Water column contributions to the metabolism and nutrient dynamics of mid-sized rivers

Alexander J. Reisinger; Jennifer L. Tank; Robert O. Hall; Emma J. Rosi; Michelle A. Baker; Laurel Genzoli

doi:10.1007/s10533-021-00768-w

Water column contributions to the metabolism and nutrient dynamics of mid-sized rivers

Alexander J. Reisinger, Jennifer L. Tank, Robert O. Hall, Emma J. Rosi, Michelle A. Baker, Laurel Genzoli

Flathead Lake Biological Station

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lotic and lentic ecosystems are traditionally viewed as dominated by either benthic or water column processes. However, mid-sized rivers represent a transition zone where both benthic and water column processes may both contribute substantially to ecosystem dynamics. Ecosystem processes such as gross primary production (GPP), ecosystem respiration (ER), or nutrient uptake, and the relative contribution of the water column to these processes at the reach scale, are poorly understood in non-wadeable, mid-sized rivers. To clarify the role of the water column at the reach-scale, and to quantify controls on water column processes, we measured GPP, ER, and uptake of nitrate (NO₃⁻), ammonium (NH₄⁺), and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in the water columns of 15 mid-sized rivers (discharge: 13.5–83.3 m³ s⁻¹) spanning nutrient and total suspended solids gradients. We compared water column metabolic and nutrient uptake rates to reach-scale rates to estimate the contribution of the water column to the entire river. Water column metabolism was autotrophic on the day when measured, GPP increased with nutrient availability, and the water column contributed more to whole river GPP than to ER. Water column nutrient uptake increased with GPP across solutes, and there was a positive relationship between human land use and water column uptake of NO₃⁻–N and SRP. The water column accounted for a substantial proportion of reach-scale metabolism and nutrient uptake, but this contribution depended on suspended material and nutrient availability. Integrating the water column into theory describing lotic ecosystem function should clarify mechanisms controlling metabolism and nutrient processing and enhance management of non-wadeable rivers.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	67-84
Number of pages	18
Journal	Biogeochemistry
Volume	153
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-021-00768-w
State	Published - Mar 2021

Funding

This research was funded by a collaborative grant from NSF-Ecosystems (DEB-09-22118, 09-21598, 09-22153, and 10-7807). The return trip in 2013 to measure water column metabolism was funded by a grant awarded to JLT and AJR from the University of Wyoming-National Parks Services Research Station. We thank all of the field and lab support who helped with field work for the water column and reach-scale metabolism and nutrient uptake components of this study: N. Anderson, M. Dee, S. Gregory, B. Hanrahan, E. Hotchkiss, C. Johnson, D. Kincaid, U. Mahl, D. Oviedo, J. Reed, T. Royer, C. Ruiz, A. Saville, M. Schroer, A. Shogren, E. Taylor-Salmon, and Z. Volenec. This manuscript was improved by reviews from J. Gardner and an anonymous reviewer. Most of this work was funded by a collaborative grant from NSF Ecosystems, (DEB-09-22118, 09-21598, 09-22153, and 10-7807) and the return trip to measure water column metabolism in 2013 was funded by a grant awarded to JLT and AJR from the University of Wyoming-National Parks Service Research Station.

Funder number
09-22153, DEB-09-22118, 10-7807, 09-21598

Keywords

Ecosystem respiration
Gross primary production
Metabolism
Nutrient uptake
River
Water column

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s10533-021-00768-w

Cite this

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title = "Water column contributions to the metabolism and nutrient dynamics of mid-sized rivers",

abstract = "Lotic and lentic ecosystems are traditionally viewed as dominated by either benthic or water column processes. However, mid-sized rivers represent a transition zone where both benthic and water column processes may both contribute substantially to ecosystem dynamics. Ecosystem processes such as gross primary production (GPP), ecosystem respiration (ER), or nutrient uptake, and the relative contribution of the water column to these processes at the reach scale, are poorly understood in non-wadeable, mid-sized rivers. To clarify the role of the water column at the reach-scale, and to quantify controls on water column processes, we measured GPP, ER, and uptake of nitrate (NO3−), ammonium (NH4+), and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in the water columns of 15 mid-sized rivers (discharge: 13.5–83.3 m3 s−1) spanning nutrient and total suspended solids gradients. We compared water column metabolic and nutrient uptake rates to reach-scale rates to estimate the contribution of the water column to the entire river. Water column metabolism was autotrophic on the day when measured, GPP increased with nutrient availability, and the water column contributed more to whole river GPP than to ER. Water column nutrient uptake increased with GPP across solutes, and there was a positive relationship between human land use and water column uptake of NO3−–N and SRP. The water column accounted for a substantial proportion of reach-scale metabolism and nutrient uptake, but this contribution depended on suspended material and nutrient availability. Integrating the water column into theory describing lotic ecosystem function should clarify mechanisms controlling metabolism and nutrient processing and enhance management of non-wadeable rivers.",

keywords = "Ecosystem respiration, Gross primary production, Metabolism, Nutrient uptake, River, Water column",

author = "Reisinger, \{Alexander J.\} and Tank, \{Jennifer L.\} and Hall, \{Robert O.\} and Rosi, \{Emma J.\} and Baker, \{Michelle A.\} and Laurel Genzoli",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG part of Springer Nature.",

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T1 - Water column contributions to the metabolism and nutrient dynamics of mid-sized rivers

AU - Reisinger, Alexander J.

AU - Tank, Jennifer L.

AU - Hall, Robert O.

AU - Rosi, Emma J.

AU - Baker, Michelle A.

AU - Genzoli, Laurel

PY - 2021/3

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N2 - Lotic and lentic ecosystems are traditionally viewed as dominated by either benthic or water column processes. However, mid-sized rivers represent a transition zone where both benthic and water column processes may both contribute substantially to ecosystem dynamics. Ecosystem processes such as gross primary production (GPP), ecosystem respiration (ER), or nutrient uptake, and the relative contribution of the water column to these processes at the reach scale, are poorly understood in non-wadeable, mid-sized rivers. To clarify the role of the water column at the reach-scale, and to quantify controls on water column processes, we measured GPP, ER, and uptake of nitrate (NO3−), ammonium (NH4+), and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in the water columns of 15 mid-sized rivers (discharge: 13.5–83.3 m3 s−1) spanning nutrient and total suspended solids gradients. We compared water column metabolic and nutrient uptake rates to reach-scale rates to estimate the contribution of the water column to the entire river. Water column metabolism was autotrophic on the day when measured, GPP increased with nutrient availability, and the water column contributed more to whole river GPP than to ER. Water column nutrient uptake increased with GPP across solutes, and there was a positive relationship between human land use and water column uptake of NO3−–N and SRP. The water column accounted for a substantial proportion of reach-scale metabolism and nutrient uptake, but this contribution depended on suspended material and nutrient availability. Integrating the water column into theory describing lotic ecosystem function should clarify mechanisms controlling metabolism and nutrient processing and enhance management of non-wadeable rivers.

AB - Lotic and lentic ecosystems are traditionally viewed as dominated by either benthic or water column processes. However, mid-sized rivers represent a transition zone where both benthic and water column processes may both contribute substantially to ecosystem dynamics. Ecosystem processes such as gross primary production (GPP), ecosystem respiration (ER), or nutrient uptake, and the relative contribution of the water column to these processes at the reach scale, are poorly understood in non-wadeable, mid-sized rivers. To clarify the role of the water column at the reach-scale, and to quantify controls on water column processes, we measured GPP, ER, and uptake of nitrate (NO3−), ammonium (NH4+), and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in the water columns of 15 mid-sized rivers (discharge: 13.5–83.3 m3 s−1) spanning nutrient and total suspended solids gradients. We compared water column metabolic and nutrient uptake rates to reach-scale rates to estimate the contribution of the water column to the entire river. Water column metabolism was autotrophic on the day when measured, GPP increased with nutrient availability, and the water column contributed more to whole river GPP than to ER. Water column nutrient uptake increased with GPP across solutes, and there was a positive relationship between human land use and water column uptake of NO3−–N and SRP. The water column accounted for a substantial proportion of reach-scale metabolism and nutrient uptake, but this contribution depended on suspended material and nutrient availability. Integrating the water column into theory describing lotic ecosystem function should clarify mechanisms controlling metabolism and nutrient processing and enhance management of non-wadeable rivers.

KW - Ecosystem respiration

KW - Gross primary production

KW - Metabolism

KW - Nutrient uptake

KW - River

KW - Water column

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85102041702

U2 - 10.1007/s10533-021-00768-w

DO - 10.1007/s10533-021-00768-w

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85102041702

SN - 0168-2563

VL - 153

SP - 67

EP - 84

JO - Biogeochemistry

JF - Biogeochemistry

IS - 1

ER -

Water column contributions to the metabolism and nutrient dynamics of mid-sized rivers

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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