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Hydrological transitions drive dissolved organic matter quantity and composition in a temporary Mediterranean stream

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Abstract

The implications of stream flow intermittency for dissolved organic matter (DOM) are not well understood despite its potential significance for water quality and ecosystem integrity. We combined intensive sampling with liquid chromatography and spectroscopic techniques to follow changes in DOC and DON concentrations as well as in DOM size fractions and spectroscopic properties in a temporary stream during an entire contraction–fragmentation–expansion hydrological cycle. DOC and DON concentrations remained low (range = 1.4–5.2 mg C L−1 and 0.05–0.15 mg N L−1) during hydrological contraction and fragmentation, with concomitant increases in the proportion of high molecular weight substances (HMWS) during contraction and of DOM aromaticity during fragmentation. DOC and DON concentrations abruptly increased (up to 8.8 mg C L−1 and 0.37 mg N L−1) at the end of the fragmentation phase, with a concomitant increase in the non-humic, microbial and aquatic character of DOM. Upon rewetting, the DOC and DON concentrations reached their highest values (up to 12.7 mg C L−1 and 0.39 mg N L−1), with concomitant increases in the proportion of HMWS and in the humic, aromatic and terrestrial character of DOM. Subsequently, DOC and DON concentrations recovered to values similar to those at the contraction phase, while DOM composition variables indicated the prevalence of a DOM of humic and terrestrial character during the whole expansion phase. Overall, our results emphasize the importance of hydrological transitions for DOM dynamics in temporary streams, and point to the potential response of perennial streams under future water scarcity scenarios.

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Acknowledgments

We thank J. Rodríguez, L. Proia, M. Peipoch and A. Blesa for field assistance, and E. Zwirnmann, H. J. Exner, A. Lüder, S. Schell and H. Magnussen for laboratory analyses. We are also grateful to the direction of the Montnegre-Corredor Natural Park (Diputació de Barcelona) for allowing access to the sampling site. This study was funded by the European Union through the MIRAGE project (FP7 ENV 2007 1). Additional funds were provided by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the Consolider-Ingenio projects SCARCE (CSD2009-00065) and GRACCIE (CSD2007-00067). D. von Schiller was supported by a DAAD-‘‘laCaixa’’ fellowship and a “Juan de la Cierva” postdoctoral grant (JCI-2010-06397).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Catalan Institute for Water Research, Emili Grahit 101, 17003, Girona, Spain

    Daniel von Schiller, Xisca Timoner, Vicenç Acuña & Sergi Sabater

  2. Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600, Silkeborg, Denmark

    Daniel Graeber

  3. Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group, Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Accés a la Cala St. Francesc 14, 17300, Blanes, Spain

    Miquel Ribot & Eugènia Martí

  4. Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, 17071, Girona, Spain

    Xisca Timoner & Sergi Sabater

  5. Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 301, 12587, Berlin, Germany

    Klement Tockner

  6. Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany

    Klement Tockner

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  1. Daniel von Schiller
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  2. Daniel Graeber
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von Schiller, D., Graeber, D., Ribot, M. et al. Hydrological transitions drive dissolved organic matter quantity and composition in a temporary Mediterranean stream. Biogeochemistry 123, 429–446 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-015-0077-4

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