Seasonal patterns in riverine carbon form and export from a temperate forested watershed in Southeast Alaska
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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.
Suggested Citation
Delbecq, C., Fellman, J.B., Bellmore, J.R., Whitney, E., Hood, E., Fitzgerald, K., Falke, J.A., 2024, Seasonal patterns in riverine carbon form and export from a temperate forested watershed in Southeast Alaska: Biogeochemistry, v. 167, p. 1353-1369, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-024-01175-7.
Study Area
| 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 |