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Nitrification and denitrification response to varying periods of desiccation and inundation in a western Kansas stream

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Abstract

Changing environmental conditions and increased water consumption have transformed many historically perennial stream systems into intermittent systems. Multiple drying and wetting events throughout the year might impact many stream processes including nitrification and denitrification, key components of the nitrogen (N) cycle. During summer 2007, an experimental stream was used to dry and then rewet stream sediments to determine the effects of desiccation and rewetting of stream sediment on nitrification and denitrification potentials. Mean (±SE) nitrification and denitrification rates in sediment not dried (controls) were 0.431 ± 0.017 μg NO3 −–N/cm2/h and 0.016 ± 0.002 μg N2O–N/cm2/h, respectively. As sediment samples dried, nitrification rates decreased. Rates in sediments dried less than 7 d recovered to levels equal or greater than those in the controls within 1 d of being rewetted. Denitrification rates were not affected by 1 d of drying, but samples dried greater than 1 d experienced reduced rates of denitrification. Denitrification in sediments dried 7 d or less recovered by day seven of being rewetted. Nitrification and denitrification processes failed to fully recover in sediments dried more than 7 d. These results demonstrate that alterations in stream’s hydrology can significantly affect N-cycle processes.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Kathryn Sjoholm, Ryan Heffel, and Denise Gibbens for assistance in collection and processing of samples; The Evans-White lab at the University of Arkansas for their thoughtful comments and suggestions during the editing process; The FHSU Department of Agriculture for land access; and the Western Kansas Center for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics for use of lab equipment and space. This study was funded by NSF EPSCoR Grant # EPS-0553722.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State University, 600 Park St., Hays, KS, 67601, USA

    Brad J. Austin

  2. Department of Biology, River Studies Center, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 1725 State St., La Crosse, WI, 54601, USA

    Eric A. Strauss

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, 601 Science and Engineering, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA

    Brad J. Austin

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  1. Brad J. Austin
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Correspondence to Brad J. Austin.

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Handling editor: Deanne Drake

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Austin, B.J., Strauss, E.A. Nitrification and denitrification response to varying periods of desiccation and inundation in a western Kansas stream. Hydrobiologia 658, 183–195 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0462-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0462-x

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