Changes in Concentration, Quality, and Bioavailability of Dissolved Organic Matter Spatially in a Semiarid Intermittent Stream Network
Abstract
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) serves as a significant source of energy and carbon in stream ecosystems. The transfer of energy and carbon to higher trophic levels is facilitated by stream microbes. However, the quality and bioavailability of DOM can strongly influence this (Fellman et al. 2008). In intermittent stream networks, seasonal drying and rewetting have been shown to affect the quality of DOM (Hale et al. 2019). DOM quality also varies throughout a watershed, typically decreasing as the watershed area increases. Here we estimated the bioavailability and quality of DOM from seven locations in the Gibson Jack watershed in Southeastern Idaho using bottle incubations. Our results suggest that bioavailability and quality of DOM does vary throughout Gibson Jack.
Changes in Concentration, Quality, and Bioavailability of Dissolved Organic Matter Spatially in a Semiarid Intermittent Stream Network
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) serves as a significant source of energy and carbon in stream ecosystems. The transfer of energy and carbon to higher trophic levels is facilitated by stream microbes. However, the quality and bioavailability of DOM can strongly influence this (Fellman et al. 2008). In intermittent stream networks, seasonal drying and rewetting have been shown to affect the quality of DOM (Hale et al. 2019). DOM quality also varies throughout a watershed, typically decreasing as the watershed area increases. Here we estimated the bioavailability and quality of DOM from seven locations in the Gibson Jack watershed in Southeastern Idaho using bottle incubations. Our results suggest that bioavailability and quality of DOM does vary throughout Gibson Jack.