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The size distribution of organic carbon in headwater streams in the Amazon basin

  • Pollution Issues of Large Rivers
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Abstract

Despite the strong representativeness of streams in the Amazon basin, their role in the accumulation of coarse particulate organic carbon (CPOC), fine particulate organic carbon (FPOC), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in transport, an important energy source in these environments, is poorly known. It is known that the arboreal vegetation in the Amazon basin is influenced by soil fertility and rainfall gradients, but would these gradients promote local differences in organic matter in headwater streams? To answer this question, 14 low-order streams were selected within these gradients along the Amazon basin, with extensions that varied between 4 and 8 km. The efficiency of the transformation of particulate into dissolved carbon fractions was assessed for each stream. The mean monthly benthic organic matter storage ranged between 1.58 and 9.40 t ha−1 month−1. In all locations, CPOC was the most abundant fraction in biomass, followed by FPOC and DOC. Rainfall and soil fertility influenced the distribution of the C fraction (p = 0.01), showing differentiated particulate organic carbon (POC) storage and DOC transportation along the basin. Furthermore, the results revealed that carbon quantification at the basin level could be underestimated, ultimately influencing the global carbon calculations for the region. This is especially due to the fact that the majority of studies consider only fine particulate organic matter and dissolved organic matter, which represent less than 50 % of the stored and transported carbon in streambeds.

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Acknowledgments

We are thankful to the following projects and programs for financial and logistical support: Large Scale Program of Biosphere-Atmosphere in the Amazon - LBA, Ecology, Monitoring and Sustainable Use of Flooding Areas - MAUA, Amazon Forest Inventory Network - RAINFOR, Cenários para a Amazônia: Uso da terra, Biodiversidade e Clima, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq/Edital Universal (14/2008), and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – CAPES. We also thank all field assistants: Paulão, Milton, Mr. Robson, Demetrius, Nina, Yamileth, Osmar, and Romilda; to Wallace Costa for helping with the maintenance of equipment, Jonis Souza and Carmen Conrad for carrying out DOC analyses, and Mariana de Paula and Dr. A. Leyva for helping with English editing of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia/CPEC–Coordenação de Pesquisas em Ecologia, Av. Efigênio Sales, campus III, Manaus, AM, CEP 69011-970, Brazil

    Joana D’Arc de Paula

  2. Universidade Nilton Lins–Coordenação de Pós Graduação em Biologia Urbana, Av. Professor Nilton Lins, 3259, Parque das Laranjeiras, Manaus, CEP 69058-030, Brazil

    Joana D’Arc de Paula

  3. Large Scale Program on Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions in Amazonia - LBA, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo, 2936, Aleixo, campus II, Manaus, CEP 69060-001, AM, Brazil

    Joana D’Arc de Paula & Flávio Jesus Luizão

  4. Coordenação de Pesquisas em Biologia Aquática, Ecology, Monitoring and Sustainable Use of Flooding Areas - MAUA, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo, 2936, Aleixo, campus I, Manaus, CEP 69060-001, AM, Brazil

    Maria Teresa Fernandez Piedade

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  1. Joana D’Arc de Paula
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  2. Flávio Jesus Luizão
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Correspondence to Joana D’Arc de Paula.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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de Paula, J.D., Luizão, F.J. & Piedade, M.T.F. The size distribution of organic carbon in headwater streams in the Amazon basin. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 11461–11470 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6041-6

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