Seasonal variation in water chemistry over a bog-rich fen gradient in Continental Western Canada

1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 587-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale H. Vitt ◽  
Suzanne E. Bayley ◽  
Tai-Long Jin
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Metal Ions ◽  
Water Chemistry ◽  
Base Cations ◽  
Hydrogen Ion ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Surface Water Chemistry ◽  
Rich Fen

Surface and subsurface (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m depths) water was sampled weekly in 1989 and biweekly in 1990 during the ice-free season along a bog-rich fen gradient in central Alberta. Acidity–alkalinity were most closely related to peatland type and were the most useful parameters for characterizing peatlands. Potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations were more related to season, year, or peatland–year interactions and cannot be used to categorize the bog–fen gradient. Hydrogen ion, ammonium, alkalinity, and corrected conductivity were relatively constant throughout the ice-free season, while total metal ions (Al, Fe, Mn, and Zn), base cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+), nitrate, and components of phosphorus fluctuated seasonally. Nitrate remained constant with depth in all peatland types, whereas ammonium increased with depth. Relationships of surface water chemistry to pH for all sites showed three patterns: a positive and highly significant correlation with little seasonal variation within peatland types (base cations, alkalinity, and corrected conductivity); less significant correlation with strong seasonal variation within peatland types (N and P); and a general negative and highly significant correlation with some seasonal variation in peatland types (metals and S). Water temperatures increased along the bog-rich fen gradient.

Distribution and habitat niches of 37 peatland Cyperaceae species across a broad geographic range in Canada

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (9) ◽  
pp. 1292-1313 ◽  
Author(s):  
L D Gignac ◽  
R Gauthier ◽  
L Rochefort ◽  
J Bubier
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Chemistry ◽  
Water Table ◽  
Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Response Surfaces ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
Surface Water Chemistry ◽  
Rich Fen ◽  
Poor Fen ◽  
Shade Tolerant Species

The presence and absence of 37 Cyperaceae species found on 498 peatlands across Canada were examined along surface water chemistry, shade, height above the water table, and climatic gradients. A canonical correspondence analysis of the species distribution along the environmental gradients indicated that surface water chemistry and climate were highly correlated with the first and second axes and were the two most important gradients distinguishing among groups. The climatic gradient was further subdivided into western oceanic continental and eastern oceanic continental gradients. Height above the water table and shade were correlated to the third canonical correspondence analysis axis and were of secondary importance in explaining species distributions. A TWINSPAN analysis of the species separated them into eight groups: (1) widespread, obligate rich fen, wet, shade-tolerant species; (2) widespread rich fen preferential species; (3) continental and eastern oceanic, rich fen preferential, wet, shade-intolerant species; (4) widespread fen, wet, shade-intolerant species; (5) widespread bog or fen, shade-tolerant species; (6) widespread subcontinental and oceanic, bog or fen, shade-intolerant species; (7) eastern subcontinental and oceanic, poor fen preferential species; (8) western oceanic, bog and poor fen preferential, shade-intolerant species. Response surfaces were generated by quantifying the frequency of occurrence of representative species in each group along pH and height above the water table, shade and mean annual temperature, and mean annual total precipitation gradients. Frequency of occurrence values for several of the rarer species indicated that they were not limited by the number of suitable habitats analyzed in this study but by other factors such as competition, failure to establish, or dispersal. This study emphasizes the importance of habitat and climate in determining the local and regional diversity and distribution of the most common Cyperaceae on peatlands in Canada.Key words: sedges, Carex, peat lands, response surfaces, climate, water chemistry.

Ion Mass Balances and Seasonal Fluxes from Four Acidic Brownwater Streams in Nova Scotia

1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 538-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Freedman ◽  
T. A. Clair
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Chemistry ◽  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Hydrogen Ion ◽  
Mass Balances ◽  
Small Magnitude ◽  
Surface Water Chemistry ◽  
Average Value

Precipitation and four brownwater streams in southwestern Nova Scotia were sampled for 3–5 yr. Precipitation cation chemistry was dominated by H+ (44% of cation equivalents) and Na+ (38%), while anions were dominated by Cl− (44%), SO42− (41%), and NO3− (15%); mean annual pH was 4.6, and acidity was correlated with concentrations of SO42− (r = 0.90) and NO3− (r = 0.82). Surface water chemistry was dominated by Na+ (51% of cation equivalents), Mg2+ (17%), and Ca2+ (16%), while H+ averaged only 4%; anions were dominated by Cl− (53%), organic anions (23%), and SO42− (21%); H+ was not strongly related to concentrations of other ionic constituents (the most consistent correlation was with sulfate, but this was weak and accounted for <30% of the variation). Hydrogen ion was consumed in all four watersheds by an average value of >75%. Water flow was by far the strongest determinant of annual pattern of flux of chemical constituents from the watersheds. Seasonal variations of concentration were of relatively small magnitude and had much less influence on patterns of flux.

Peat chemistry of a continental mire complex in western Canada

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 763-775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara J. Nicholson
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Chemistry ◽  
Calcium Content ◽  
Magnesium Content ◽  
Gradual Transition ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Surface Water Chemistry ◽  
Influence Of Water ◽  
Peat Chemistry ◽  
Peat Surface

A continental peatland complex in western Canada containing varied vegetational landforms was studied to relate surface physiognomy to peatland development. Peat chemistry was used to determine the influence of water chemistry on landform formation and to assess the development of ombrotrophy on forested Sphagnum islands. Surface water chemistry at the site showed the following: pH 3.7–6.3; calcium content 0.9–15.6 mg/L; magnesium content 0.5–2.8 mg/L; and reduced conductivity 0–232 μS/cm. Peat cores were subdivided into two peat types, fen and forested Sphagnum islands. Spearman rank correlations and the Mann–Whitney U-test were used to determine significant differences in ash, bulk density, calcium, and magnesium. Elemental contents of surface peats are directly related to landform features. Elemental peat profiles exhibit three accumulation trends: stable, increasing, and declining. Fen peats have profiles that are stable or increase towards the peat surface, whereas forested Sphagnum island peats have profiles that decline toward the peat surface. During the development of the mire, fen peats receiving mineral-enriched waters have accumulated higher amounts of mineral ions. Forested Sphagnum islands have developed in hydrologically sheltered areas, resulting in the formation of mineral-poor peat. Surface water, vegetation, and peat stratigraphy suggest that the forested Sphagnum islands have become ombrotrophic, forming local recharge zones with a gradual transition from a mineral-poor environment to ombrotrophy.

scholarly journals Tailings Dust Characterization and Impacts on Surface Water Chemistry

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Cleaver ◽  
Heather Jamieson ◽  
Carrie Rickwood ◽  
Philippa Huntsman
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Chemistry ◽  
Surface Water Chemistry
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document