Thursday, May 29, 2008 - 10:00 AM
525

Streams, wetlands and lakes as nutrient processing domains

H. Maurice Valett1, Jonathan M. O'Brien2, Stephen K. Hamilton2, Emily Stanley3, and Amy J. Burgin4. (1) Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2119 Derring Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061, (2) Kellogg Biological Station, 3700 East Gull Lake Drive, Hickory Corners, MI 49060, (3) Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin, 680 N. Park St, Madison, WI 53706, (4) Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB, Millbrook, NY 12545

Nutrient cycling in headwater streams can be predicted from water chemistry, hydrology, and channel morphology.  In wetlands, ecological functions are predictable from geomorphic setting, water source and transport, and hydrodynamics.  Nutrient processing in terrestrial ecosystems has been related to geomorphological units on landscapes.  Here we build on these concepts to introduce aquatic nutrient processing domains (NPDs), which we define as sets of geomorphic, hydrologic, and biogeochemical conditions that explain variation in the magnitude, efficiency, and character of nutrient processing among diverse surface waters.  The NPD concept argues that central and readily observable features of geomorphology, hydrology, and biology can be considered in combination to predict the ability of these ecosystems to retain, remove and transform nutrients.  Wetlands situated along stream courses share features of lotic and lentic ecosystems, and a study of nitrate removal as water passes through Michigan wetlands demonstrates how the NPD concept can be useful to predict nutrient processing by these kinds of wetlands. 


Web Page: nutrients, wetlands, hydrology