Conference presentation
Carbon dynamics and diel cycles of a subtropical headwater stream in drought and flood
ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting (Granada, Spain, 22/02/2015 - 27/02/2015)
24/02/2015
Metrics
22 Record Views
Abstract
Catchment headwaters comprise the majority of all stream length globally and are well recognised as ‘hotspots’ of biogeochemical activity and carbon dioxide outgassing. However, the ecohydrological status for the majority of upland waters remains relatively unknown. We combined discrete sampling for particulate organic, dissolved organic and inorganic carbon (POC, DOC, and DIC) with continuous measurements for pH, radon (222Rn, a natural groundwater tracer), dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a, and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) to contrast the stream’s carbon flux dynamics, as the system shifted between hydrologic extremes of drought, flash flooding, and recovery. Observations over 23 consecutive diel cycles revealed a shift from a carbon budget dominated by CO2 outgassing during low-to-moderate flow (63.7 +/-10.3 %; daily mean +/- SD), to one dominated by lateral exports during high flow (71.3 +/- 10.5 %). Estimates place the upper Rocky Creek catchment as a potential net sink for terrestrial carbon, with a total stream flux of 7.3 ± 1.2 g C m-2 (catchment area) yr-1 which is equivalent to less than 1% of the estimated local net terrestrial primary productivity.
Details
- Title
- Carbon dynamics and diel cycles of a subtropical headwater stream in drought and flood
- Creators
- Arún LoomanIsaac R Santos - Southern Cross UniversityDouglas Tait - Southern Cross UniversityJackie R GatlandDamien T Maher - Southern Cross University
- Conference
- ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting (Granada, Spain, 22/02/2015 - 27/02/2015)
- Identifiers
- 991012845996302368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; National Marine Science Centre; School of Environment, Science and Engineering; Science
- Resource Type
- Conference presentation