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Biogeochemical functional responses to flow rate in a low order stream: implications for water quality monitoring

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Abstract

In running waters, the concentration of components that define water quality can be subjected to ample fluctuations quantitatively linked to flow rate. If not properly considered, such variability may hinder assessment of the evolution of water quality, of the effects of management actions, and ultimately the understanding of processes driving water quality. The functional response to flow rate was characterized for multiple biogeochemical variables in a pristine, low order stream. Variability of responses spanned between a factor of 2 and > 34, and in all cases were associated to flow rate according to one of three patterns: positive asymptotic (for variables: seston, suspended particles, total nutrients, dissolved and particulated organic matter, dissolved inorganic nitrogen), negative asymptotic (conductivity and dissolved reactive silicon), and humped (dissolved inorganic phosphorous). Building on those results, a rationale is presented for an unambiguous, cost-effective approach to water quality evaluation in running systems with predominantly diffuse sources.

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Availability of data and material

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Code availability

Data analyses and representation were performed under the free, open code software R, and libraries cited in “Methods.”

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Acknowledgements

The present investigation was funded by the Comisión Sectorial de Investigación Científica, Universidad de la República (Uruguay) through DT grants to Danilo Calliari and Laura Rodríguez-Graña. The contribution of Mona Calliari to the conception of the study and during field work is deeply appreciated. Comments and constructive criticism by anonymous reviewers contributed to improve this paper.

Funding

Research was funded by the Comisión Sectorial de Investigación Científica, Universidad de la República, Uruguay, through DT grants to Danilo Calliari and Laura Rodríguez-Graña.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225 CP 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Danilo Calliari

  2. Centro Universitario Regional del Este, Universidad de la República. Ruta Nacional 15, Km 28500 CP 27000, Rocha, Uruguay

    Carolina Lescano & Laura Rodríguez-Graña

Authors
  1. Danilo Calliari
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  2. Carolina Lescano
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  3. Laura Rodríguez-Graña
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception, design, data collection and analysis. The first draft of the manuscript was written by DC and all authors commented on successive versions. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Danilo Calliari.

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Calliari, D., Lescano, C. & Rodríguez-Graña, L. Biogeochemical functional responses to flow rate in a low order stream: implications for water quality monitoring. Environ Monit Assess 194, 634 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10242-1

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