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Organic matter characteristics in a Mediterranean stream through amino acid composition: changes driven by intermittency

  • Recent Perspectives on Temporary River Ecology
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Abstract

Amino acid composition (quality) and abundance (quantity) of organic matter (OM) in an intermittent Mediterranean stream were followed during transitions from wet to dry and dry to wet conditions. Amino acids were analyzed in benthic material (epilithic biofilms, sand sediments, leaf material) as well as in the flowing water (dissolved organic matter, DOM). A principal component analysis and the estimation of the amino acid degradation index (DI) elucidated differences in amino acid composition and quality among the wet–drought–wet cycle. Amino acid content and composition were dependent on the source of OM as well as on its diagenetic state. The highest-quality OM (high DI and high N content) occurred on epilithic biofilms and the most degraded and lowest-quality OM occurred in sandy sediments. Differences between the pre- and post-drought periods were evident in DOM quality; autochthonous-derived material was predominant during the pre-drought (wet period preceding drying), while allochthonous inputs dominated during the post-drought period (wet period following drying). In contrast, benthic OM compartments were more stable, but benthic OM quality decreased continuously throughout the drought period. This study revealed that wet–drought–wet cycles resulted in subtle changes in benthic OM quality, and degradation of DOM was related to flow intermittency.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by projects CGL2007-65549/BOS, CGL2008-05618-C02/BOS and Consolider-Ingenio CSD2009-00065 (SCARCE) of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. We thank Francesco Ricciardi for his help with the amino acid analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071, Girona, Spain

    Irene Ylla, Anna M. Romaní & Sergi Sabater

  2. Department of Ecology, University of Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Isis Sanpera-Calbet & Isabel Muñoz

  3. Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain

    Sergi Sabater

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  1. Irene Ylla
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  2. Isis Sanpera-Calbet
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Correspondence to Irene Ylla.

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This article belongs to the Special Issue “Recent Perspectives on Temporary River Ecology”.

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Ylla, I., Sanpera-Calbet, I., Muñoz, I. et al. Organic matter characteristics in a Mediterranean stream through amino acid composition: changes driven by intermittency. Aquat Sci 73, 523–535 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-011-0211-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-011-0211-x

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