Thinking outside the channel: Modeling nitrogen cycling in networked river ecosystems

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2011 · Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1890/080211· OSTI ID:1014221

Helton, Ashley ^[1]; Poole, Geoffrey C. ^[2]; Meyer, Judy ^[1]; Wollheim, Wilfred ^[3]; Peterson, Bruce ^[4]; Mulholland, Patrick J ^[5]; Bernhardt, Emily ^[6]; Stanford, Jack ^[7]; Arango, Clay ^[8]; Ashkenas, Linda ^[9]; Cooper, Lee W ^[5]; Dodds, Walter ^[10]; Gregory, Stanley ^[9]; Hall, Robert ^[11]; Hamilton, Stephen ^[12]; Johnson, Sherri ^[13]; McDowell, William ^[14]; Potter, Jody ^[3]; Tank, Jennifer ^[8]; Thomas, Suzanne ^[4] ; Valett, H. Maurice ^[15]; Webster, Jackson ^[15]; Zeglin, Lydia ^[16]

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1. University of Georgia, Athens, GA
2. Montana State University
3. University of New Hampshire
4. Marine Biological Laboratory
5. ORNL
6. Duke University
7. University of Montana, Missoula
8. University of Notre Dame, IN
9. Oregon State University, Corvallis
10. Kansas State University
11. University of Wyoming, Laramie
12. Michigan State University, East Lansing
13. Oregon State University
14. University of Hew Hampshire
15. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
16. University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

Agricultural and urban development alters nitrogen and other biogeochemical cycles in rivers worldwide. Because such biogeochemical processes cannot be measured empirically across whole river networks, simulation models are critical tools for understanding river-network biogeochemistry. However, limitations inherent in current models restrict our ability to simulate biogeochemical dynamics among diverse river networks. We illustrate these limitations using a river-network model to scale up in situ measures of nitrogen cycling in eight catchments spanning various geophysical and land-use conditions. Our model results provide evidence that catchment characteristics typically excluded from models may control river-network biogeochemistry. Based on our findings, we identify important components of a revised strategy for simulating biogeochemical dynamics in river networks, including approaches to modeling terrestrial-aquatic linkages, hydrologic exchanges between the channel, floodplain/riparian complex, and subsurface waters, and interactions between coupled biogeochemical cycles.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1014221
• Journal Information: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Vol. 9, Issue 4; ISSN 1540--9295
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
ECOSYSTEMS
LAND USE
NITROGEN
RIVERS
SIMULATION