Metabolism regimes in regulated rivers of the Illinois River basin, USA

Scientific Data
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Abstract

Metabolism estimates organic carbon accumulation by primary productivity and removal by respiration. In rivers it is relevant to assessing trophic status and threats to river health such as hypoxia as well as greenhouse gas fluxes. We estimated metabolism in 17 rivers of the Illinois River basin (IRB) for a total of 15,176 days, or an average of 2.5 years per site. Daily estimates of gross primary productivity (GPP), ecosystem respiration (ER), net ecosystem productivity (NEP), and the air-water gas exchange rate constant (K600) are reported, along with ancillary data such as river temperature and saturated dissolved oxygen concentration, barometric pressure, and river depth and discharge. Workflows for metabolism estimation and quality assurance are described including a new method for estimating river depth. IRB rivers are dominantly heterotrophic; however, autotrophy was common in river locations coinciding with reported harmful algal blooms (HABs) events. Metabolism of these regulated Midwestern U.S. rivers can help assess the causes and consequences of excessive algal blooms in rivers and their role in river ecological health.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Metabolism regimes in regulated rivers of the Illinois River basin, USA
Series title Scientific Data
DOI 10.1038/s41597-024-03037-1
Volume 11
Year Published 2024
Language English
Publisher Springer
Contributing office(s) WMA - Earth System Processes Division
Description 211, 14 p.
Country United States
State Illinois, Ohio
Other Geospatial Illinois River Basin
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