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Spatial heterogeneity of benthic methane dynamics in the subaquatic canyons of the Rhone River Delta (Lake Geneva)

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE - BASED ON MIR INVESTIGATIONS IN LAKE GENEVA
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Abstract

Heterogeneous benthic methane (CH4) dynamics from river deltas with important organic matter accumulation have been recently reported in various aquatic and marine environments. The spatial heterogeneity of dissolved CH4 concentrations and associated production and diffusion rates were investigated in the Rhone River Delta of Lake Geneva (Switzerland/France) using sediment cores taken as part of the éLEMO Project. Benthic CH4 dynamics within the complex subaquatic canyon structure of the Rhone Delta were compared (1) between three canyons of different sedimentation regimes, (2) along a longitudinal transect of the ‘active’ canyon most influenced by the Rhone River, and (3) laterally across a canyon. Results indicated higher CH4 diffusion and production rates in the ‘active’ compared to the other canyons, explained by more allochthonous carbon deposition. Within the active canyon, the highest diffusion and production rates were found at intermediate sites further along the canyon. Stronger resuspension of sediments directly in front of the river inflow was likely the cause for the variable emission rates found there. Evidence also suggests more CH4 production occurs on the levees (shoulders) of canyons due to preferred sedimentation in those locations. Our results from the heterogeneous Rhone delta in Lake Geneva further support the concept that high sedimentary CH4 concentrations should be expected in depositional environments with high inputs of allochthonous organic carbon.

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Acknowledgments

This publication is part of the international, interdisciplinary research project éLEMO (http://www.elemo.ch) to investigate the deep-waters of Lake Geneva using two Russian MIR submarines. Funding for this study was provided by the “Fondation pour l’Etude des Eaux du Léman” (FEEL; in particular by the Ferring Pharmaceuticals St Prex). Additional funding for the work described in this paper was provided by Eawag. We are grateful for the support. We thank the Russian MIR crew members (www.elemo.ch/mir-team) for their excellent performance and the SAGRAVE team who provided and operated the platform from which the dives were carried out. We also thank Ulrich Lemmin and Jean-Denis Bourquin for project coordination and Flavio Anselmetti for the dives in the Rhone Delta area. The service of Mikhail Kranoperov (Russian Honorary Consulate) as liaison is greatly appreciated. We also thank A. Arantegui, C. Dinkel, K. Ross, M. Schurter, S. Wirth, and A. Zwyssig for fieldwork assistance. Thanks to G. Nobbe, A. Reusch and R. Stierli for lab assistance, and A. Brand for help with production rates. We also thank D. McGinnis and three anonymous reviewers for comments that helped to substantially improve this manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. J. P. Corella

    Present address: Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN/CSIC), Serrano 115bis, 28006, Madrid, Spain

  2. D. B. Senn

    Present address: San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Avenue, Richmond, CA, 94804, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 6047, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland

    S. Sollberger, M.-E. Randlett, C. J. Schubert, D. B. Senn, B. Wehrli & T. DelSontro

  2. Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    S. Sollberger, M.-E. Randlett, D. B. Senn, B. Wehrli & T. DelSontro

  3. Environmental Sciences Institute (ISE) and Department of Earth sciences, University of Geneva, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland

    J. P. Corella & S. Girardclos

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  1. S. Sollberger
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Correspondence to S. Sollberger.

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This article is part of the special issue "e´LEMO – investigations using MIR submersibles in Lake Geneva".

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Sollberger, S., Corella, J.P., Girardclos, S. et al. Spatial heterogeneity of benthic methane dynamics in the subaquatic canyons of the Rhone River Delta (Lake Geneva). Aquat Sci 76 (Suppl 1), 89–101 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-013-0319-2

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