ALBERT

Description: To establish the relevance of in-stream processes on nutrient export at catchment scale it is important to accurately estimate whole-reach net nutrient uptake rates that consider both uptake and release processes. Two empirical approaches have been used in the literature to estimate these rates: (a) the mass balance approach, which considers changes in nutrient loads corrected by groundwater inputs between two stream locations separated by a certain distance, and (b) the spiralling approach, which is based on the patterns of longitudinal variation in ambient nutrient concentrations along a reach following the nutrient spiralling concept. In this study, we compared the estimates of in-stream net nutrient uptake rates of nitrogen (N) and the associated uncertainty obtained with these two approaches at different ambient conditions using a data set of monthly samplings in two contrasting stream reaches during two hydrological years. The rates calculated with the mass balance approach tended to be higher than those calculated with the spiralling approach but only at high ambient N concentrations. Uncertainty associated with these estimates also differed between both approaches, especially for ammonium due to the lack of significant longitudinal patterns in concentration. The advantages and disadvantages of each of the approaches are discussed.

Description: Headwater streams have a strong capacity to transform and retain nutrients, and thus, a longitudinal decrease in stream nutrient concentrations would be expected from in-stream nutrient removal alone. Yet, a number of other factors within the catchment, including biogeochemical processing within the riparian zone and export to streams, can contribute to stream nutrient concentration, which may overcome the effect of in-stream biogeochemical processing. To explore this idea, we analyzed the longitudinal patterns of stream and riparian groundwater concentrations for chloride (Cl−), nitrate (NO3−), ammonium (NH4+), and phosphate (PO43−) along a 3.7 km reach at an annual scale. The reach showed a gradual increase in stream and riparian width, riparian tree basal area, and abundance of riparian N2-fixing tree species. Concentrations of Cl− indicated a~strong hydrological connection at the riparian-stream edge. However, stream and riparian groundwater nutrient concentrations showed a moderate to null correlation, suggesting high biogeochemical processing at the riparian-stream edge and within the stream. A mass balance approach along the reach indicated that, on average, in-stream net nutrient uptake prevailed over release for NH4+ and PO43−, but not for NO3−. On an annual basis, in-stream processes contributed to change stream input fluxes by 11%, 26%, and 29% for NO3−, NH4+, and PO43−, respectively. Yet, longitudinal trends in concentration were not consistent with the prevailing in-stream biogeochem ical processes. During the riparian dormant period, stream concentration decreased along the reach for NO3−, but increased for NH4+ and PO43−. During the riparian vegetative period, NO3− and PO43− increased along the reach while NH4+ showed no clear pattern. These longitudinal trends were partially related to riparian forest features and groundwater inputs, especially for NO3− and PO43−. Our study suggests that even though in-stream biogeochemical processing was substantial, the riparian zone can modulate the longitudinal variation in stream nutrient chemistry in this headwater stream.

Description: Headwater streams are recipients of water sources draining through terrestrial ecosystems. At the same time, stream biota can transform and retain nutrients dissolved in stream water. Yet studies considering simultaneously these two sources of variation in stream nutrient chemistry are rare. To fill this gap of knowledge, we analyzed stream water and riparian groundwater concentrations and fluxes as well as in-stream net uptake rates for nitrate (NO3−), ammonium (NH4+), and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) along a 3.7 km reach on an annual basis. Chloride concentrations (used as conservative tracer) indicated a strong hydrological connection at the riparian–stream interface. However, stream and riparian groundwater nutrient concentrations showed a moderate to null correlation, suggesting high in-stream biogeochemical processing. In-stream net nutrient uptake (Fsw) was highly variable across contiguous segments and over time, but its temporal variation was not related to the vegetative period of the riparian forest. For NH4+, the occurrence of Fsw 〉 0 μg N m−1 s−1 (gross uptake 〉 release) was high along the reach, while for NO3−, the occurrence of Fsw 〈 0 μg N m−1 s−1 (gross uptake 〈 release) increased along the reach. Within segments and dates, Fsw, whether negative or positive, accounted for a median of 6, 18, and 20% of the inputs of NO3−, NH4+, and SRP, respectively. Whole-reach mass balance calculations indicated that in-stream net uptake reduced stream NH4+ flux up to 90%, while the stream acted mostly as a source of NO3− and SRP. During the dormant period, concentrations decreased along the reach for NO3−, but increased for NH4+ and SRP. During the vegetative period, NH4+ decreased, SRP increased, and NO3− showed a U-shaped pattern along the reach. These longitudinal trends resulted from the combination of hydrological mixing with terrestrial inputs and in-stream nutrient processing. Therefore, the assessment of these two sources of variation in stream water chemistry is crucial to understand the contribution of in-stream processes to stream nutrient dynamics at relevant ecological scales.

Description: We used 15N-labelled nitrate (NO3−) additions to investigate pathways of nitrogen (N) cycling at the whole-reach scale in three stream reaches with adjacent forested, urban and agricultural land areas. Our aim was to explore among-stream differences in: (i) the magnitude and relative importance of NO3− retention (i.e. assimilatory uptake) and removal (i.e. denitrification), (ii) the relative contribution of the different primary uptake compartments to NO3− retention, and (iii) the regeneration, transformation and export pathways of the retained N. Streams varied strongly in NO3− concentration, which was highest in the agricultural stream and lowest in the forested stream. The agricultural stream also showed the lowest dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration and discharge. Standing stocks of primary uptake compartments were similar among streams and dominated by detritus compartments (i.e. fine and coarse benthic organic matter). Metabolism was net heterotrophic in all streams, although the degree of heterotrophy was highest in the agricultural stream. The NO3− uptake length was shortest in the agricultural stream, intermediate in the urban stream, and longest in the forested stream. Conversely, the NO3− mass-transfer velocity and the areal NO3− uptake rate were highest in the urban stream. Denitrification was not detectable in the forested stream, but accounted for 9% and 68% of total NO3− uptake in the urban and the agricultural stream, respectively. The relative contribution of detritus compartments to NO3− assimilatory uptake was greatest in the forested and lowest in the agricultural stream. In all streams, the retained N was rapidly regenerated back to the water column. Due to a strong coupling between regeneration and nitrification, most retained N was exported from the experimental reaches in the form of NO3−. This study provides evidence of fast in-stream N cycling, although the relative importance of N retention and removal varied considerably among streams. Results suggest that permanent NO3− removal via denitrification may be enhanced over temporary NO3− retention via assimilatory uptake in heterotrophic human-altered streams characterized by high NO3− and low DO concentrations.

Description: To establish the relevance of in-stream processes on nutrient export at catchment scale it is important to accurately estimate whole-reach net nutrient uptake rates that consider both uptake and release processes. Two empirical approaches have been used in the literature to estimate these rates: (a) the mass balance approach, which considers changes in ambient nutrient loads corrected by groundwater inputs between two stream locations separated by a certain distance, and (b) the spiralling approach, which is based on the patterns of longitudinal variation in ambient nutrient concentrations along a reach following the nutrient spiralling concept. In this study, we compared the estimates of in-stream net nutrient uptake rates of nitrate (NO3) and ammonium (NH4) and the associated uncertainty obtained with these two approaches at different ambient conditions using a data set of monthly samplings in two contrasting stream reaches during two hydrological years. Overall, the rates calculated with the mass balance approach tended to be higher than those calculated with the spiralling approach only at high ambient nitrogen (N) concentrations. Uncertainty associated with these estimates also differed between both approaches, especially for NH4 due to the general lack of significant longitudinal patterns in concentration. The advantages and disadvantages of each of the approaches are discussed.

Description: We used 15N-labelled nitrate (NO−3) additions to investigate nitrogen (N) cycling at the whole-reach scale in three Mediterranean streams subjected to contrasting land uses (i.e. forested, urban and agricultural). Our aim was to examine: i) the magnitude and relative importance of NO−3 retention (i.e. assimilatory uptake), and removal, (i.e. denitrification), ii) the relative contribution of the different primary uptake compartments to NO−3 retention, and iii) the regeneration, transformation and export pathways of the retained N. The concentration of NO−3 increased and that of dissolved oxygen (DO) decreased from the forested to the agricultural stream, with intermediate values in the urban stream. Standing stocks of primary uptake compartments were similar among streams and dominated by detritus compartments (i.e. fine and coarse benthic organic matter). In agreement, metabolism was net heterotrophic in all streams, although the degree of heterotrophy increased from the forested to the agricultural stream. The NO−3 uptake length decreased along this gradient, whereas the NO−3 mass-transfer velocity and the areal NO−3 uptake rate were highest in the urban stream. Denitrification was not detectable in the forested stream, but accounted for 9% and 68% of total NO−3 uptake in the urban and the agricultural stream, respectively. The relative contribution of detritus compartments to NO−3 assimilatory uptake was highest in the forested and lowest in the agricultural stream. In all streams, the retained N was rapidly transferred to higher trophic levels and regenerated back to the water column. Due to a strong coupling between regeneration and nitrification, most retained N was exported from the experimental reaches in the form of NO−3. This study evidences fast N cycling in Mediterranean streams. Moreover, results indicate that permanent NO−3 removal via denitrification may be enhanced over temporary NO−3 retention via assimilatory uptake in heterotrophic human-altered streams characterized by high NO−3 and low DO concentrations.