Particulate Organic Matter Export from Three Headwater Streams: Discrete versus Continuous Measurements

1988 ◽  
Vol 45 (11) ◽  
pp. 2010-2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas F. Cuffney ◽  
J. Bruce Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Particulate Organic Matter ◽  
Stream Flow ◽  
Headwater Streams ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Bedload Transport ◽  
Total Export ◽  
Discrete Method ◽  
Continuous Measurements ◽  
Total Discharge

Particulate organic matter (POM) export from three small headwater streams of the southern Appalachian Mountains was estimated using continuous and discrete (grab) measurement methods for 2 yr. Total annual POM export estimated from continuous measurements was always greater (28–68 kg ash-free dry mass (AFDM)) than estimates (8–44 kg AFDM) made from discrete measurements (i.e. POM concentration × total discharge). Continuous export samples were collected using a weir and gaging flume connected to a Coshocton proportional sampler designed to deliver 0.6% of discharge into a series of three settling barrels. The settling barrels removed a consistent proportion of POM (85–87%). The proportion of stream flow sampled by the Coshocton samplers was constant for each of the samplers (range 0.53–0.6%). The constant extraction efficiencies and proportional sampling of discharge allowed for the calculation of total export independent of discharge measurements (i.e. total export = amount in barrels ÷ extraction efficiency ÷ Coshocton percentage). The inability of the discrete method to adequately sample storm and bedload transport accounts for the underestimates of total annual export. This underestimation has important implications for studies which use discrete measurements to estimate POM export.

scholarly journals Coarse particulate organic matter in the interstitial zone of three French headwater streams

2012 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Cornut ◽  
Arnaud Elger ◽  
Axel Greugny ◽  
Maelys Bonnet ◽  
Eric Chauvet
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Particulate Organic Matter ◽  
Headwater Streams ◽  
Coarse Particulate Organic Matter

Long-term dynamics of organic matter and elements exported as coarse particulates from two Caribbean montane watersheds

2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Heartsill Scalley ◽  
F. N. Scatena ◽  
S. Moya ◽  
A. E. Lugo
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Particulate Organic Matter ◽  
Headwater Streams ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Coarse Particulate Organic Matter ◽  
North East ◽  
Storm Flow ◽  
Before And After

Abstract:In heterotrophic streams the retention and export of coarse particulate organic matter and associated elements are fundamental biogeochemical processes that influence water quality, food webs and the structural complexity of forested headwater streams. Nevertheless, few studies have documented the quantity and quality of exported organic matter over multiple years and under a range of conditions that includes both droughts and hurricanes. This study quantifies the export of coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM, > 12.7 mm), over 18 y in two headwater streams in north-east Puerto Rico. Daily exports ranged from 0 to over 170 g ha−1 d−1 and averaged 7.39 g ha−1 d−1, with similar amounts coming from leaves (3.5 g ha−1 d−1) and wood (3.2 g ha−1 d−1). Export of coarse particulate organic carbon was 3.0 g ha−1 d−1 which constitutes only 1.32% of carbon exports. Most litter falling into the streams was processed in place as only 2.3% of the leaf litter falling directly into these perennial channels was exported as CPOM. On average, 6 wk y−1 had no exports while events transporting more than 10 g ha−1 d−1 occurred every 2.8 mo. Instead of a single annual pulse as observed in deciduous systems, there were annual peaks in CPOM exports during May and September and less export during the drier period from December to February. Ratios of C:N in the exported material were highest in the driest month and lowest during rainy months, while leaf fluxes for nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium were highest in rainy months and lowest during February. Although median daily exports and exports during low- and base-flow periods were similar before and after Hugo, after 16 y exports during moderate- and high-flow periods were still less than those in the 2 y prior to the hurricane. Our observations indicate a system with high rates of internal processing that quickly returns to median daily conditions following hurricanes but requires several decades for storm-flow exports to return to pre-disturbance conditions and indicates that the long-term pattern of CPOM export is associated with the level of maturity of watershed vegetation.

The influence of stream size on the food quality of seston

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (9) ◽  
pp. 1995-2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Naiman
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Particulate Organic Matter ◽  
Food Quality ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Fine Particulate Organic Matter ◽  
Respiration Rates ◽  
Fine Particulate ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Nitrogen Ratio

During 1979 and 1980, seston was investigated for food quality in five Quebec streams ranging in size from first to ninth order. Course particulate organic matter (CPOM; > 1 mm), fine particulate organic matter (FPOM; 53 μm – 1 mm), and very fine particulate organic matter (VPOM; 0.5–53 μm) were examined for the percentage of organic matter, the carbon to nitrogen ratio, the amount of chlorophyll a, the respiration rate of associated microbes, and the nature of the particles. The percentage of organic matter ranged from 42 to 64% for CPOM, 21 to 35% for FPOM, and 32 to 82% for VPOM. The majority of chlorophyll was associated with FPOM and CPOM, but chlorophyll-bearing particles constituted only 6–34% ([Formula: see text]) of the seston load. Highest respiration rates ([Formula: see text] mg O2∙g ash-free dry mass−1∙h−1) were associated with VPOM, nearly an order of magnitude greater than mean rates associated with FPOM or CPOM. Carbon to nitrogen ratios decreased with particle size, and the lowest ratios and highest percentage of nitrogen were found in the large rivers. Electron microscopy indicated a more diverse array of particles downstream. The results suggest that seston undergoes rapid and directed changes in food quality as particles move downstream.

scholarly journals The mass distribution of coarse particulate organic matter exported from an Alpine headwater stream

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Turowski ◽  
A. Badoux ◽  
K. Bunte ◽  
C. Rickli ◽  
N. Federspiel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Mass Distribution ◽  
Particulate Organic Matter ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Mountain Stream ◽  
Scaling Exponent ◽  
Scaling Exponents ◽  
Coarse Particulate Organic Matter ◽  
Strong Control

Abstract. Coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) particles span sizes from 1 mm, with a dry mass less than 1 mg, to large logs and entire trees, which can have a dry mass of several hundred kilograms. Pieces of different size and mass play different roles in stream environments, from being the prime source of energy in stream ecosystems to macroscopically determining channel morphology and local hydraulics. We show that a single scaling exponent can describe the mass distribution of CPOM heavier than 0.1 g transported in the Erlenbach, a steep mountain stream in the Swiss pre-Alps. This exponent takes an average value of −1.8, is independent of discharge and valid for particle masses spanning almost seven orders of magnitude. Similarly, the mass distribution of in-stream large woody debris (LWD) in several Swiss streams can be described by power law scaling distributions, with exponents varying between −1.8 and −2.0, if all in-stream LWD is considered, and between −1.3 and −1.8 for material locked in log jams. We found similar values for in-stream and transported material in the literature. We had expected that scaling exponents are determined by stream type, vegetation, climate, substrate properties, and the connectivity between channels and hillslopes. However, none of the descriptor variables tested here, including drainage area, channel bed slope and the percentage of forested area, show a strong control on exponent value. Together with a rating curve of CPOM transport rates with discharge, the scaling exponents can be used in the design of measuring strategies and in natural hazard mitigation.

Particulate organic matter dynamics in tropical headwater streams: a comparison of biotic and abiotic factors

2002 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 923-927 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Crowl ◽  
A. P. Covich ◽  
F. N. Scatena ◽  
R. Phillips ◽  
M. J. Townsend ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Particulate Organic Matter ◽  
Headwater Streams ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Biotic And Abiotic Factors ◽  
Organic Matter Dynamics

Long-term studies of the influence of invertebrate manipulations and drought on particulate organic matter export from headwater streams

1991 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 1676-1680
Author(s):  
J. B. Wallace ◽  
T. F. Cuffney ◽  
B. S. Goldowitz ◽  
K. Chung ◽  
G. J. Lugthart
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Particulate Organic Matter ◽  
Headwater Streams ◽  
Long Term Studies

Relating particulate organic matter-nitrogen (POM-N) and non-POM-N with pulse crop residues, residue management and cereal N uptake

Agronomie ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 777-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme D. Schwenke ◽  
Warwick L. Felton ◽  
David F. Herridge ◽  
Dil F. Khan ◽  
Mark B. Peoples
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Particulate Organic Matter ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Pulse Crop
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