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Triple Nitrate Isotopes Indicate Differing Nitrate Source Contributions to Streams Across a Nitrogen Saturation Gradient

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Abstract

Nitrogen (N) deposition affects forest biogeochemical cycles worldwide, often contributing to N saturation. Using long-term (>30-year) records of stream nitrate (NO3 −) concentrations at Fernow Experimental Forest (West Virginia, USA), we classified four watersheds into N saturation stages ranging from Stage 0 (N-limited) to Stage 3 (N-saturated). We quantified NO3 − contributions from atmospheric and microbial sources using δ15N, δ18O, and Δ17O of NO3 − and characterized the concentrations and isotopes of NO3 − in precipitation. Despite receiving identical atmospheric inputs, the proportions of atmospheric NO3 − in streams averaged from 7 to 10% in the hardwood watersheds (stages 1, 2, and 3) and 54% in the conifer watershed (Stage 0). This suggests that the hardwood watersheds may be less responsive to future reductions in N deposition than the conifer watershed, at least in the short term. As shown in other studies, atmospheric NO3 − proportions were higher during stormflow. Despite large proportions of atmospheric NO3 − in the Stage 0 stream, total atmospheric NO3 −–N flux from this watershed (2.9 g ha−1) was lower than fluxes in the other watersheds (range = 117.8–338.5 g ha−1). Seasonal patterns of δ15N–NO3 − in the hardwood watersheds suggest enrichment of the soil NO3 − pool during the growing season due to plant uptake. In all watersheds, δ18O-based mixing models over-estimated atmospheric NO3 − contributions to streams by up to 12% compared to Δ17O-based estimates. Our results highlight the importance of atmospheric deposition as a NO3 − source in low-concentration streams and demonstrate the advantage of using Δ17O–NO3 − over δ18O–NO3 − for NO3 − source apportionment.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by NSF Grant #0910521 (to EME) and Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Grant #2012-67011-19663 (to LAR) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. We thank Christopher Cassidy for assistance with sample collection and processing, Katherine Redling for isotopic analysis, and the helpful comments of three anonymous reviewers during the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Planetary Science, University of Pittsburgh, 4107 O’Hara Street, 200 Space Research and Coordination Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15260, USA

    Lucy A. Rose & Emily M. Elliott

  2. Fernow Experimental Forest, USDA Forest Service, 180 Canfield Street, Morgantown, West Virginia, 26505, USA

    Mary Beth Adams

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  1. Lucy A. Rose
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  2. Emily M. Elliott
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  3. Mary Beth Adams
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Correspondence to Lucy A. Rose.

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Emily M. Elliott designed the study. Lucy A. Rose executed the field work and data analysis. Lucy A. Rose, Emily M. Elliott, and Mary Beth Adams collaborated on the preparation of the paper.

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Rose, L.A., Elliott, E.M. & Adams, M.B. Triple Nitrate Isotopes Indicate Differing Nitrate Source Contributions to Streams Across a Nitrogen Saturation Gradient. Ecosystems 18, 1209–1223 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-015-9891-8

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