Mass balance implies Holocene development of a low-relief karst patterned landscape

Chamberlin, Catherine A.; Bianchi, Thomas S.; Brown, Amy L.; Cohen, Matthew J.; Dong, Xiaoli; Flint, Madison K.; Martin, Jonathan B.; McLaughlin, Daniel L.; Murray, A. Brad; Pain, Andrea; Quintero, Carlos J.; Ward, Nicholas D.; Zhang, Xiaowen; Heffernan, James B.

doi:10.1016/J.CHEMGEO.2018.05.029

Title: Mass balance implies Holocene development of a low-relief karst patterned landscape

Journal Article · 22 May 2018 · Chemical Geology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CHEMGEO.2018.05.029 · OSTI ID:1457744

Chamberlin, Catherine A. ^[1]; Bianchi, Thomas S. ^[2];

^[2]; Cohen, Matthew J. ^[3]; Dong, Xiaoli ^[1]; Flint, Madison K. ^[2];

^[2]; McLaughlin, Daniel L. ^[4]; Murray, A. Brad ^[1]; Pain, Andrea ^[2]; Quintero, Carlos J. ^[5]; Ward, Nicholas D. ^[6]; Zhang, Xiaowen ^[2]; Heffernan, James B. ^[1]

Duke Univ., Durham, NC (United States). Nicholas School of the Environment
Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States). Dept. of Geological Sciences
Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States). School of Forest Resources and Conservation
Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States). Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States). Dept. of Soil and Water Sciences
Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States). Dept. of Geological Sciences; Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Sequim, WA (United States). Marine Sciences Lab.

We constructed mass balances of both calcium and phosphorus for two watersheds in Big Cypress National Preserve in southwest Florida (USA) to evaluate the time scales over which its striking landscape pattern developed. This low-relief carbonate landscape is dotted with evenly spaced, evenly sized, shallow surface depressions that annually fill with surface water and thus support wetland ecosystems (e.g. cypress domes) embedded in a pine-dominated upland matrix with exposed bedrock. Local and landscape scale feedbacks between hydrology, ecological dynamics and limestone dissolution are hypothesized to explain this karst dissolution patterning. This hypothesis requires the region to be wet enough to initiate surface water storage, which constrains landscape formation to interglacial periods. The time scale therefore would be relatively recent if creation of the observed pattern occurred in the current interglacial period (i.e. Holocene), and older time scales could reflect inherited patterns from previous inter-glacial periods, or from other processes of abiotic karstification. We then determined phosphorus stocks across four landscape compartments and estimated the limestone void space (i.e., wetland depression volume) across the landscape to represent cumulative calcium export. We calculated fluxes in (e.g., atmospheric deposition) and out (i.e., solute export) of the landscape to determine landscape denudation rates through mass balance. Comparing stocks and annual fluxes yielded independent estimates of landscape age from the calcium and phosphorus budgets. Our mass balance results indicate that the landscape began to develop in the early-mid Holocene (12,000–5000 ybp). Radiocarbon dating estimates implied similar rates of dissolution (~1 m per 3000–3500 years), and were in agreement with Holocene origin. This supports the hypothesis that ecohydrologic feedbacks between hydrology and vegetation occurring during the present interglacial period are sufficient to shape this landscape into the patterns we see today, and more broadly suggests the potential importance of biota in the development of macro-scale karst features.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Cite

Export

Save

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1457744

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-128697; PII: S0009254118302729

Journal Information:: Chemical Geology, Journal Name: Chemical Geology Journal Issue: C Vol. 527; ISSN 0009-2541

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (52)

Effects of Biokarstic Processes on the Development of Solutional Rillenkarren in Limestone Rocks Fiol, Ll.; FornÓS, J. J.; GinÉS, A. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Vol. 21, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1096-9837(199605)21:5<447::AID-ESP607>3.0.CO;2-X	journal	May 1996
Natural variations in calcite dissolution rates in streams: Controls, implications, and open questions: VARIATION IN CALCITE DISSOLUTION RATES Covington, M. D.; Gulley, J. D.; Gabrovšek, F. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 42, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL063044	journal	April 2015
Weathering and biokarst development on marine terraces, northwest Morocco Duane, Michael J.; AL-Mishwat, Ali T.; Rafique, Mohammed Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Vol. 28, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1002	journal	January 2003
Solution of marble in the karst of the Pikikiruna range, Northwest Nelson, New Zealand Williams, Paul W.; Dowling, Ross K. Earth Surface Processes, Vol. 4, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3290040103	journal	January 1979
Evidence of biogeomorphic patterning in a low-relief karst landscape: KARST LANDSCAPE PATTERN Watts, Adam C.; Watts, Danielle L.; Cohen, Matthew J. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Vol. 39, Issue 15 https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3597	journal	June 2014
Carbon flux and landscape evolution in epigenic karst aquifers modeled from geochemical mass balance: CARBON FLUX AND LANDSCAPE EVOLUTION WITHIN EPIGENIC KARST AQUIFERS Florea, Lee J. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Vol. 40, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3709	journal	February 2015
Landforms as extended composite phenotypes: Landforms as Extended Composite Phenotypes Phillips, Jonathan D. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Vol. 41, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3764	journal	July 2015
The Burren: a glacial, karstic and biokarstic expression of a limestone plateau in western Ireland: The Burren: A Glacial, Karstic and Biokarstic Landscape de la Rosa, John P. McIlroy Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Vol. 41, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3979	journal	June 2016
Biogenic silica and phosphorus accumulation in sediments as indices of eutrophication in the Laurentian Great Lakes Schelske, C. L.; Conley, D. J.; Stoermer, E. F. Hydrobiologia, Vol. 143, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026648	journal	December 1986
Bacteria, fungi and biokarst in Lechuguilla Cave, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico Cunningham, K. I.; Northup, D. E.; Pollastro, R. M. Environmental Geology, Vol. 25, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01061824	journal	February 1995
A generalized genetic framework for the development of sinkholes and Karst in Florida, U.S.A. Beck, Barry F. Environmental Geology and Water Sciences, Vol. 8, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02525554	journal	March 1986
Corrected western Atlantic sea-level curve for the last 11,000�years based on calibrated 14C dates from Acropora palmata framework and intertidal mangrove peat Toscano, M. A.; Macintyre, I. G. Coral Reefs, Vol. 22, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-003-0315-4	journal	October 2003
Trees: a powerful geomorphic agent governing the landscape evolution of a subtropical wetland Sullivan, Pamela L.; Price, René M.; Ross, Michael S. Biogeochemistry, Vol. 128, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-016-0213-9	journal	April 2016
Carbonate rock dissolution rates in different landuses and their carbon sink effect Zhang, Cheng Chinese Science Bulletin, Vol. 56, Issue 35 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-011-4404-4	journal	April 2011
A comparative study of soil carbon transfer between forest soils in subtropical karst and clasolite areas and the karst carbon sink effect in Guilin, Guangxi, China Yang, Hui; Zhou, Li; Huang, Liying Environmental Earth Sciences, Vol. 74, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3903-4	journal	December 2014
Effects of wildfire on long-term soil CO2 concentration: implications for karst processes Coleborn, Katie; Spate, Andy; Tozer, Mark Environmental Earth Sciences, Vol. 75, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4874-9	journal	February 2016
Investigation of the impacts of local-scale hydrogeologic conditions on sinkhole occurrence in East-Central Florida, USA Xiao, Han; Kim, Yong Je; Nam, Boo Hyun Environmental Earth Sciences, Vol. 75, Issue 18 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-6086-3	journal	September 2016
Fire Reinforces Structure of Pondcypress (Taxodium distichum var. imbricarium) Domes in a Wetland Landscape Watts, Adam C.; Kobziar, Leda N.; Snyder, James R. Wetlands, Vol. 32, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-012-0277-9	journal	February 2012
The dissolution of calcite in CO2-saturated solutions at 25°C and 1 atmosphere total pressure Plummer, L. Niel; Wigley, T. M. L. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol. 40, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(76)90176-9	journal	February 1976
Pre-holocene and holocene pollen records of vegetation history from the Florida peninsula and their climatic implications Watts, W. A.; Hansen, B. C. S. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, Vol. 109, Issue 2-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-0182(94)90174-0	journal	June 1994
Sensitivity of carbonate weathering to soil CO2 production by biological activity along a temperate climate transect Calmels, Damien; Gaillardet, Jérôme; François, Louis Chemical Geology, Vol. 390 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2014.10.010	journal	December 2014
Carbonate minerals in the global carbon cycle Martin, Jonathan B. Chemical Geology, Vol. 449 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2016.11.029	journal	January 2017
The process of ghost-rock karstification and its role in the formation of cave systems Dubois, C.; Quinif, Y.; Baele, J. -M. Earth-Science Reviews, Vol. 131 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2014.01.006	journal	April 2014
A review on natural and human-induced geohazards and impacts in karst Gutiérrez, F.; Parise, M.; De Waele, J. Earth-Science Reviews, Vol. 138 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2014.08.002	journal	November 2014
Styles and rates of long-term denudation in carbonate terrains under a Mediterranean to hyper-arid climatic gradient Ryb, U.; Matmon, A.; Erel, Y. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 406 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2014.09.008	journal	November 2014
Enriched stable carbon isotopes in the pore waters of carbonate sediments dominated by seagrasses: Evidence for coupled carbonate dissolution and reprecipitation Hu, Xinping; Burdige, David J. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol. 71, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2006.08.043	journal	January 2007
Factors controlling carbonate dissolution rates quantified in a field test in the Austrian alps Plan, Lukas Geomorphology, Vol. 68, Issue 3-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2004.11.014	journal	June 2005
Geomorphology and ecology: Unifying themes for complex systems in biogeomorphology Stallins, J. Anthony Geomorphology, Vol. 77, Issue 3-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2006.01.005	journal	July 2006
Dissolution rates of subsoil limestone in a doline on the Akiyoshi-dai Plateau, Japan: An approach from a weathering experiment, hydrological observations, and electrical resistivity tomography Akiyama, Sanae; Hattanji, Tsuyoshi; Matsushi, Yuki Geomorphology, Vol. 247 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.05.028	journal	October 2015
Seasonal, diurnal and storm-scale hydrochemical variations of typical epikarst springs in subtropical karst areas of SW China: Soil CO2 and dilution effects Liu, Zaihua; Li, Qiang; Sun, Hailong Journal of Hydrology, Vol. 337, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2007.01.034	journal	April 2007
Effect of different land use/land cover on karst hydrogeochemistry: A paired catchment study of Chenqi and Dengzhanhe, Puding, Guizhou, SW China Zhao, Min; Zeng, Cheng; Liu, Zaihua Journal of Hydrology, Vol. 388, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.04.034	journal	June 2010
Transport of dissolved carbon and CO2 degassing from a river system in a mixed silicate and carbonate catchment Khadka, Mitra B.; Martin, Jonathan B.; Jin, Jin Journal of Hydrology, Vol. 513 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.03.070	journal	May 2014
Modifying a sealed tube zinc reduction method for preparation of AMS graphite targets: Reducing background and attaining high precision Xu, Xiaomei; Trumbore, Susan E.; Zheng, Shuhui Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, Vol. 259, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2007.01.175	journal	June 2007
Regular pattern formation in real ecosystems Rietkerk, Max; van de Koppel, Johan Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Vol. 23, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2007.10.013	journal	March 2008
Phosphorus Retention and Remobilization along Hydrological Pathways in Karst Terrain Jarvie, Helen P.; Sharpley, Andrew N.; Brahana, Van Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 48, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1021/es405585b	journal	April 2014
Global distribution of atmospheric phosphorus sources, concentrations and deposition rates, and anthropogenic impacts: GLOBAL ATMOSPHERIC PHOSPHORUS Mahowald, Natalie; Jickells, Timothy D.; Baker, Alex R. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Vol. 22, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GB003240	journal	December 2008
The annual carbon dioxide cycle in a montane soil: Observations, modeling, and implications for weathering Solomon, D. Kip; Cerling, Thure E. Water Resources Research, Vol. 23, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1029/WR023i012p02257	journal	December 1987
Reciprocal Biotic Control on Hydrology, Nutrient Gradients, and Landform in the Greater Everglades Cohen, Matthew J.; Watts, Danielle L.; Heffernan, James B. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 41, Issue sup1 https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2010.531224	journal	February 2011
Updated generalized biomass equations for North American tree species Chojnacky, D. C.; Heath, L. S.; Jenkins, J. C. Forestry, Vol. 87, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1093/forestry/cpt053	journal	December 2013
Atmospheric Deposition of Phosphorus to the Everglades: Concepts, Constraints, and Published Deposition Rates for Ecosystem Management Redfield, Garth W. The Scientific World JOURNAL, Vol. 2 https://doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2002.813	journal	January 2002
African Droughts and Dust Transport to the Caribbean: Climate Change Implications Prospero, J. M. Science, Vol. 302, Issue 5647 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1089915	journal	November 2003
Nutrient Cycling Bormann, F. H.; Likens, G. E. Science, Vol. 155, Issue 3761 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.155.3761.424	journal	January 1967
Black Phytokarst from Hell, Cayman Islands, British West Indies Folk, Robert L.; Roberts, Harry H.; Moore, Clyde H. Geological Society of America Bulletin, Vol. 84, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1973)84<2351:BPFHCI>2.0.CO;2	journal	January 1973
A late Quaternary record of vegetation from Lake Annie, south-central Florida Watts, W. A. Geology, Vol. 3, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1975)3<344:ALQROV>2.0.CO;2	journal	January 1975
Biogeomorphology and contingent ecosystem engineering in karst landscapes Phillips, Jonathan D. Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Vol. 40, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1177/0309133315624641	journal	January 2016
Biokarst: review and prospect Viles, H. A. Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, Vol. 8, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1177/030913338400800403	journal	December 1984
Ecological Consideration of Cypress Heads in Northcentral Florida Monk, Carl D.; Brown, Timothy W. American Midland Naturalist, Vol. 74, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.2307/2423126	journal	July 1965
Effect of Swamp Size on Growth Rates of Cypress (Taxodium distichum) Trees Ewel, Katherine C.; Wickenheiser, Laurie Parendes American Midland Naturalist, Vol. 120, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.2307/2426008	journal	October 1988
A Comparison of the Structure, Primary Productivity, and Transpiration of Cypress Ecosystems in Florida Brown, Sandra Ecological Monographs, Vol. 51, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.2307/2937322	journal	February 1981
The kinetics of calcite dissolution in CO 2 -water systems at 5 degrees to 60 degrees C and 0.0 to 1.0 atm CO 2 Plummer, L. N.; Wigley, T. M. L.; Parkhurst, D. L. American Journal of Science, Vol. 278, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.278.2.179	journal	February 1978
Observed 20th century desert dust variability: impact on climate and biogeochemistry Mahowald, N. M.; Kloster, S.; Engelstaedter, S. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Vol. 10, Issue 22 https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-10875-2010	journal	January 2010
Evolution of karst conduit networks in transition from pressurized flow to free-surface flow Perne, M.; Covington, M.; Gabrovšek, F. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, Vol. 18, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-4617-2014	journal	January 2014

Cited By (4)

Ecohydrologic feedbacks controlling sizes of cypress wetlands in a patterned karst landscape Dong, Xiaoli; Murray, A. Brad; Heffernan, James B. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, Vol. 44, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4564	journal	December 2018
Initiation and Development of Wetlands in Southern Florida Karst Landscape Associated With Accumulation of Organic Matter and Vegetation Evolution Zhang, Xiaowen; Bianchi, Thomas S.; Cohen, Matthew J. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, Vol. 124, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1029/2018jg004921	journal	June 2019
Wetland Connectivity Thresholds and Flow Dynamics From Stage Measurements McLaughlin, Daniel L.; Diamond, Jacob S.; Quintero, Carlos Water Resources Research, Vol. 55, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1029/2018wr024652	journal	July 2019
Scale‐Dependent Patterning of Wetland Depressions in a Low‐Relief Karst Landscape Quintero, Carlos J.; Cohen, Matthew J. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, Vol. 124, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1029/2019jf005067	journal	August 2019

Similar Records

Initiation and Development of Wetlands in Southern Florida Karst Landscape Associated With Accumulation of Organic Matter and Vegetation Evolution

Journal Article · 2019 · Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences · OSTI ID:1560137

Zhang, Xiaowen; Bianchi, Thomas S.; Cohen, Matthew J.; +9 more

Ecohydrologic processes and soil thickness feedbacks control limestone-weathering rates in a karst landscape

Journal Article · 2018 · Chemical Geology · OSTI ID:1439093

Dong, Xiaoli; Cohen, Matthew J.; Martin, Jonathan B.; +5 more

Karst Lands: The dissolution of carbonate rock produces unique landscapes and poses significant hydrological and environmental concerns

Journal Article · 1995 · American Scientist · OSTI ID:103435

White, W B; Culver, D C; Herman, J S

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
Biokarst
Calcium
Chemical denudation
Mass balance
Phosphorus
Self-organization
Weathering
aquatic
biogeochemistry
calcium
carbon
carbon cycling
ecosystem
erosion
export
geology
global change
holocene
hydrogeology
hydrogeomorphic
inorganic
interface
karst
marsh
pattern
patterned landscape
potassium
radiocarbon
terrestial aquatic interface
terrestrial
wetland
wetland inundation
wetland model
wetland soils

Title: Mass balance implies Holocene development of a low-relief karst patterned landscape

Citation Formats

References (52)

Cited By (4)

Similar Records

Related Subjects