissoutes montrant le rôle des écoulements hypodermiques et du lessivage des sols. On a pu établir clairement le rôle important des MES, du COP et du COD dans le transport des pesticides. Les résultats obtenus nous montrent aussi le rôle joué par les épisodes de crue sur les transferts de pesticides et de leurs facteurs de contrôle, représen-tant un risque potentiel important de contamination des eaux et une menace pour les écosystèmes aquatiques. Des relations positives sont mises en évidence entre les teneurs en MES, COD ou COP et les concentrations en pesticides selon les propriétés physico-chimiques des différents pesticides.

show abstract

Stream nitrate and DOC dynamics during three spring storms across land uses in glaciated landscapes of the Midwest

Cited by 55 publications

References 53 publications

Land Use, Stream Habitat and Benthic Invertebrate Assemblages in a Highly Altered Iowa Watershed

Land Use, Stream Habitat and Benthic Invertebrate Assemblages in a Highly Altered Iowa Watershed

Organic matter dynamics and stable isotope signature as tracers of the sources of suspended sediment

The role of storm flows in concentration of pesticides associated with particulate and dissolved fractions as a threat to aquatic ecosystems - Case study: the agricultural watershed of Save river (Southwest of France)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About