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Stream denitrification across biomes and its response to anthropogenic nitrate loading

Author

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  • Patrick J. Mulholland

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA)

  • Ashley M. Helton

    (Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA)

  • Geoffrey C. Poole

    (Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
    Eco-metrics, Inc., Tucker, Georgia 30084, USA)

  • Robert O. Hall

    (University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA)

  • Stephen K. Hamilton

    (Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, Michigan 49060, USA)

  • Bruce J. Peterson

    (Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA)

  • Jennifer L. Tank

    (University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA)

  • Linda R. Ashkenas

    (Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA)

  • Lee W. Cooper

    (University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA)

  • Clifford N. Dahm

    (University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA)

  • Walter K. Dodds

    (Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA)

  • Stuart E. G. Findlay

    (Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York 12545, USA)

  • Stanley V. Gregory

    (Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA)

  • Nancy B. Grimm

    (School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA)

  • Sherri L. Johnson

    (Pacific Northwest Research Station, US Forest Service, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA)

  • William H. McDowell

    (University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA)

  • Judy L. Meyer

    (Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA)

  • H. Maurice Valett

    (Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA)

  • Jackson R. Webster

    (Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA)

  • Clay P. Arango

    (University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA)

  • Jake J. Beaulieu

    (University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA
    Present addresses: US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268, USA (J.J.B.); US Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington 98402, USA (R.W.S.); School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Washington State University, Vancouver Campus, Vancouver, Washington 98686, USA (D.J.S.).)

  • Melody J. Bernot

    (Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana 47306, USA)

  • Amy J. Burgin

    (Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, Michigan 49060, USA)

  • Chelsea L. Crenshaw

    (University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA)

  • Laura T. Johnson

    (University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA)

  • B. R. Niederlehner

    (Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA)

  • Jonathan M. O’Brien

    (Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, Michigan 49060, USA)

  • Jody D. Potter

    (University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA)

  • Richard W. Sheibley

    (School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
    Present addresses: US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268, USA (J.J.B.); US Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington 98402, USA (R.W.S.); School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Washington State University, Vancouver Campus, Vancouver, Washington 98686, USA (D.J.S.).)

  • Daniel J. Sobota

    (Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA
    Present addresses: US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268, USA (J.J.B.); US Geological Survey, Tacoma, Washington 98402, USA (R.W.S.); School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Washington State University, Vancouver Campus, Vancouver, Washington 98686, USA (D.J.S.).)

  • Suzanne M. Thomas

    (Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA)

Abstract

About a quarter of the nitrogen added to the biosphere is exported from rivers to the ocean or inland basins, indicating substantial sinks for nitrogen must exist in the landscape. Data from nitrogen stable isotope tracer experiments across 72 streams suggests that the total uptake of nitrate is related to ecosystem photosynthesis, and that denitrification is related to ecosystem respiration. A stream network model demonstrates that excess nitrate in streams elicits a disproportionate increase in the fraction of nitrate that is exported to receiving waters and reduces the relative role of small versus large streams as nitrate sinks.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick J. Mulholland & Ashley M. Helton & Geoffrey C. Poole & Robert O. Hall & Stephen K. Hamilton & Bruce J. Peterson & Jennifer L. Tank & Linda R. Ashkenas & Lee W. Cooper & Clifford N. Dahm & Walt, 2008. "Stream denitrification across biomes and its response to anthropogenic nitrate loading," Nature, Nature, vol. 452(7184), pages 202-205, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:452:y:2008:i:7184:d:10.1038_nature06686
    DOI: 10.1038/nature06686
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    Cited by:

    1. Wilfred M. Wollheim & Tamara K. Harms & Andrew L. Robison & Lauren E. Koenig & Ashley M. Helton & Chao Song & William B. Bowden & Jacques C. Finlay, 2022. "Superlinear scaling of riverine biogeochemical function with watershed size," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Karki, Seema & Webb, J Angus & Stewardson, Michael J. & Fowler, Keirnan & Kattel, Giri Raj, 2023. "Basin-scale riverine ecosystem services vary with network geometry," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    3. Jiaxun Guo & Lachun Wang & Xiya Guo & Gengmao Zhao & Jiancai Deng & Chunfen Zeng, 2018. "Spatio-Temporal Differences in Nitrogen Reduction Rates under Biotic and Abiotic Processes in River Water of the Taihu Basin, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-17, November.
    4. Lin, Laurence & Davis, Lisa & Cohen, Sagy & Chapman, Elise & Edmonds, Jennifer W., 2016. "The influence of geomorphic unit spatial distribution on nitrogen retention and removal in a large river," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 336(C), pages 26-35.
    5. Jinhui Zhou & Laura Scherer & Peter M. van Bodegom & Arthur Beusen & José M. Mogollón, 2022. "Regionalized nitrogen fate in freshwater systems on a global scale," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(3), pages 907-922, June.
    6. Minjin Lee & Charles A. Stock & Elena Shevliakova & Sergey Malyshev & Maureen Beaudor & Nicolas Vuichard, 2024. "Uneven consequences of global climate mitigation pathways on regional water quality in the 21st century," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Tranmer, Andrew W. & Marti, Clelia L. & Tonina, Daniele & Benjankar, Rohan & Weigel, Dana & Vilhena, Leticia & McGrath, Claire & Goodwin, Peter & Tiedemann, Matthew & Mckean, Jim & Imberger, Jörg, 2018. "A hierarchical modelling framework for assessing physical and biochemical characteristics of a regulated river," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 368(C), pages 78-93.
    8. Ruikang Sun & Jiawei Dong & Yi Li & Panwen Li & Yaning Liu & Ying Liu & Jinghong Feng, 2022. "The Influence Research on Nitrogen Transport and Reaction in the Hyporheic Zone with an In-Stream Structure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-21, October.

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