Characterizing temporal variability in streams supports nutrient indicator development using diatom and bacterial DNA metabarcoding.

ABSTRACT: Interest in developing periphytic diatom and bacterial indicators of nutrient effects continues to grow in support of the assessment and management of stream ecosystems and their watersheds. However, temporal variability could confound relationships between indicators and nutrients, subsequently affecting assessment outcomes. To document how temporal variability affects measures of diatom and bacterial assemblages obtained from DNA metabarcoding, we conducted weekly periphyton and nutrient sampling from July to October 2016 in 25 streams in a 1293 km² mixed land use watershed. Measures of both diatom and bacterial assemblages were strongly associated with the percent agriculture in upstream watersheds and total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations. Temporal var

SUBMITTER: Smucker NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9169572 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature