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The Role of Allochthonous Inputs of Dissolved Organic Carbon on the Hypolimnetic Oxygen Content of Reservoirs

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Abstract

Hypolimnetic oxygen content in lentic ecosystems has traditionally been modeled as a function of variables measured at the epilimnion, or that are supposed to drive epilimnetic processes, like total phosphorus load. However, in man-made reservoirs the river inflow can plunge into deep layers, directly linking the hypolimnion with the surrounding watershed. In these circumstances, organic matter carried by the river can influence the hypolimnetic oxygen content without important intervention of epilimnetic processes. Taking long-term data from two reservoirs in Spain, we applied an empirical regression approach to show that the dissolved organic matter carried by the river is the main driver shaping the hypolimnetic oxygen content. By contrast, typical variables commonly included in the modeling of the oxygen content in the hypolimnion (nutrient concentrations, chlorophyll a, and dissolved organic carbon measured in the water column) did not show any significant correlation. Interpretations from this regression approach were supported by a comparison between the monthly oxygen consumption in the hypolimnion and the monthly dissolved organic carbon load from the river inflow. We also revisited the prediction of the year-to-year variability of the Nürnberg’s anoxic factor in four reservoirs from Spain and the USA, explicitly including the allochthonous sources in the equations. These sources were significant predictors of the anoxic factor, especially in those systems subject to relatively high human impact. Thus, effects of allochthonous dissolved organic carbon should always be considered in empirical modeling and management of reservoir hypolimnetic processes related to oxygen content (for example, anoxia, nutrient internal loading, or phosphorus cycle resilience).

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Acknowledgements

Several people contributed during the last decade to the monitoring program in Sau and Foix reservoirs: M. Comerma, J.C. García, M.A. Gallegos, J. Ordóñez, J. Baradad, L. Caputo, D. Balayla, G. González, and C. Cazacu. Andrea Butturini provided valuable comments on chloride dynamics in watersheds, and Joan Lluís Riera gave very useful comments and carefully revised the manuscript. ATLL Water Supply Co. gently provided data, and funds the Sau Reservoir long-term limnological program. R. Marcé gratefully acknowledges a grant from the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deportes (Spain). The University of Granada is also acknowledged for funding the post-doctoral contract of E. Moreno-Ostos. Funding for this research was provided by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (Project REN2001-2185-CO2-O2/HID and CGL2004-05503-CO2-01). Comments from two anonymous referees are greatly appreciated.

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  1. Department of Ecology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Rafael Marcé, Enrique Moreno-Ostos, Pilar López & Joan Armengol

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  1. Rafael Marcé
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Marcé, R., Moreno-Ostos, E., López, P. et al. The Role of Allochthonous Inputs of Dissolved Organic Carbon on the Hypolimnetic Oxygen Content of Reservoirs. Ecosystems 11, 1035–1053 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-008-9177-5

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