River channel connectivity shifts metabolite composition and dissolved organic matter chemistry

Lynch, Laurel; Sutfin, Nicholas A.; Fegel, Timothy S.; Boot, Claudia M.; Covino, T. P.; Wallenstein, Matthew D.

doi:10.1038/s41467-019-08406-8

Cited by 85 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…However, anthropogenic solutes (nutrients) can show highly variable c-q responses from strong dilution to strong concentration, and the inter-catchment variability is often larger than within-catchment temporal variability due to different geological substrates and depths of solute generation (Botter et al, 2020). Much research has focused on headwater catchments because they are thought to be locations in the stream network where hydrological flushing-biogeochemical cycling and chemostaticchemodynamic responses are potentially in balance, according to the River Continuum conceptual framework (Vannote et al, 1980): there is growing evidence from catchment studies to support this hypothesis (Abbott et al, 2018;Bieroza et al, 2018;Creed et al, 2015;Lynch et al, 2019;Wollheim et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fingerprinting hydrological and biogeochemical drivers of freshwater quality

Heathwaite

Bieroza

2020

Hydrological Processes

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Understanding the interplay between hydrological flushing and biogeochemical cycling in streams is now possible owing to advances in high‐frequency water quality measurements with in situ sensors. It is often assumed that storm events are periods when biogeochemical processes become suppressed and longitudinal transport of solutes and particulates dominates. However, high‐frequency data show that diel cycles are a common feature of water quality time series and can be preserved during storm events, especially those of low‐magnitude. In this study, we mine a high‐frequency dataset and use two key hydrochemical indices, hysteresis and flushing index to evaluate the diversity of concentration‐discharge relationships in third order agricultural stream. We show that mobilization patterns, inferred from the hysteresis index, change on a seasonal basis, with a predominance of rapid mobilization from surface and near stream sources during winter high‐magnitude storm events and of delayed mobilization from subsurface sources during summer low‐magnitude storm events. Using dynamic harmonic regression, we were able to separate concentration signals during storm events into hydrological flushing (using trend as a proxy) and biogeochemical cycling (using amplitude of a diel cycle as a proxy). We identified three groups of water quality parameters depending on their typical c‐q response: flushing dominated parameters (phosphorus and sediments), mixed flushing and cycling parameters (nitrate nitrogen, specific conductivity and pH) and cycling dominated parameters (dissolved oxygen, redox potential and water temperature). Our results show that despite large storm to storm diversity in hydrochemical responses, storm event magnitude and timing have a critical role in controlling the type of mobilization, flushing and cycling behaviour of each water quality constituent. Hydrochemical indices can be used to fingerprint the effect of hydrological disturbance on freshwater quality and can be useful in determining the impacts of global change on stream ecology.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fingerprinting hydrological and biogeochemical drivers of freshwater quality

Heathwaite

Bieroza

2020

Hydrological Processes

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“…Thus, as discharge decreases and the average travel time of surface water increases, greater light exposure and greater processing time lead to increased biological and photo-oxidative transformation (Lynch et al, 2019;Peter et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Allochthonous organic matter travelling through river networks is continually degraded by photo‐oxidation and biological activity (Catalán et al, 2016; Massicotte et al, 2017). Sunlight breaks aromatic rings and produces hydroxyl radicals, resulting in smaller DOM compounds that may have increased lability (Moran & Zepp, 1997; Tranvik & Bertilsson, 2008) and biological processes convert allochthonous DOM to biomass that is re‐released as more autochthonous‐like compounds (Hansen et al, 2016; Kamjunke et al, 2020; Lynch et al, 2019), which can include accumulation of proteins with increasing flow‐weighted travel time (FWTT) of surface water within a river network (Peter et al, 2020). Lateral allochthonous inputs vary across ecosystems, but allochthonous inputs are greatest in headwaters and decrease in downstream rivers (Creed et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

River network travel time is correlated with dissolved organic matter composition in rivers of the contiguous United States

Hosen

Allen

Amatuli

et al. 2021

Hydrological Processes

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Most terrestrial allochthonous organic matter enters river networks through headwater streams during high flow events. In headwaters, allochthonous inputs are substantial and variable, but become less important in streams and rivers with larger watersheds. As allochthonous dissolved organic matter (DOM) moves downstream, the proportion of less aromatic organic matter with autochthonous characteristics increases. How environmental factors converge to control this transformation of DOM at a continental scale is less certain. We hypothesized that the amount of time water has spent travelling through surface waters of inland systems (streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs) is correlated to DOM composition. To test this hypothesis, we used established river network scaling relationships to predict relative river network flow-weighted travel time (FWTT) of water for 60 stream and river sites across the contiguous United States (3090 discrete samples over 10 water years). We estimated lentic contribution to travel times with upstream in-network lake and reservoir volume. DOM composition was quantified using ultraviolet and visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. A combination of FWTT and lake and reservoir volume was the best overall predictor of DOM composition among models that also incorporated discharge, specific discharge, watershed area, and upstream channel length. DOM spectral slope ratio (R 2 = 0.77) and Freshness Index (R 2 = 0.78) increased and specific ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (R 2 = 0.68) and Humification Index (R 2 = 0.44) decreased across sites as a function of FWTT and upstream lake volume. This indicates autochthonous-like DOM becomes continually more dominant in waters with greater FWTT. We assert that river FWTT can be used as a metric of the continuum of DOM composition from headwaters to rivers. The nature of the changes to DOM composition detected suggest this continuum is driven by a combination of photo-oxidation, biological processes, hydrologically varying terrestrial subsidies, and aged groundwater inputs.

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“…Differences in time of isolation and connectivity increase the functional complexity of the river due to exporting different types of dissolved organic materials (Lynch et al, 2019). As a consequence, these environments are really a mosaic of aquatic biotopes with particular physical and chemical dynamics (Rodrigues et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, the semi-connected lake (L2) exports water to the Taquari River for a longer period than it receives its influence. This is a mechanism provided by the river-floodplain systems, considered an important ecosystem service, through which nutrients brought by the river are processed in the oxbow lakes and returned to the river, contributing to the cycling of materials (Costanza et al, 1997;Santos et al, 2001;Lynch et al, 2019). Figure 4d shows the distribution of the L3 points on the PCA axes, which grouped them on the right side of axis 1 (connectivity).…”

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confidence: 99%

Connectivity as the control key to intensity of flood pulse in Taquari River oxbow lakes

2020

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The Taquari River is one of the most important tributaries of the Paraguay River, whose sediments are carried and deposited on the plain forming the largest alluvial fan in the world, known as Pantanal. In the floodplain, the course of the river has been modified by the sedimentation process, resulting in lakes with different degrees of connectivity with the river. This study assessed the influence of connectivity on the physical and chemical characteristics of water along a hydrological cycle in oxbow lakes of the Taquari River floodplain, in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Sampling was carried out monthly, from May 2005 to June 2006.The physical and chemical data of the water and the variables of river level and rainfall intensity were correlated by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Limnological differences resulted from distinct degrees of connectivity between the oxbow lakes and the Taquari River. Variations in the dry and rainy seasons established a gradient that extends over a space-time continuum and generates greater environmental heterogeneity and, consequently, greater biodiversity. Thus we conclude that this mosaic of lakes and the surrounding landscape requires protection and preservation because of its importance for biodiversity conservation.

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River channel connectivity shifts metabolite composition and dissolved organic matter chemistry

Cited by 85 publications

References 65 publications

Fingerprinting hydrological and biogeochemical drivers of freshwater quality

Fingerprinting hydrological and biogeochemical drivers of freshwater quality

River network travel time is correlated with dissolved organic matter composition in rivers of the contiguous United States

Connectivity as the control key to intensity of flood pulse in Taquari River oxbow lakes

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