Reach-scale river metabolism across contrasting sub-catchment geologies: Effect of light and hydrology.

ABSTRACT: We investigated the seasonal dynamics of in-stream metabolism at the reach scale (∼ 150 m) of headwaters across contrasting geological sub-catchments: clay, Greensand, and Chalk of the upper River Avon (UK). Benthic metabolic activity was quantified by aquatic eddy co-variance while water column activity was assessed by bottle incubations. Seasonal dynamics across reaches were specific for the three types of geologies. During the spring, all reaches were net autotrophic, with rates of up to 290 mmol C m^-2 d^-1 in the clay reach. During the remaining seasons, the clay and Greensand reaches were net heterotrophic, with peak oxygen consumption of 206 mmol m^-2 d^-1 during the autumn, while the Chalk reach was net heterotrophic only in winter. Overall,

SUBMITTER: Rovelli L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5724700 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature