Heterogeneity in Hyporheic Flow, Pore Water Chemistry, and Microbial Community Composition in an Alpine Streambed

Nelson, Amelia R.; Sawyer, Audrey H.; Gabor, Rachel S.; Saup, Casey M.; Bryant, Savannah R.; Harris, Kira D.; Briggs, Martin A.; Williams, Kenneth H.; Wilkins, Michael J.

doi:10.1029/2019JG005226

Heterogeneity in Hyporheic Flow, Pore Water Chemistry, and Microbial Community Composition in an Alpine Streambed

Journal Article · Wed Nov 20 00:00:00 EST 2019 · Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JG005226· OSTI ID:1579449

^[1]; ^[1]; Gabor, Rachel S. ^[2]; ^[1]; Bryant, Savannah R. ^[1]; Harris, Kira D. ^[1]; ^[3]; ^[4]; ^[5]

School of Earth Sciences The Ohio State University Columbus OH USA
School of Environment and Natural Resources The Ohio State University Columbus OH USA
Hydrogeophysics Branch U.S. Geological Survey Storrs CT USA
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA USA, Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory Gothic CO USA
Department of Soil and Crop Science Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USA

Abstract

The hyporheic zone, where surface water and groundwater mix, is an important microbial habitat where biogeochemical reactions influence water quality. We show that spatial variability in hyporheic flow in the East River near Crested Butte, CO, drives heterogeneity in streambed geochemical conditions and microbial community assemblages, but the diversity of microbial assemblages remains nearly constant throughout the reach. In July 2018, we collected approximately 100 pore water samples at 20‐cm depth and analyzed them for anions, cations, dissolved organic carbon, dissolved organic matter (DOM) quality, and basic water quality parameters. Vertical hydraulic head gradients were also measured to assess the potential for upward or downward flow, and heat tracing was used to quantify vertical flux rates at a subset of locations. We found that regions of the streambed that are more groundwater‐dominated contain less dissolved oxygen, higher concentrations of reduced metals, and more microbially processed, recalcitrant DOM, while more surface water‐dominated locations contain higher dissolved oxygen concentrations and terrestrially derived, labile DOM. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of extracted DNA revealed that microbial community composition varies with geochemical gradients related to hyporheic flow. These findings provide a better understanding of hyporheic controls on streambed biogeochemistry during the baseflow season, which is expected to lengthen with climate change in alpine watersheds due to earlier snowmelt onset and reduced snowpack.

View Accepted Manuscript (Publisher)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0016488

OSTI ID:: 1579449

Journal Information:: Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 124; ISSN 2169-8953

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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