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A global analysis of terrestrial plant litter dynamics in non-perennial waterways

descriptionPublicationkeyboard_double_arrow_right Article , Other literature type , Journal 21 May 2018Embargo end date: 01 Jul 2018 Switzerland, Australia, France, Australia, Australia, Italy, Croatia, United Kingdom, Australia, Croatia, Canada, France, Australia, France, Australia, France, Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Australia, Italy, France Publisher:Springer Science and Business Media LLCJournal:Nature Geoscience, volume 11, pages 497-503 (issn: 1752-0894, eissn: 1752-0908,

Authors: Vladimir Pešić; Simone D. Langhans; Nick Bond; Florian Altermatt; Isabel Pardo; Kate S. Boersma; A. M. De Girolamo; +90 Authors

doi: 10.1038/s41561-018-0134-4 , 10.5167/uzh-159291

handle: 20.500.14243/376668 , 2318/1843767 , 10072/381825 , 10900/93464

A global analysis of terrestrial plant litter dynamics in non-perennial waterways

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Abstract

Perennial rivers and streams make a disproportionate contribution to global carbon (C) cycling. However, the contribution of intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES), which sometimes cease to flow and can dry completely, is largely ignored although they represent over half the global river network. Substantial amounts of terrestrial plant litter (TPL) accumulate in dry riverbeds and, upon rewetting, this material can undergo rapid microbial processing. We present the results of a global research collaboration that collected and analysed TPL from 212 dry riverbeds across major environmental gradients and climate zones. We assessed litter decomposability by quantifying the litter carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and oxygen (O2) consumption in standardized assays and estimated the potential short-term CO2 emissions during rewetting events. Aridity, cover of riparian vegetation, channel width and dry-phase duration explained most variability in the quantity and decomposability of plant litter in IRES. Our estimates indicate that a single pulse of CO2 emission upon litter rewetting contributes up to 10% of the daily CO2 emission from perennial rivers and stream, particularly in temperate climates. This indicates that the contributions of IRES should be included in global C-cycling assessments.

Countries

Switzerland, Australia, France, Australia, Australia, Italy, Croatia, United Kingdom, Australia, Croatia, Canada, France, Australia, France, Australia, France, Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Australia, Italy, France

Related Organizations

Queensland University of Technology
Australia
French National Centre for Scientific Research
France
James Cook University
Australia
University of Münster
Germany
University of California System
United States

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Keywords

litière végétale, [SDE] Environmental Sciences, RIVERS, 550, Waterways, river, C CYCLE, 1900 Earth and Planetary Sciences, 630, waterway, plant litter, ZONE CLIMATIQUE, Zone climatique, Other environmental sciences not elsewhere classified, DROUGHT, changement climatique, Litière végétale, zone climatique, Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, CYCLE DU CARBONE, Végétation ripicole, [SDU.ENVI] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces, environment, CO2 EMISSION, TEMPORARY RIVERS, [SDE]Environmental Sciences, river ecosystem functioning, 590 Animals (Zoology), C cycle, environment, végétation ripicole, Global analysis, P40 - Météorologie et climatologie, [SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes, Cours d'eau, VÉGÉTATION RIPICOLE, riparian vegetation, CO2 emissions, 333, Plant litter, GLOBAL CHANGE, P10 - Ressources en eau et leur gestion, [SDU.ENVI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces, environment, global change, RIVER ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING, cours d'eau, Changement climatique, stream, RIPARIAN VEGETATION, global change, river ecosystem functioning, CO2 emissions, temporary rivers, riparian vegetation, C cycle, [SDE.MCG] Environmental Sciences/Global Changes, COURS D'EAU, CO2 EMISSIONS, CHANGEMENT CLIMATIQUE, cycle du carbon, temporary rivers, C-CYCLING, Earth Sciences, terrestrial plant litter, 570 Life sciences; biology, General Earth and Planetary Sciences, [SDU.ENVI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces, intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams, Cycle du carbone, Riparian vegetation, LITIÈRE VÉGÉTALE, agrovoc: agrovoc:c_1669, agrovoc: agrovoc:c_1666, agrovoc: agrovoc:c_28140, agrovoc: agrovoc:c_24064, agrovoc: agrovoc:c_17299, agrovoc: agrovoc:c_6617

Impact byBIP!

	citations This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).	124
	popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.	Top 1%
	influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).	Top 10%
	impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.	Top 1%