Seasonal patterns in riverine carbon form and export from a temperate forested watershed in Southeast Alaska

Claire Delbecq; Jason B. Fellman; J. Ryan Bellmore; Emily J. Whitney; Eran Hood; Kevin Fitzgerald; Jeffrey A. Falke

doi:10.1007/s10533-024-01175-7

Seasonal patterns in riverine carbon form and export from a temperate forested watershed in Southeast Alaska

Biogeochemistry

By: Claire Delbecq, Jason B. Fellman, J. Ryan Bellmore, Emily J. Whitney, Eran Hood, Kevin Fitzgerald, and Jeffrey A. Falke

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-024-01175-7

Metrics

Web analytics dashboard Metrics definitions

Links

More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
Open Access Version: Publisher Index Page
Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core

Abstract

Riverine export of carbon (C) is an important part of the global C cycle; however, most riverine C budgets focus on individual forms of C and fail to comprehensively measure both organic and inorganic C species in concert. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted high frequency sampling of multiple C forms, including dissolved organic C (DOC), inorganic carbon (as alkalinity), particulate organic C (POC), coarse particulate organic C (CPOC), and invertebrate biomass C across the main run-off season in a predominantly rain-fed watershed in Southeast Alaska. Streamwater concentrations were used to model daily watershed C export from May through October. Concentration and modeled yield data indicated that DOC was the primary form of riverine C export (8708 kg C/km²), except during low flow periods when alkalinity (3125 kg C/km²) was the dominant form of C export. Relative to DOC and alkalinity, export of particulate organic C (POC: 992 kg C/km²; CPOC: 313 kg C/km²) and invertebrates (40 kg C/km²) was small, but these forms of organic matter could disproportionately impact downstream food webs because of their higher quality, assessed via C to nitrogen ratios. These seasonal and flow driven changes to C form and export likely provide subsidies to downstream and nearshore ecosystems such that predicted shifts in regional hydroclimate could substantially impact C transfer and incorporation into aquatic food webs.

Study Area

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Seasonal patterns in riverine carbon form and export from a temperate forested watershed in Southeast Alaska
Series title	Biogeochemistry
DOI	10.1007/s10533-024-01175-7
Volume	167
Publication Date	August 23, 2024
Year Published	2024
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Nature
Contributing office(s)	Coop Res Unit Seattle
Description	17 p.
First page	1353
Last page	1369
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Other Geospatial	Kaxdigoowu Héen watershed