Benjamin Trost, Arial J. Shogren, Zacharie T. Loveless, David W. P. Manning, Jonathan P. Benstead
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
While inland freshwater networks cover less than 4% of the Earth's terrestrial surface, these ecosystems play a disproportionately large role in the global cycles of [C]arbon, [N]itrogen, and [P]hosphorus, making streams and rivers critical regulators of nutrient balance at regional and continental scales. Foundational studies have established the relative importance of the hydrologic regime, land cover, and instream removal processes for controlling the transport and processing of C, N, and P in river networks. However, particulate C, N, and P can make up a large proportion of the total material in large rivers and during high flows. To constrain the patterns of the biogeochemistry of riverine particulates, we characterized and modeled dissolved and particulate concentration variability at the continental scale using open-access data from 27 National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) sites across the United States. We analyzed these data using Boosted Regression Trees (BRTs) to statistically identify if land cover characteristics could predict nutrient quantity and quality of stream particulates. The BRT models revealed that land cover does not strongly predict particulate dynamics across NEON sites but indicate that instream processes might be more important than catchment characteristics alone. In addition, our study demonstrates the consistent importance of particulates relative to dissolved forms, highlighting their likely significance for biogeochemical processes along the freshwater continuum.
期刊介绍:
Global Biogeochemical Cycles (GBC) features research on regional to global biogeochemical interactions, as well as more local studies that demonstrate fundamental implications for biogeochemical processing at regional or global scales. Published papers draw on a wide array of methods and knowledge and extend in time from the deep geologic past to recent historical and potential future interactions. This broad scope includes studies that elucidate human activities as interactive components of biogeochemical cycles and physical Earth Systems including climate. Authors are required to make their work accessible to a broad interdisciplinary range of scientists.