Land use affects lowland stream ecosystems through dissolved oxygen regimes

Oliveira, Paula C. dos Reis; Geest, Harm G. van der; Kraak, Michiel H.S.; Verdonschot, P.F.M.

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-56046-1

Cited by 30 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…In general, the metabolic P and R rates found in our study sites lie between the rates found in other stream systems, with lower P rates at forested study sites and higher at more anthropogenically influenced streams with higher proportions of agricultural and urban land use 76 – 79 .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Dissolved oxygen isotope modelling refines metabolic state estimates of stream ecosystems with different land use background

Piatka

Venkiteswaran

Uniyal

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Dissolved oxygen (DO) is crucial for aerobic life in streams and rivers and mostly depends on photosynthesis (P), ecosystem respiration (R) and atmospheric gas exchange (G). However, climate and land use changes progressively disrupt metabolic balances in natural streams as sensitive reflectors of their catchments. Comprehensive methods for mapping fundamental ecosystem services become increasingly important in a rapidly changing environment. In this work we tested DO and its stable isotope (18O/16O) ratios as novel tools for the status of stream ecosystems. For this purpose, six diel sampling campaigns were performed at three low-order and mid-latitude European streams with different land use patterns. Modelling of diel DO and its stable isotopes combined with land use analyses showed lowest P rates at forested sites, with a minimum of 17.9 mg m−2 h−1. Due to high R rates between 230 and 341 mg m−2 h−1 five out of six study sites showed a general heterotrophic state with P:R:G ratios between 0.1:1.1:1 and 1:1.9:1. Only one site with agricultural and urban influences showed a high P rate of 417 mg m−2 h−1 with a P:R:G ratio of 1.9:1.5:1. Between all sites gross G rates varied between 148 and 298 mg m−2 h−1. In general, metabolic rates depend on the distance of sampling locations to river sources, light availability, nutrient concentrations and possible exchanges with groundwater. The presented modelling approach introduces a new and powerful tool to study effects of land use on stream health. Such approaches should be integrated into future ecological monitoring.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Dissolved oxygen isotope modelling refines metabolic state estimates of stream ecosystems with different land use background

Piatka

Venkiteswaran

Uniyal

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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“…High oxygen demand often occurs in reaches with high levels of organic matter inputs and nutrient concentrations. This can occur in agricultural settings (dos Reis Oliveira et al 2019 ) or downstream from wastewater treatment plants (Ortiz and Puig 2007 ). Low DO can also occur in urban streams, where low aeration rates from altered geomorphology occur (e.g., stagnant pools; Blaszczak et al 2019 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying Key Stressors Driving Biological Impairment in Freshwater Streams in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, USA

Fanelli

Cashman

Porter

2022

Environmental Management

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Biological communities in freshwater streams are often impaired by multiple stressors (e.g., flow or water quality) originating from anthropogenic activities such as urbanization, agriculture, or energy extraction. Restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, USA seek to improve biological conditions in 10% of freshwater tributaries and to protect the biological integrity of existing healthy watersheds. To achieve these goals, resource managers need to better understand which stressors are most likely driving biological impairment. Our study addressed this knowledge gap through two approaches: 1) reviewing and synthesizing published multi-stressor studies, and 2) examining 303(d) listed impairments linked to biological impairment as identified by jurisdiction regulatory agencies (the states within the watershed and the District of Columbia). Results identified geomorphology (i.e., physical habitat), salinity, and toxic contaminants as important for explaining variability in benthic community metrics in the literature review. Geomorphology (i.e., physical habitat and sediment), salinity, and nutrients were the most reported stressors in the jurisdictional impairment analysis. Salinity is likely a major stressor in urban and mining settings, whereas geomorphology was commonly reported in agricultural settings. Toxic contaminants, such as pesticides, were rarely measured; more research is needed to quantify the extent of their effects in the region. Flow alteration was also highlighted as an important urban stressor in the literature review but was rarely measured in the literature or reported by jurisdictions as a cause of impairment. These results can be used to prioritize stressor monitoring by managers, and to improve stressor identification methods for identifying causes of biological impairment.

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“…Wide impoundments may therefore accumulate and retain organic matter and fine mineral sediments, which may interact with land surface runoff from cultivated areas[ 19 ]. Runoff and accumulation of excess nutrients—including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and carbon (C) common in agricultural fertilizers and livestock manure—may further increase biological oxygen demand [ 54 , 55 ], even at the relatively low levels of cultivated land in our study areas (0–2.6%). Although this study focuses on human-made dams, previous research has suggested that dams created by beaver ( Castor canadensis and Castor fiber ) may slightly decrease impoundment and downstream DO as compared to upstream [ 56 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating impacts of small dams and dam removal on dissolved oxygen in streams

et al. 2022

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Small surface-release dams are prevalent across North American watersheds and can alter stream flow, thermal regimes, nutrient dynamics, and sediment transport. These dams are often implicated as a cause of negative water quality impacts—including reduced dissolved oxygen (DO)—and dam removal is increasingly employed to restore natural stream processes and improve DO. Published impacts of small dams on DO vary widely across sites, and even less is known about the extent and timescale of DO recovery following removal. Therefore, we sought to quantify the effects of small dams and dam removal on DO and determine the dam, stream, and watershed characteristics driving inter-site variation in responses. We deployed continuous data loggers for 3 weeks during summer months in upstream (reference), impoundment, and downstream reaches at each of 15 dammed sites and collected equivalent data at 10 of those sites following dam removal. Prior to dam removal, most sites (60%) experienced a decrease in DO (an average of 1.15 mg/L lower) within the impoundment relative to upstream, but no consistent impacts on diel ranges or on downstream reaches. Before dam removal, 5 impacted stream reaches experienced minimum DO levels below acceptable water quality standards (<5 mg/L); after dam removal, 4 of 5 of these reaches met DO standards. Sites with wider impoundments relative to upstream widths and sites located in watersheds with more cultivated land experienced the greatest decreases in impoundment DO relative to upstream. Within one year following dam removal, impoundment DO recovered to upstream reference conditions at 80% of sites, with the magnitude of recovery strongly related to the magnitude of pre-removal impacts. These data suggest that broadly, small dams negatively affect stream DO, and the extent of effects are modulated by impoundment geometry and watershed characteristics. These results may help practitioners to prioritize restoration efforts at those sites where small dams are having outsized impacts, and therefore where the greatest water quality benefits may occur.

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Land use affects lowland stream ecosystems through dissolved oxygen regimes

Cited by 30 publications

References 56 publications

Dissolved oxygen isotope modelling refines metabolic state estimates of stream ecosystems with different land use background

Dissolved oxygen isotope modelling refines metabolic state estimates of stream ecosystems with different land use background

Identifying Key Stressors Driving Biological Impairment in Freshwater Streams in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, USA

Investigating impacts of small dams and dam removal on dissolved oxygen in streams

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