Abstract

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) from soils enters the aquatic environment via headwater streams. Thereafter, it is gradually transformed, removed by sedimentation, and mineralised. Due to the proximity to the terrestrial source and short water residence time, the extent of transformation is minimal in headwaters. DOM has variable composition across inland waters, but the amount of variability in the terrestrial end member is unknown. This gap in knowledge is crucial considering the potential impact large variability would have on modelling DOM degradation. Here, we used a novel liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method to characterise DOM in 74 randomly selected, forested headwater streams in an 87,000 km(2) region of southeast Sweden. We found a large degree of sample similarity across this region, with Bray-Curtis dissimilarity values averaging 8.4 +/- 3.0% (mean +/- SD). The identified variability could be reduced to two principle coordinates, correlating to varying groundwater flow-paths and regional mean temperature. Our results indicate that despite reproducible effects of groundwater geochemistry and climate, the composition of DOM is remarkably similar across catchments already as it leaves the terrestrial environment, rather than becoming homogeneous as different headwaters and sub-catchments mix.

Published in

Scientific Reports
2018, Volume: 8, article number: 16060
Publisher: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

SLU Authors

• Löfgren, Stefan

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

Lakes and watercourses
Forest
Acidification
Use of FOMA data


Sustainable Development Goals

SDG6 Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all


UKÄ Subject classification

Geochemistry
Environmental Sciences
Forest Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-34272-3

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/97000