1
|
Ehnvall B, Ågren AM, Nilsson MB, Ratcliffe JL, Noumonvi KD, Peichl M, Lidberg W, Giesler R, Mörth CM, Öquist MG. Catchment characteristics control boreal mire nutrient regime and vegetation patterns over ~5000 years of landscape development. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 895:165132. [PMID: 37379918 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Vegetation holds the key to many properties that make natural mires unique, such as surface microtopography, high biodiversity values, effective carbon sequestration and regulation of water and nutrient fluxes across the landscape. Despite this, landscape controls behind mire vegetation patterns have previously been poorly described at large spatial scales, which limits the understanding of basic drivers underpinning mire ecosystem services. We studied catchment controls on mire nutrient regimes and vegetation patterns using a geographically constrained natural mire chronosequence along the isostatically rising coastline in Northern Sweden. By comparing mires of different ages, we can partition vegetation patterns caused by long-term mire succession (<5000 years) and present-day vegetation responses to catchment eco-hydrological settings. We used the remote sensing based normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to describe mire vegetation and combined peat physicochemical measures with catchment properties to identify the most important factors that determine mire NDVI. We found strong evidence that mire NDVI depends on nutrient inputs from the catchment area or underlying mineral soil, especially concerning phosphorus and potassium concentrations. Steep mire and catchment slopes, dry conditions and large catchment areas relative to mire areas were associated with higher NDVI. We also found long-term successional patterns, with lower NDVI in older mires. Importantly, the NDVI should be used to describe mire vegetation patterns in open mires if the focus is on surface vegetation, since the canopy cover in tree-covered mires completely dominated the NDVI signal. With our study approach, we can quantitatively describe the connection between landscape properties and mire nutrient regime. Our results confirm that mire vegetation responds to the upslope catchment area, but importantly, also suggest that mire and catchment aging can override the role of catchment influence. This effect was clear across mires of all ages, but was strongest in younger mires.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Betty Ehnvall
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogsmarksgränd 17, 90183 Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Anneli M Ågren
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogsmarksgränd 17, 90183 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Mats B Nilsson
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogsmarksgränd 17, 90183 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Joshua L Ratcliffe
- Unit for Field-Based Forest Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 922 91 Vindeln, Sweden
| | - Koffi Dodji Noumonvi
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogsmarksgränd 17, 90183 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Matthias Peichl
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogsmarksgränd 17, 90183 Umeå, Sweden
| | - William Lidberg
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogsmarksgränd 17, 90183 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Reiner Giesler
- Climate Impacts Research Centre Umeå, Sweden, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå University, 90736 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Carl-Magnus Mörth
- Department of Geological Sciences, Stockholm University, Svante Arrheniusväg 8, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats G Öquist
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogsmarksgränd 17, 90183 Umeå, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Atkinson CL, Shogren AJ, Smith CR, Golladay SW. Water availability and seasonality shape elemental stoichiometry across space and time. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2842. [PMID: 36920346 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The interaction of climate change and increasing anthropogenic water withdrawals is anticipated to alter surface water availability and the transport of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in river networks. But how changes to river flow will alter the balance, or stoichiometry, of these fluxes is unknown. The Lower Flint River Basin (LFRB) is part of an interstate watershed relied upon by several million people for diverse ecosystem services, including seasonal crop irrigation, municipal drinking water access, and public recreation. Recently, increased water demand compounded with intensified droughts have caused historically perennial streams in the LFRB to cease flowing, increasing ecosystem vulnerability. Our objectives were to quantify how riverine dissolved C:N:P varies spatially and seasonally and determine how monthly stoichiometric fluxes varied with overall water availability in a major tributary of LFRB. We used a long-term record (21-29 years) of solute water chemistry (dissolved organic carbon, nitrate/nitrite, ammonia, and soluble reactive phosphorus) paired with long-term stream discharge data across six sites within a single LFRB watershed. We found spatial and seasonal differences in soluble nutrient concentrations and stoichiometry attributable to groundwater connections, the presence of a major floodplain wetland, and flow conditions. Further, we showed that water availability, as indicated by the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), strongly predicted stoichiometry with generally lower C:N and C:P and higher N:P fluxes during periods of low water availability (PDSI < -4). These patterns suggest there may be long-term and significant changes to stream ecosystem function as water availability is being dramatically altered by human demand with consequential impacts on solute transport, in-stream processing, and stoichiometric ratios.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carla L Atkinson
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Arial J Shogren
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Chelsea R Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
- The Jones Center at Ichauway, Newton, Georgia, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lehner B, Messager ML, Korver MC, Linke S. Global hydro-environmental lake characteristics at high spatial resolution. Sci Data 2022. [PMCID: PMC9226168 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-022-01425-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we introduce the LakeATLAS dataset, which provides a broad range of hydro-environmental characteristics for more than 1.4 million lakes and reservoirs globally with an area of at least 10 ha. LakeATLAS forms part of the larger HydroATLAS data repository and expands the existing datasets of sub-basin and river reach descriptors by adding equivalent information for lakes and reservoirs in a compatible structure. Matching its HydroATLAS counterparts, version 1.0 of LakeATLAS contains data for 56 variables, partitioned into 281 individual attributes and organized in six categories: hydrology; physiography; climate; land cover & use; soils & geology; and anthropogenic influences. LakeATLAS derives these attributes by processing and reformatting original data from well-established global digital maps at 15 arc-second (~500 m) grid cell resolution and assigns the information spatially to each lake by aggregating it within the lake, in a 3-km vicinity buffer around the lake, and/or within the entire upstream drainage area of the lake. The standardized format of LakeATLAS ensures versatile applicability in hydro-ecological assessments from regional to global scales. Measurement(s) | hydro-environmental characteristics • lake • water body • hydrographic feature | Technology Type(s) | digital curation | Sample Characteristic - Environment | freshwater environment • aquatic environment | Sample Characteristic - Location | Earth (planet) |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abstract
AbstractNutrient inputs to northern freshwaters are changing, potentially altering aquatic ecosystem functioning through effects on primary producers. Yet, while primary producer growth is sensitive to nutrient supply, it is also constrained by a suite of other factors, including light and temperature, which may play varying roles across stream and lake habitats. Here, we use bioassay results from 89 lakes and streams spanning northern boreal to Arctic Sweden to test for differences in nutrient limitation status of algal biomass along gradients in colored dissolved organic carbon (DOC), water temperature, and nutrient concentrations, and to ask whether there are distinct patterns and drivers between habitats. Single nitrogen (N) limitation or primary N-limitation with secondary phosphorus (P) limitation of algal biomass was the most common condition for streams and lakes. Average response to N-addition was a doubling in biomass; however, the degree of limitation was modulated by the distinct physical and chemical conditions in lakes versus streams and across boreal to Arctic regions. Overall, algal responses to N-addition were strongest at sites with low background concentrations of dissolved inorganic N. Low temperatures constrained biomass responses to added nutrients in lakes but had weaker effects on responses in streams. Further, DOC mediated the response of algal biomass to nutrient addition differently among lakes and streams. Stream responses were dampened at higher DOC, whereas lake responses to nutrient addition increased from low to moderate DOC but were depressed at high DOC. Our results suggest that future changes in nutrient availability, particularly N, will exert strong effects on the trophic state of northern freshwaters. However, we highlight important differences in the physical and chemical factors that shape algal responses to nutrient availability in different parts of aquatic networks, which will ultimately affect the integrated response of northern aquatic systems to ongoing environmental changes.
Collapse
|
5
|
Wang S, Perkins M, Matthews DA, Zeng T. Coupling Suspect and Nontarget Screening with Mass Balance Modeling to Characterize Organic Micropollutants in the Onondaga Lake-Three Rivers System. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:15215-15226. [PMID: 34730951 PMCID: PMC8600663 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Characterizing the occurrence, sources, and fate of organic micropollutants (OMPs) in lake-river systems serves as an important foundation for constraining the potential impacts of OMPs on the ecosystem functions of these critical landscape features. In this work, we combined suspect and nontarget screening with mass balance modeling to investigate OMP contamination in the Onondaga Lake-Three Rivers system of New York. Suspect and nontarget screening enabled by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry led to the confirmation and quantification of 105 OMPs in water samples collected throughout the lake-river system, which were grouped by their concentration patterns into wastewater-derived and mixed-source clusters via hierarchical cluster analysis. Four of these OMPs (i.e., galaxolidone, diphenylphosphinic acid, N-butylbenzenesulfonamide, and triisopropanolamine) were prioritized and identified by nontarget screening based on their characteristic vertical distribution patterns during thermal stratification in Onondaga Lake. Mass balance modeling performed using the concentration and discharge data highlighted the export of OMPs from Onondaga Lake to the Three Rivers as a major contributor to the OMP budget in this lake-river system. Overall, this work demonstrated the utility of an integrated screening and modeling framework that can be adapted for OMP characterization, fate assessment, and load apportionment in similar surface water systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shiru Wang
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, 151 Link Hall, Syracuse, New York 13244, United
States
| | - MaryGail Perkins
- Upstate
Freshwater Institute, 224 Midler Park Drive, Syracuse, New York 13206, United
States
| | - David A. Matthews
- Upstate
Freshwater Institute, 224 Midler Park Drive, Syracuse, New York 13206, United
States
| | - Teng Zeng
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, 151 Link Hall, Syracuse, New York 13244, United
States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Oleksy IA, Jones SE, Solomon CT. Hydrologic Setting Dictates the Sensitivity of Ecosystem Metabolism to Climate Variability in Lakes. Ecosystems 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-021-00718-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
AbstractGlobal change is influencing production and respiration in ecosystems across the globe. Lakes in particular are changing in response to climatic variability and cultural eutrophication, resulting in changes in ecosystem metabolism. Although the primary drivers of production and respiration such as the availability of nutrients, light, and carbon are well known, heterogeneity in hydrologic setting (for example, hydrological connectivity, morphometry, and residence) across and within regions may lead to highly variable responses to the same drivers of change, complicating our efforts to predict these responses. We explored how differences in hydrologic setting among lakes influenced spatial and inter annual variability in ecosystem metabolism, using high-frequency oxygen sensor data from 11 lakes over 8 years. Trends in mean metabolic rates of lakes generally followed gradients of nutrient and carbon concentrations, which were lowest in seepage lakes, followed by drainage lakes, and higher in bog lakes. We found that while ecosystem respiration (ER) was consistently higher in wet years in all hydrologic settings, gross primary production (GPP) only increased in tandem in drainage lakes. However, interannual rates of ER and GPP were relatively stable in drainage lakes, in contrast to seepage and bog lakes which had coefficients of variation in metabolism between 22–32%. We explored how the geospatial context of lakes, including hydrologic residence time, watershed area to lake area, and landscape position influenced the sensitivity of individual lake responses to climatic variation. We propose a conceptual framework to help steer future investigations of how hydrologic setting mediates the response of metabolism to climatic variability.
Collapse
|
7
|
Determan RT, White JD, McKenna LW. Quantile regression illuminates the successes and shortcomings of long-term eutrophication remediation efforts in an urban river system. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 202:117434. [PMID: 34388474 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Despite massive financial investment in mitigation, eutrophication remains a major water quality problem and management priority. Eutrophication science-well established for lakes-is not as well developed for rivers, and scientific understanding of how rivers respond to eutrophication management is far more limited. Long-term data are required to evaluate progress, but such datasets are relatively rare for rivers. We analyzed 23 years of water quality data for the Charles River, a major urban river system in the northeastern U.S.A., to examine nutrient and phytoplankton biomass (chl-a) responses to decades of phosphorus (P) management. Using the more novel and robust approach of quantile regression, we identified statistically and ecologically significant declines in both total phosphorus (TP) and chl-a over time, but only for middle percentiles. Statistically high concentrations of TP and chl-a persist-the segments of the data of greatest concern to managers and the public-and yet this critical result is concealed by statistical tests often employed in eutrophication studies that only evaluate mean changes. TP, temperature, precipitation, and river segment jointly explain the most chl-a variation observed at the decadal scale. Spatial variation is also considerable: despite a significant decline in TP, the impounded lower river exhibits no long-term trend in chl-a and continues to experience annual blooms of harmful cyanobacteria-a lagging response comparable to that of a recovering eutrophic lake. Despite long-term successes in reducing P, chl-a, and cyanobacteria in the Charles River system, we did not detect any significant, long-term change in the attainment of statutory compliance, illustrating the protracted and complex nature of the river's response. Our analysis demonstrates the need for high-frequency, long-term water quality data to evaluate the progress of eutrophication management in urban rivers, and the utility of quantile regression for detecting critical trends in the occurrence of statistically low-frequency but ecologically high-impact events, including blooms of harmful cyanobacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rose T Determan
- Environmental Science and Policy, Framingham State University, Framingham, MA 01701.
| | - Jeffrey D White
- Dept. of Biology, Framingham State University, Framingham, MA 01701
| | - Lawrence W McKenna
- Environmental Science and Policy, Framingham State University, Framingham, MA 01701; Dept. of Physics and Earth Science, Framingham State University, Framingham, MA 01701
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lapierre J, Collins SM, Oliver SK, Stanley EH, Wagner T. Inconsistent browning of northeastern U.S. lakes despite increased precipitation and recovery from acidification. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jean‐Francois Lapierre
- Département de sciences biologiques Université de Montréal Montréal QuébecH3C 3J7Canada
- Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie (GRIL) Université du Québec à Montréal Montréal QuebecH3C 3P8Canada
| | - Sarah M. Collins
- Department of Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming82701USA
- Program in Ecology University of Wyoming Laramie Wyoming82701USA
| | - Samantha K. Oliver
- U.S. Geological Survey Upper Midwest Water Science Center Middleton Wisconsin53562USA
| | - Emily H. Stanley
- Center for Limnology University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin53706USA
| | - Tyler Wagner
- U.S. Geological Survey Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit The Pennsylvania State University University Park Pennsylvania16802USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Heino J, Alahuhta J, Bini LM, Cai Y, Heiskanen AS, Hellsten S, Kortelainen P, Kotamäki N, Tolonen KT, Vihervaara P, Vilmi A, Angeler DG. Lakes in the era of global change: moving beyond single-lake thinking in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:89-106. [PMID: 32869448 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The Anthropocene presents formidable threats to freshwater ecosystems. Lakes are especially vulnerable and important at the same time. They cover only a small area worldwide but harbour high levels of biodiversity and contribute disproportionately to ecosystem services. Lakes differ with respect to their general type (e.g. land-locked, drainage, floodplain and large lakes) and position in the landscape (e.g. highland versus lowland lakes), which contribute to the dynamics of these systems. Lakes should be generally viewed as 'meta-systems', whereby biodiversity is strongly affected by species dispersal, and ecosystem dynamics are contributed by the flow of matter and substances among locations in a broader waterscape context. Lake connectivity in the waterscape and position in the landscape determine the degree to which a lake is prone to invasion by non-native species and accumulation of harmful substances. Highly connected lakes low in the landscape accumulate nutrients and pollutants originating from ecosystems higher in the landscape. The monitoring and restoration of lake biodiversity and ecosystem services should consider the fact that a high degree of dynamism is present at local, regional and global scales. However, local and regional monitoring may be plagued by the unpredictability of ecological phenomena, hindering adaptive management of lakes. Although monitoring data are increasingly becoming available to study responses of lakes to global change, we still lack suitable integration of models for entire waterscapes. Research across disciplinary boundaries is needed to address the challenges that lakes face in the Anthropocene because they may play an increasingly important role in harbouring unique aquatic biota as well as providing ecosystem goods and services in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jani Heino
- Freshwater Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Janne Alahuhta
- Geography Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 3000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Luis Mauricio Bini
- Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Yongjiu Cai
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Geographic Sciences, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 73 East Beijing Road, 210008, Nanjing, China
| | - Anna-Stiina Heiskanen
- Freshwater Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Seppo Hellsten
- Freshwater Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pirkko Kortelainen
- Freshwater Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790, Helsinki, Finland
- Biodiversity Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Niina Kotamäki
- Freshwater Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kimmo T Tolonen
- Freshwater Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Petteri Vihervaara
- Biodiversity Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Annika Vilmi
- Freshwater Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, FI-00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | - David G Angeler
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583-0984, U.S.A
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Schliep EM, Collins SM, Rojas-Salazar S, Lottig NR, Stanley EH. Data fusion model for speciated nitrogen to identify environmental drivers and improve estimation of nitrogen in lakes. Ann Appl Stat 2020. [DOI: 10.1214/20-aoas1371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
11
|
Stachelek J, Weng W, Carey CC, Kemanian AR, Cobourn KM, Wagner T, Weathers KC, Soranno PA. Granular measures of agricultural land use influence lake nitrogen and phosphorus differently at macroscales. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 30:e02187. [PMID: 32485044 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural land use is typically associated with high stream nutrient concentrations and increased nutrient loading to lakes. For lakes, evidence for these associations mostly comes from studies on individual lakes or watersheds that relate concentrations of nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) to aggregate measures of agricultural land use, such as the proportion of land used for agriculture in a lake's watershed. However, at macroscales (i.e., in hundreds to thousands of lakes across large spatial extents), there is high variability around such relationships and it is unclear whether considering more granular (or detailed) agricultural data, such as fertilizer application, planting of specific crops, or the extent of near-stream cropping, would improve prediction and inform understanding of lake nutrient drivers. Furthermore, it is unclear whether lake N and P would have different relationships to such measures and whether these relationships would vary by region, since regional variation has been observed in prior studies using aggregate measures of agriculture. To address these knowledge gaps, we examined relationships between granular measures of agricultural activity and lake total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations in 928 lakes and their watersheds in the Northeastern and Midwest U.S. using a Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach. We found that both lake TN and TP concentrations were related to these measures of agriculture, especially near-stream agriculture. The relationships between measures of agriculture and lake TN concentrations were more regionally variable than those for TP. Conversely, TP concentrations were more strongly related to lake-specific measures like depth and watershed hydrology relative to TN. Our finding that lake TN and TP concentrations have different relationships with granular measures of agricultural activity has implications for the design of effective and efficient policy approaches to maintain and improve water quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Stachelek
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
| | - W Weng
- School of Business, State University of New York College at Geneseo, 1 College Circle, Geneseo, New York, 14454, USA
| | - C C Carey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, 926 W Campus Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, USA
| | - A R Kemanian
- Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, 247 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Bldg., University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA
| | - K M Cobourn
- Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Tech, 310 W Campus Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, USA
| | - T Wagner
- U.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - K C Weathers
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, 2801 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook, New York, 12545, USA
| | - P A Soranno
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
|
13
|
Fergus CE, Brooks JR, Kaufmann PR, Herlihy AT, Pollard AI, Weber MH, Paulsen SG. Lake Water Levels and Associated Hydrologic Characteristics in the Conterminous U.S. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION 2020; 56:450-471. [PMID: 32699495 PMCID: PMC7375517 DOI: 10.1111/1752-1688.12817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Establishing baseline hydrologic characteristics for lakes in the U.S. is critical to evaluate changes to lake hydrology. We used the U.S. EPA National Lakes Assessment 2007 and 2012 surveys to assess hydrologic characteristics of a population of ~45,000 lakes in the conterminous U.S. based on probability samples of ~1,000 lakes/yr distributed across nine ecoregions. Lake hydrologic study variables include water-level drawdown (i.e., vertical decline and horizontal littoral exposure) and two water stable isotope-derived parameters: evaporation-to-inflow (E:I) and water residence time. We present 1) national and regional distributions of the study variables for both natural and man-made lakes and 2) differences in these characteristics between 2007 and 2012. In 2007, 59% of the population of U.S. lakes had Greater than normal or Excessive drawdown relative to water levels in ecoregional reference lakes with minimal human disturbances; while in 2012, only 20% of lakes were significantly drawn down beyond normal ranges. Water isotope-derived variables did not differ significantly between survey years in contrast to drawdown. Median E:I was 20% indicating that flow-through processes dominated lake water regimes. For 75% of U.S. lakes, water residence time was < 1 year and was longer in natural vs. man-made lakes. Our study provides baseline ranges to assess local and regional lake hydrologic status and inform management decisions in changing environmental conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Emi Fergus
- National Research Council (Fergus, Herlihy), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Pacific Ecological Systems Division (Brooks, Kaufmann, Weber, Paulsen), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Office of Water (Pollard), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA
| | - J Renée Brooks
- National Research Council (Fergus, Herlihy), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Pacific Ecological Systems Division (Brooks, Kaufmann, Weber, Paulsen), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Office of Water (Pollard), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Philip R Kaufmann
- National Research Council (Fergus, Herlihy), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Pacific Ecological Systems Division (Brooks, Kaufmann, Weber, Paulsen), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Office of Water (Pollard), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Alan T Herlihy
- National Research Council (Fergus, Herlihy), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Pacific Ecological Systems Division (Brooks, Kaufmann, Weber, Paulsen), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Office of Water (Pollard), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Amina I Pollard
- National Research Council (Fergus, Herlihy), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Pacific Ecological Systems Division (Brooks, Kaufmann, Weber, Paulsen), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Office of Water (Pollard), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Marc H Weber
- National Research Council (Fergus, Herlihy), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Pacific Ecological Systems Division (Brooks, Kaufmann, Weber, Paulsen), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Office of Water (Pollard), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Steven G Paulsen
- National Research Council (Fergus, Herlihy), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Pacific Ecological Systems Division (Brooks, Kaufmann, Weber, Paulsen), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Office of Water (Pollard), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Åhlén I, Hambäck P, Thorslund J, Frampton A, Destouni G, Jarsjö J. Wetlandscape size thresholds for ecosystem service delivery: Evidence from the Norrström drainage basin, Sweden. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 704:135452. [PMID: 31810688 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Wetlands are interconnected with the larger surrounding landscape through the hydrological cycling of water and waterborne substances. Therefore, the borders of individual wetlands may not be appropriate landscape system boundaries for understanding large-scale functions and ecosystem services of wetlandscapes (wetland network - landscape systems), and how these can be impacted by climate and land-use changes. Recognizing that such large-scale behaviours may not be easily predicted by simple extrapolation of individual wetland behaviours, we here investigate properties of 15 Swedish wetlandscapes in the extensive (22 650 km2) Norrström drainage basin (NDB) comprising as many as 1699 wetlands. Results based on wetland survey data in combination with GIS-based ecohydrological analyses showed that wetlands located in wetlandscapes above a certain size (in the NDB: ~250 km2) consistently formed networks with characteristics required to support key ecosystem services such as nutrient/pollutant retention and biodiversity support. This was in contrast to smaller wetlandscapes (<250 km2), which had smaller and less diverse wetlands with insufficient throughflow to significantly impact large-scale flows of water and nutrients/pollutants. The existence of such wetlandscape-size thresholds is consistent with scale-dependent flow accumulation patterns in catchments, suggesting likely transferability of this result also to other regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Imenne Åhlén
- Department of Physical Geography, and the Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Peter Hambäck
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Josefin Thorslund
- Department of Physical Geography, and the Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andrew Frampton
- Department of Physical Geography, and the Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Georgia Destouni
- Department of Physical Geography, and the Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jerker Jarsjö
- Department of Physical Geography, and the Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
McCullough IM, Cheruvelil KS, Lapierre JF, Lottig NR, Moritz MA, Stachelek J, Soranno PA. Do lakes feel the burn? Ecological consequences of increasing exposure of lakes to fire in the continental United States. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:2841-2854. [PMID: 31301168 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Wildfires are becoming larger and more frequent across much of the United States due to anthropogenic climate change. No studies, however, have assessed fire prevalence in lake watersheds at broad spatial and temporal scales, and thus it is unknown whether wildfires threaten lakes and reservoirs (hereafter, lakes) of the United States. We show that fire activity has increased in lake watersheds across the continental United States from 1984 to 2015, particularly since 2005. Lakes have experienced the greatest fire activity in the western United States, Southern Great Plains, and Florida. Despite over 30 years of increasing fire exposure, fire effects on fresh waters have not been well studied; previous research has generally focused on streams, and most of the limited lake-fire research has been conducted in boreal landscapes. We therefore propose a conceptual model of how fire may influence the physical, chemical, and biological properties of lake ecosystems by synthesizing the best available science from terrestrial, aquatic, fire, and landscape ecology. This model also highlights emerging research priorities and provides a starting point to help land and lake managers anticipate potential effects of fire on ecosystem services provided by fresh waters and their watersheds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ian M McCullough
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Kendra Spence Cheruvelil
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
- Lyman Briggs College, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | | | - Noah R Lottig
- Trout Lake Station, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Boulder Junction, Wisconsin
| | - Max A Moritz
- Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
- University of California Cooperative Extension, Agriculture and Natural Resources Division, Santa Barbara, California
| | - Joseph Stachelek
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Patricia A Soranno
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Soranno PA, Wagner T, Collins SM, Lapierre JF, Lottig NR, Oliver SK. Spatial and temporal variation of ecosystem properties at macroscales. Ecol Lett 2019; 22:1587-1598. [PMID: 31347258 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Although spatial and temporal variation in ecological properties has been well-studied, crucial knowledge gaps remain for studies conducted at macroscales and for ecosystem properties related to material and energy. We test four propositions of spatial and temporal variation in ecosystem properties within a macroscale (1000 km's) extent. We fit Bayesian hierarchical models to thousands of observations from over two decades to quantify four components of variation - spatial (local and regional) and temporal (local and coherent); and to model their drivers. We found strong support for three propositions: (1) spatial variation at local and regional scales are large and roughly equal, (2) annual temporal variation is mostly local rather than coherent, and, (3) spatial variation exceeds temporal variation. Our findings imply that predicting ecosystem responses to environmental changes at macroscales requires consideration of the dominant spatial signals at both local and regional scales that may overwhelm temporal signals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia A Soranno
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan St. University, 480 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Tyler Wagner
- U.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, Pennsylvania State University, 402 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Sarah M Collins
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
| | - Jean-Francois Lapierre
- Department of Biological Science, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3C 3J7
| | - Noah R Lottig
- Trout Lake Research Station, Univ. of Wisconsin, 3110 Trout Lake Station Drive, Boulder Junction, WI, 54512, USA
| | - Samantha K Oliver
- Upper Midwest Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, WI, 53562, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Dodds WK, Bruckerhoff L, Batzer D, Schechner A, Pennock C, Renner E, Tromboni F, Bigham K, Grieger S. The freshwater biome gradient framework: predicting macroscale properties based on latitude, altitude, and precipitation. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Walter K. Dodds
- Division of Biology Kansas State University Manhattan Kansas 66506 USA
| | | | - Darold Batzer
- Department of Entomology University of Georgia Athens Georgia 30602 USA
| | - Anne Schechner
- Division of Biology Kansas State University Manhattan Kansas 66506 USA
| | - Casey Pennock
- Division of Biology Kansas State University Manhattan Kansas 66506 USA
| | - Elizabeth Renner
- Division of Biology Kansas State University Manhattan Kansas 66506 USA
| | - Flavia Tromboni
- Global Water Center and Biology Department University of Nevada Reno Nevada 89557 USA
| | - Kari Bigham
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Kansas State University Manhattan Kansas 66506 USA
| | - Samantha Grieger
- School of the Environment Washington State University Vancouver Washington 98686 USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Yan D, Li M, Bi W, Weng B, Qin T, Wang J, Do P. A data set of inland lake catchment boundaries for the Qiangtang Plateau. Sci Data 2019; 6:62. [PMID: 31097706 PMCID: PMC6522506 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-019-0066-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
A catchment is the basic unit for studying hydrologic cycle processes and associated climate change impacts. Accurate catchment delineation is essential in the field of hydrology, environment, and meteorology. Traditionally, catchment delineation is most easily carried out where the outflow area can be easily determined because of a well-defined outlet. The obstacle of the current study is to determine accurately the catchment boundary of lakes that are internally draining and, therefore, lack a well-defined outflow (i.e. inland lakes). This study describes a catchment delineation method which demarcated all the catchments of the lakes in the Qiangtang Plateau, especially for the inland lakes and their closed catchments. Lake catchment boundaries determined for the Qiangtang Plateau provide a significant advancement for water resource and climate change evaluation and agriculture production in the area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denghua Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR), Beijing, 100038, China
| | - Meng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR), Beijing, 100038, China
- Institute of Water Resources and Hydrology Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Wuxia Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR), Beijing, 100038, China
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Baisha Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR), Beijing, 100038, China.
| | - Tianling Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR), Beijing, 100038, China
| | - Jianwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR), Beijing, 100038, China
| | - Pierre Do
- Institute of Water Resources and Hydrology Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
A Regional-Scale Index for Assessing the Exposure of Drinking-Water Sources to Wildfires. FORESTS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/f10050384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Recent human-interface wildfires around the world have raised concerns regarding the reliability of freshwater supply flowing from severely burned watersheds. Degraded source water quality can often be expected after severe wildfire and can pose challenges to drinking water facilities by straining treatment response capacities, increasing operating costs, and jeopardizing their ability to supply consumers. Identifying source watersheds that are dangerously exposed to post-wildfire hydrologic changes is important for protecting community drinking-water supplies from contamination risks that may lead to service disruptions. This study presents a spatial index of watershed exposure to wildfires in the province of Alberta, Canada, where growing water demands coupled with increasing fire activity threaten municipal drinking-water supplies. Using a multi-criteria analysis design, we integrated information regarding provincial forest cover, fire danger, source water volume, source-water origin (i.e., forested/un-forested), and population served. We found that (1) >2/3 of the population of the province relies on drinking-water supplies originating in forested watersheds, (2) forest cover is the most important variable controlling final exposure scores, and (3) watersheds supplying small drinking water treatment plants are particularly exposed, especially in central Alberta. The index can help regional authorities prioritize the allocation of risk management resources to mitigate adverse impacts from wildfire. The flexible design of this tool readily allows its deployment at larger national and continental scales to inform broader water security frameworks.
Collapse
|
20
|
Soranno PA, Bacon LC, Beauchene M, Bednar KE, Bissell EG, Boudreau CK, Boyer MG, Bremigan MT, Carpenter SR, Carr JW, Cheruvelil KS, Christel ST, Claucherty M, Collins SM, Conroy JD, Downing JA, Dukett J, Fergus CE, Filstrup CT, Funk C, Gonzalez MJ, Green LT, Gries C, Halfman JD, Hamilton SK, Hanson PC, Henry EN, Herron EM, Hockings C, Jackson JR, Jacobson-Hedin K, Janus LL, Jones WW, Jones JR, Keson CM, King KBS, Kishbaugh SA, Lapierre JF, Lathrop B, Latimore JA, Lee Y, Lottig NR, Lynch JA, Matthews LJ, McDowell WH, Moore KEB, Neff BP, Nelson SJ, Oliver SK, Pace ML, Pierson DC, Poisson AC, Pollard AI, Post DM, Reyes PO, Rosenberry DO, Roy KM, Rudstam LG, Sarnelle O, Schuldt NJ, Scott CE, Skaff NK, Smith NJ, Spinelli NR, Stachelek JJ, Stanley EH, Stoddard JL, Stopyak SB, Stow CA, Tallant JM, Tan PN, Thorpe AP, Vanni MJ, Wagner T, Watkins G, Weathers KC, Webster KE, White JD, Wilmes MK, Yuan S. LAGOS-NE: a multi-scaled geospatial and temporal database of lake ecological context and water quality for thousands of US lakes. Gigascience 2018; 6:1-22. [PMID: 29053868 PMCID: PMC5721373 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/gix101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the factors that affect water quality and the ecological services provided by freshwater ecosystems is an urgent global environmental issue. Predicting how water quality will respond to global changes not only requires water quality data, but also information about the ecological context of individual water bodies across broad spatial extents. Because lake water quality is usually sampled in limited geographic regions, often for limited time periods, assessing the environmental controls of water quality requires compilation of many data sets across broad regions and across time into an integrated database. LAGOS-NE accomplishes this goal for lakes in the northeastern-most 17 US states. LAGOS-NE contains data for 51 101 lakes and reservoirs larger than 4 ha in 17 lake-rich US states. The database includes 3 data modules for: lake location and physical characteristics for all lakes; ecological context (i.e., the land use, geologic, climatic, and hydrologic setting of lakes) for all lakes; and in situ measurements of lake water quality for a subset of the lakes from the past 3 decades for approximately 2600–12 000 lakes depending on the variable. The database contains approximately 150 000 measures of total phosphorus, 200 000 measures of chlorophyll, and 900 000 measures of Secchi depth. The water quality data were compiled from 87 lake water quality data sets from federal, state, tribal, and non-profit agencies, university researchers, and citizen scientists. This database is one of the largest and most comprehensive databases of its type because it includes both in situ measurements and ecological context data. Because ecological context can be used to study a variety of other questions about lakes, streams, and wetlands, this database can also be used as the foundation for other studies of freshwaters at broad spatial and ecological scales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia A Soranno
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Linda C Bacon
- Department of Environmental Protection, State of Maine, Augusta, ME 04330, USA
| | - Michael Beauchene
- Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, State of Connecticut, Hartford, CT 06106, USA
| | - Karen E Bednar
- Water Resources Program, Lac du Flambeau Tribal Natural Resources, Lac du Flambeau, WI, USA
| | - Edward G Bissell
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Claire K Boudreau
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Marvin G Boyer
- Environmental Planning, US Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, MO 64106, USA
| | - Mary T Bremigan
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Stephen R Carpenter
- Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Jamie W Carr
- Office of Watershed Management, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, West Boylston, MA 10583, USA
| | - Kendra S Cheruvelil
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Samuel T Christel
- Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Matt Claucherty
- Watershed Protection, Tipp of the Mitt Watershed Council, Petoskey, MI 49770, USA
| | - Sarah M Collins
- Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Joseph D Conroy
- Division of Wildlife, Inland Fisheries Research Unit, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Hebron, OH 43025, USA
| | - John A Downing
- Large Lakes Observatory, University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN 55812 USA
| | - Jed Dukett
- Adirondack Lake Survey Corporation, Ray Brook, NY 12977 USA
| | - C Emi Fergus
- National Research Council, US Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | | | - Clara Funk
- Office of Air and Radiation, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA
| | | | - Linda T Green
- Natural Resource Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02892 USA
| | - Corinna Gries
- Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - John D Halfman
- Geoscience, Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY 14456 USA
| | - Stephen K Hamilton
- Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI 49060, USA
| | - Paul C Hanson
- Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Emily N Henry
- Outreach and Engagement, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | | | - Celeste Hockings
- Natural Resource Department, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538, USA
| | - James R Jackson
- Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Bridgeport, NY, USA
| | | | - Lorraine L Janus
- Bureau of Water Supply, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Valhalla, NY 10560, USA
| | - William W Jones
- School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47408, USA
| | - John R Jones
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Caroline M Keson
- Natural Resource Department, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Harbor Springs, MI 49740, USA
| | - Katelyn B S King
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Scott A Kishbaugh
- Division of Water, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY 12233, USA
| | - Jean-Francois Lapierre
- Department of Biological Science, University of Montreal, Montreal Quebec, Canada, H3C 3J7
| | - Barbara Lathrop
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, State of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA 17101 USA
| | - Jo A Latimore
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Yuehlin Lee
- Office of Watershed Management, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Belchertown, MA 01007, USA
| | - Noah R Lottig
- Trout Lake Research Station, University of Wisconsin, Boulder Junction, WI 54512, USA
| | - Jason A Lynch
- Office of Air and Radiation, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA
| | - Leslie J Matthews
- Lakes and Ponds Program, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Montpelier, VT 05620, USA
| | - William H McDowell
- Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
| | - Karen E B Moore
- Water Quality Science and Research, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Kingston, NY 12401, USA
| | - Brian P Neff
- National Research Program, USGS, Denver CO 80225, USA
| | - Sarah J Nelson
- School of Forest Resources, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Samantha K Oliver
- Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Michael L Pace
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Donald C Pierson
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Autumn C Poisson
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | | | - David M Post
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, Connecticut 06511, USA
| | - Paul O Reyes
- Office of Watershed Management, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Belchertown, MA 01007, USA
| | | | - Karen M Roy
- Division of Air Resources, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Ray Brook, NY 12977, USA
| | - Lars G Rudstam
- Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Orlando Sarnelle
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Nancy J Schuldt
- Environmental Program, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Cloquet, MN 55720, USA
| | | | - Nicholas K Skaff
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Nicole J Smith
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Nick R Spinelli
- Watershed Management, Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District, Hawley, PA, USA
| | - Joseph J Stachelek
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Emily H Stanley
- Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - John L Stoddard
- Western Ecology Division, Office of Research and Development, US EPA, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | | | - Craig A Stow
- Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab, NOAA, Ann Arbor, MI 47176, USA
| | - Jason M Tallant
- Biological Station, University of Michigan, Pellston, MI 49769, USA
| | - Pang-Ning Tan
- Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Anthony P Thorpe
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Michael J Vanni
- Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA
| | - Tyler Wagner
- Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, USGS, 402 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Gretchen Watkins
- Water Resources Program, Lac du Flambeau Tribal Natural Resources, Lac du Flambeau, WI, USA
| | | | | | - Jeffrey D White
- Biology Department, Framingham State University, Framingham, MA 01702, USA
| | - Marcy K Wilmes
- Department of Environmental Quality, State of Michigan, Lansing, MI 48909, USA
| | - Shuai Yuan
- Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Hill RA, Weber MH, Debbout RM, Leibowitz SG, Olsen AR. The Lake-Catchment (LakeCat) Dataset: characterizing landscape features for lake basins within the conterminous USA. FRESHWATER SCIENCE (PRINT) 2018; 37:208-221. [PMID: 29963332 PMCID: PMC6020677 DOI: 10.1086/697966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Natural and human-related landscape features influence the ecology and water quality of lakes. Summarizing these features in a hydrologically meaningful way is critical to understanding and managing lake ecosystems. Such summaries are often done by delineating watershed boundaries of individual lakes. However, many technical challenges are associated with delineating hundreds or thousands of lake watersheds at broad spatial extents. These challenges can limit the application of analyses and models to new, unsampled locations. We present the Lake-Catchment (LakeCat) Dataset (https://www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/lakecat) of watershed features for 378,088 lakes within the conterminous USA. We describe the methods we used to: 1) delineate lake catchments, 2) hydrologically connect nested lake catchments, and 3) generate several hundred watershed-level metrics that summarize both natural (e.g., soils, geology, climate, and land cover) and anthropogenic (e.g., urbanization, agriculture, and mines) features. We illustrate how this data set can be used with a random forest model to predict the probability of lake eutrophication by combining LakeCat with data from US Environmental Protection Agency's National Lakes Assessment (NLA). This model correctly predicted the trophic state of 72% of NLA lakes, and we applied the model to predict the probability of eutrophication at 297,071 unsampled lakes across the conterminous USA. The large suite of LakeCat metrics could be used to improve analyses of lakes at broad spatial extents, improve the applicability of analyses to unsampled lakes, and ultimately improve the management of these important ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A Hill
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Post-doctoral Participant, c/o National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Western Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 Street, Corvallis, Oregon 97333 USA
| | - Marc H Weber
- National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Western Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 Street, Corvallis, Oregon 97333 USA
| | - Rick M Debbout
- Associate Software Engineer, CSRA Inc., c/o National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Western Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 Street, Corvallis, Oregon 97333 USA
| | - Scott G Leibowitz
- National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Western Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 Street, Corvallis, Oregon 97333 USA
| | - Anthony R Olsen
- National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Western Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35 Street, Corvallis, Oregon 97333 USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Fritz KM, Schofield KA, Alexander LC, McManus MG, Golden HE, Lane CR, Kepner WG, LeDuc SD, DeMeester JE, Pollard AI. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CONNECTIVITY OF STREAMS AND RIPARIAN WETLANDS TO DOWNSTREAM WATERS: A SYNTHESIS. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION 2018; 54:323-345. [PMID: 30245566 PMCID: PMC6145469 DOI: 10.1111/1752-1688.12632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Streams, riparian areas, floodplains, alluvial aquifers and downstream waters (e.g., large rivers, lakes, oceans) are interconnected by longitudinal, lateral, and vertical fluxes of water, other materials and energy. Collectively, these interconnected waters are called fluvial hydrosystems. Physical and chemical connectivity within fluvial hydrosystems is created by the transport of nonliving materials (e.g., water, sediment, nutrients, contaminants) which either do or do not chemically change (chemical and physical connections, respectively). A substantial body of evidence unequivocally demonstrates physical and chemical connectivity between streams and riparian wetlands and downstream waters. Streams and riparian wetlands are structurally connected to downstream waters through the network of continuous channels and floodplain form that make these systems physically contiguous, and the very existence of these structures provides strong geomorphologic evidence for connectivity. Functional connections between streams and riparian wetlands and their downstream waters vary geographically and over time, based on proximity, relative size, environmental setting, material disparity, and intervening units. Because of the complexity and dynamic nature of connections among fluvial hydrosystem units, a complete accounting of the physical and chemical connections and their consequences to downstream waters should aggregate over multiple years to decades.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ken M Fritz
- Respectively, Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Research Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (McManus), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Physical Scientist (Golden), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Kepner), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119; Ecologist (LeDuc), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Director of Water Resources (DeMeester), North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Durham, North Carolina; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460 (26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Fritz: )
| | - Kate A Schofield
- Respectively, Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Research Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (McManus), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Physical Scientist (Golden), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Kepner), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119; Ecologist (LeDuc), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Director of Water Resources (DeMeester), North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Durham, North Carolina; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460 (26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Fritz: )
| | - Laurie C Alexander
- Respectively, Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Research Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (McManus), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Physical Scientist (Golden), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Kepner), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119; Ecologist (LeDuc), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Director of Water Resources (DeMeester), North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Durham, North Carolina; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460 (26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Fritz: )
| | - Michael G McManus
- Respectively, Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Research Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (McManus), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Physical Scientist (Golden), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Kepner), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119; Ecologist (LeDuc), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Director of Water Resources (DeMeester), North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Durham, North Carolina; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460 (26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Fritz: )
| | - Heather E Golden
- Respectively, Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Research Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (McManus), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Physical Scientist (Golden), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Kepner), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119; Ecologist (LeDuc), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Director of Water Resources (DeMeester), North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Durham, North Carolina; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460 (26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Fritz: )
| | - Charles R Lane
- Respectively, Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Research Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (McManus), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Physical Scientist (Golden), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Kepner), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119; Ecologist (LeDuc), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Director of Water Resources (DeMeester), North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Durham, North Carolina; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460 (26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Fritz: )
| | - William G Kepner
- Respectively, Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Research Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (McManus), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Physical Scientist (Golden), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Kepner), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119; Ecologist (LeDuc), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Director of Water Resources (DeMeester), North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Durham, North Carolina; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460 (26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Fritz: )
| | - Stephen D LeDuc
- Respectively, Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Research Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (McManus), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Physical Scientist (Golden), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Kepner), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119; Ecologist (LeDuc), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Director of Water Resources (DeMeester), North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Durham, North Carolina; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460 (26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Fritz: )
| | - Julie E DeMeester
- Respectively, Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Research Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (McManus), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Physical Scientist (Golden), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Kepner), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119; Ecologist (LeDuc), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Director of Water Resources (DeMeester), North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Durham, North Carolina; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460 (26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Fritz: )
| | - Amina I Pollard
- Respectively, Research Ecologist (Fritz), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Ecologist (Schofield), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Research Ecologist (Alexander), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Ecologist (McManus), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Physical Scientist (Golden), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Lane), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Research Ecologist (Kepner), National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119; Ecologist (LeDuc), National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460; Director of Water Resources (DeMeester), North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Durham, North Carolina; Research Ecologist (Pollard), Office of Water, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460 (26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268; Fritz: )
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Lane CR, Leibowitz SG, Autrey BC, LeDuc SD, Alexander LC. HYDROLOGICAL, PHYSICAL, AND CHEMICAL FUNCTIONS AND CONNECTIVITY OF NON-FLOODPLAIN WETLANDS TO DOWNSTREAM WATERS: A REVIEW. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION 2018; 54:346-371. [PMID: 34887654 PMCID: PMC8654163 DOI: 10.1111/1752-1688.12633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
We reviewed the scientific literature on non-floodplain wetlands (NFWs), freshwater wetlands typically located distal to riparian and floodplain systems, to determine hydrological, physical, and chemical functioning and stream and river network connectivity. We assayed the literature for source, sink, lag, and transformation functions, as well as factors affecting connectivity. We determined NFWs are important landscape components, hydrologically, physically, and chemically affecting downstream aquatic systems. NFWs are hydrologic and chemical sources for other waters, hydrologically connecting across long distances and contributing compounds such as methylated mercury and dissolved organic matter. NFWs reduced flood peaks and maintained baseflows in stream and river networks through hydrologic lag and sink functions, and sequestered or assimilated substantial nutrient inputs through chemical sink and transformative functions. Landscape-scale connectivity of NFWs affects water and material fluxes to downstream river networks, substantially modifying the characteristics and function of downstream waters. Many factors determine the effects of NFW hydrological, physical, and chemical functions on downstream systems, and additional research quantifying these factors and impacts is warranted. We conclude NFWs are hydrologically, chemically, and physically interconnected with stream and river networks though this connectivity varies in frequency, duration, magnitude, and timing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charles R Lane
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Scott G Leibowitz
- National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Bradley C Autrey
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Stephen D LeDuc
- National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Laurie C Alexander
- National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., USA
| |
Collapse
|