High rates of organic carbon processing in the hyporheic zone of intermittent streams.

ABSTRACT: Organic carbon cycling is a fundamental process that underpins energy transfer through the biosphere. However, little is known about the rates of particulate organic carbon processing in the hyporheic zone of intermittent streams, which is often the only wetted environment remaining when surface flows cease. We used leaf litter and cotton decomposition assays, as well as rates of microbial respiration, to quantify rates of organic carbon processing in surface and hyporheic environments of intermittent and perennial streams under a range of substrate saturation conditions. Leaf litter processing was 48% greater, and cotton processing 124% greater, in the hyporheic zone compared to surface environments when calculated over multiple substrate saturation conditions. Processing was also greater

SUBMITTER: Burrows RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5643499 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature