Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2023
Groundwater-stream connections shape the spatial pattern and rates of aquatic metabolism
Lupon, Anna; Gomez-Gener, Lluis; Fork, Megan L.; Laudon, Hjalmar; Marti, Eugenia; Lidberg, William; Sponseller, Ryan A.Abstract
A longstanding challenge in stream ecology is to understand how landscape configuration organizes spatial patterns of ecosystem function via lateral groundwater connections. We combined laboratory bioassays and field additions of a metabolic tracer (resazurin) to test how groundwater-stream confluences, or "discrete riparian inflow points " (DRIPs), regulate heterotrophic microbial activity along a boreal stream. We hypothesized that DRIPs shape spatial patterns and rates of aquatic heterotrophic microbial activity by supplying labile dissolved organic matter (DOM) to streams. Laboratory bioassays showed that the potential influence of DRIPs on heterotrophic activity varied spatially and temporally, and was related to their DOM content and composition. At the reach scale, DRIP-stream confluences elevated the spatial heterogeneity and whole-reach rates of heterotrophic activity, especially during periods of high land-water hydrological connectivity. Collectively, our results show how the arrangement of lateral groundwater connections influence heterotrophic activity in streams with implications for watershed biogeochemical cycles.Published in
Limnology and Oceanography Letters2023, volume: 8, number: 2, pages: 350-358
Publisher: WILEY
Authors' information
Lupon, Anna
CSIC - Centre d'Estudis Avancats de Blanes (CEAB)
Gomez-Gener, Lluis
Autonomous University of Barcelona
Fork, Megan L.
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE)
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Ecology and Management
Marti, Eugenia
CSIC - Centre d'Estudis Avancats de Blanes (CEAB)
Lidberg, William (Lidberg, William)
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Ecology and Management
Sponseller, Ryan A.
Umea University
UKÄ Subject classification
Ecology
Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10305
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/121605