Water chemistry data for studies of the biodegradability of dissolved organic matter in peatland catchments at the Marcell Experimental Forest: 2009-2011 (2nd Edition)

Funke

Cotner

2021

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Where they are present in catchments, peatlands are a dominant source of dissolved organic matter (DOM) to surrounding waterways due, in part, to high production rates. Despite the preponderance of peatlands in northern latitudes and expected peatland vulnerability to climate change, little is known about peatland DOM degradation relative to a more comprehensive understanding of degradation when DOM is sourced from upland-dominated catchments. We compared DOM biodegradability of various sources of stream water in two catchments having peatlands (22%-33% of the area) surrounded by upland forests (70%-90% of the area, either deciduous or coniferous). We measured total organic carbon (TOC), and biodegradable dissolved organic carbon concentrations; bacterial respiration rates; streamflow; and upland runoff during and after snowmelt (March to June, 2009-2011). We also explored if DOM in upland runoff stimulated biodegradation of peatland-derived DOM (i.e., a priming effect), and if forest cover type affected DOM biodegradability. As expected, the peatlands were the largest sources of both water (72%-80%) and TOC (92%-96%) to the streams although more area in each catchment was in uplands (70%-90%). Several results were unexpected, yet revealing: (1) DOM from peatlands sometimes had the same biodegradability as DOM from uplands, (2) upland sources of DOM had negligible effects on biodegradability in the peatland and downstream, and (3) upland deciduous cover did not yield more degradable DOM than conifer cover. The most pronounced effect of upland runoff was dilution of downstream TOC concentrations when there was upland runoff. Overall, the effects of upland DOM may have been negligible due to the overriding effect of the large amount of biodegradable DOM that originated in bogs. This research highlights that peatland-sourced DOM has important effects on downstream DOM biodegradability even in catchments where upland area is substantially larger than peatland area. K E Y W O R D S bog hydrology, dissolved organic matter, DOM biodegradability, DOM sources, northern peatlands, source areas in upland-peatland catchments, upland forest This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

“…Aspen regrowth was suppressed. Replanted in red pine/white spruce during 1983 (Table 2; data and metadata provided in Sebestyen, Funke, et al, 2020).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sources and biodegradability of dissolved organic matter in two headwater peatland catchments at the Marcell Experimental Forest, northern Minnesota,USA

Funke

Cotner

2021

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“…These samples represent a vast archive, with water isotope analysis ongoing as time and resources allow. Additionally, each sample has corresponding water chemistry data, some of which are already published Sebestyen, Funke, et al, 2020;Sebestyen, Griffiths, et al, 2020;.…”

Section: Sampling Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The stable isotopes of natural waters at the Marcell Experimental Forest

Stelling

Griffiths

et al. 2021

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We present a new data set from the Marcell Experimental Forest (MEF) that compiles water isotope measurements from multiple research catchments, some of which have been studied since the 1960s. The MEF is located in northern Minnesota, USA, and is home to heavily studied and monitored forests, streams, bogs, and fens. Peat-forming systems (bogs and fens) are an important component of the MEF landscape and have a profound impact on the water cycle in these catchments. Within the last decade, analysis of stable isotopes of water (expressed as δD and δ 18 O) has been implemented to characterize the different components of the water budget, and to allow researchers to look at catchment and peatland-specific hydrologic effects in the watershed. This δD and δ 18 O data set of natural waters from MEF catchments is primarily composed of measurements from three peatlands (S1, S2, S6) during an 11-year period. More recently collection and analysis were expanded to also include samples from the Spruce and Peatland Responses Under Changing Environments (SPRUCE) project in the S1 bog, peatlands S3, S4, S5, as well as nearby lakes. We establish a local meteoric water line by analyzing the isotopic composition of precipitation, which fills a void in regional meteoric water lines for Minnesota. Furthermore, we establish baseline isotopic composition for bog outlet streams, bog porewater, aquifer groundwater, overland flow, subsurface stormflow, and snowpack, as well as runoff from the SPRUCE experimental chambers. These data are publicly available and will be expanded upon in the future.

“…Water chemistry of stream, snowpack, upland runoff, peatland porewater, upland soil water, and groundwater has been measured since the 1960s, with some data published (Griffiths & Sebestyen, 2016a, 2016bMcCarter et al, 2021;Pierce et al, 2019aPierce et al, , 2019bSebestyen et al, 2019;Sebestyen, Funke, Cotner, Larson, & Aspelin, 2020;Sebestyen, Lany, Aspelin, Oleheiser, & Larson, 2021a, 2021b and much more to come. Associated water isotope data are presented in an accompanying Data Note (Stelling, Sebestyen, Griffiths, Mitchell, & Green, in press).…”

Section: Monitoring and Long-term Recordsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrological and meteorological data from research catchments at the Marcell Experimental Forest, Minnesota, USA

Lany

Roman

et al. 2021

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The Marcell Experimental Forest (MEF) in northern Minnesota, USA, with hydrological research and monitoring of peatland catchments in a low-topographic relief landscape, contrasts with the mountainous terrain that typifies most research catchments. Six research catchments were instrumented and hydrological and meteorological monitoring was initiated during 1960. Paired-catchment studies, which started during 1969, have been used to assess land management and environmental change effects on forests, water availability, and biogeochemistry. Over the decades, the research and collaborations have proliferated to include new monitoring and ecosystem experiments. We provide an overview of available datasets and access information for hydrological and meteorological data. Data on streamflow, water table elevation, precipitation, snow, ground frost, air temperature, soil moisture, upland runoff, and water chemistry are discoverable with associated metadata and are archived through several Web-based, community repositories. The research programme is ongoing and we anticipate updates on an annual or more frequent basis. Additionally, we aim to release other physical, chemical, and isotopic measurements associated with long-term catchment monitoring and studies at the MEF.