Optimizing land use for the delivery of catchment ecosystem services

Doody, Donnacha G.; Withers, P. J. A.; Dils, R.; McDowell, R. W.; Smith, Val H.; McElarney, Y.; Dunbar, M. J.; Daly, Donal

doi:10.1002/fee.1296

Cited by 64 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…2a, b), pointing toward a differentiated stressor–response relationship between TP, SRP, and river ecology in different catchment types. This may be related to a number of complex interactions and “catchment resilience” factors such as river morphology, aquatic habitat structure, and riparian shading, as well as different bioavailability of P fractions, pointing toward a need for different prioritization of management interventions in catchments with different characteristics (Doody et al, 2016). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling the Ecological Impact of Phosphorus in Catchments with Multiple Environmental Stressors

et al. 2019

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The broken phosphorus (P) cycle has led to widespread eutrophication of freshwaters. Despite reductions in anthropogenic nutrient inputs that have led to improvement in the chemical status of running waters, corresponding improvements in their ecological status are often not observed. We tested a novel combination of complementary statistical modeling approaches, including random‐effect regression trees and compositional and ordinary linear mixed models, to examine the potential reasons for this disparity, using low‐frequency regulatory data available to catchment managers. A benthic Trophic Diatom Index (TDI) was linked to potential stressors, including nutrient concentrations, soluble reactive P (SRP) loads from different sources, land cover, and catchment hydrological characteristics. Modeling suggested that SRP, traditionally considered the bioavailable component, may not be the best indicator of ecological impacts of P, as shown by a stronger and spatially more variable negative relationship between total P (TP) concentrations and TDI. Nitrate‐N (p < 0.001) and TP (p = 0.002) also showed negative relationship with TDI in models where land cover was not included. Land cover had the strongest influence on the ecological response. The positive effect of seminatural land cover (p < 0.001) and negative effect of urban land cover (p = 0.030) may be related to differentiated bioavailability of P fractions in catchments with different characteristics (e.g., P loads from point vs. diffuse sources) as well as resilience factors such as hydro‐morphology and habitat condition, supporting the need for further research into factors affecting this stressor–response relationship in different catchment types. Advanced statistical modeling indicated that to achieve desired ecological status, future catchment‐specific mitigation should target P impacts alongside multiple stressors. Core Ideas Soluble reactive P (SRP) alone was not the best indicator of diatom response. Total P (TP) association with diatoms was more spatially variable than SRP. Nitrate‐N and TP have a combined negative effect on the ecological response. Seminatural land use had the most important influence on ecological response. We recommend catchment‐specific mitigation of multiple stressors.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling the Ecological Impact of Phosphorus in Catchments with Multiple Environmental Stressors

et al. 2019

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“…First, the export regimes observed exhibit large temporal and spatial variability in C, N and P dynamics: (i) the opposite seasonal dynamics of NO − 3 and SRP concentrations can lead to a switch from P limitation to N-P co-limitation during the summer growing season and (ii) transfer from different landscape units vary in space and time. This knowledge of temporal and spatial variability is necessary for prioritizing management efforts towards N or P according to a water quality target (for which the N : P ratio should be considered) and towards the landscape units most responsible for not attaining the water quality targets (Doody et al, 2016). Second, a comparison of seasonal export regimes in headwater and downstream reaches showed that attributing the seasonal SRP maximum during low flow only to point-source contributions could lead to ineffective management decisions if the wrong source is targeted.…”

Section: Implications For Monitoring and Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon and nutrient export regimes from headwater catchments to downstream reaches

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Excessive amounts of nutrients and dissolved organic matter in freshwater bodies affect aquatic ecosystems. In this study, the spatial and temporal variability in nitrate (NO − 3 ), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) was analyzed in the Selke (Germany) river continuum from three headwaters draining 1-3 km 2 catchments to two downstream reaches representing spatially integrated signals from 184-456 km 2 catchments. Three headwater catchments were selected as archetypes of the main landscape units (land use × lithology) present in the Selke catchment. Export regimes in headwater catchments were interpreted in terms of NO − 3 , DOC and SRP land-to-stream transfer processes. Headwater signals were subtracted from downstream signals, with the differences interpreted in terms of in-stream processes and contributions from point sources. The seasonal dynamics for NO − 3 were opposite those of DOC and SRP in all three headwater catchments, and spatial differences also showed NO − 3 contrasting with DOC and SRP. These dynamics were interpreted as the result of the interplay of hydrological and biogeochemical processes, for which riparian zones were hypothesized to play a determining role. In the two downstream reaches, NO − 3 was transported almost conservatively, whereas DOC was consumed and produced in the upper and lower river sections, respectively. The natural export regime of SRP in the three headwater catchments mimicked a point-source signal (high SRP during summer low flow), which may lead to overestimation of domestic contributions in the downstream reaches. Monitoring the river continuum from headwaters to downstream reaches proved effective to jointly investigate land-to-stream and instream transport, and transformation processes.

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“…Service values beyond ecologically or socially accepted thresholds are not beneficial to management in a way that produces win-win outcomes (Qiu and Turner 2013). To meet health and environmental standards, more effort to reduce nitrogen loads from the watershed by reducing fertilizer inputs as well as maintenance and restoration of wetlands and abandoned rice fields may be required (Doody et al 2016). The fact that the nitrate concentrations (mean: 8.4 mg NO 3 /L, range: 0.07-44.0 mg NO 3 /L) in the 49 sub-watersheds averaged over five sampling times was lower than the water quality standards for drinking water (10 mg N/L [44.3 mg NO 3 /L]) suggests that the trade-off between crop production and water quality might be ameliorated in some subwatersheds.…”

Section: Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, because nitrogen can be permanently removed from surface water via denitrification (Jordan et al 2003, Craig et al 2008, Roley et al 2012, much recent attention has focused on the question of whether watershed management may reduce downstream nitrate export without loss of agricultural function (Craig et al 2008). Some studies have suggested the possibility of ameliorating the trade-off between crop production and water quality by enhancing buffering capacity, including maintenance and restoration of wetlands, which remove nitrate effectively (Zedler 2003, Qiu and Turner 2015, Doody et al 2016, Hansen et al 2018.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of wetlands in mitigating the trade‐off between crop production and water quality in agricultural landscapes

et al. 2019

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Optimizing land use for the delivery of catchment ecosystem services

Cited by 64 publications

References 50 publications

Modeling the Ecological Impact of Phosphorus in Catchments with Multiple Environmental Stressors

Modeling the Ecological Impact of Phosphorus in Catchments with Multiple Environmental Stressors

Carbon and nutrient export regimes from headwater catchments to downstream reaches

Role of wetlands in mitigating the trade‐off between crop production and water quality in agricultural landscapes

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