Effects of Surface Water Fluctuations and Sediment Movement on Hyporheic Zone Biogeochemistry and Microbial Communities

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2024

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/2283716· OSTI ID:2283716

Strom, Kyle ^[1]; Hester, Erich ^[2]; Widdowson, Mark ^[2]

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1. Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States); Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
2. Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)

The hyporheic zone (HZ) is the region beneath and adjacent to streams, rivers, and riverine estuaries where the bidirectional exchange of groundwater (GW) and surface water (SW) occurs. The HZ is an integral component of watersheds, a biologically-active zone providing critical control of SW quality and aquatic life. Much prior work has investigated microbially-mediated biogeochemical reactions in the HZ, mainly from a steady-state perspective. Yet key unique aspects of the HZ include 1) proximity to SW fluctuations (e.g., storms, dam operations) which cyclically drive DOC and DO into the bed and banks creating biogeochemical “hot moments,” and 2) continually shifting surface sediment. Both of these controls should substantially influence microbial communities, yet remain poorly understood, and a mechanistic predictive framework does not exist.

• Research Organization: Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Biological Systems Science (BSS)
• DOE Contract Number: SC0021402
• OSTI ID: 2283716
• Report Number(s): DOE-DE--SC0021402-Final-Report
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES