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High rates of daytime river metabolism are an underestimated component of carbon cycling

Environmental Studies and Forestry

High rates of daytime river metabolism are an underestimated component of carbon cycling

F. Tromboni, E. R. Hotchkiss, et al.

This study reveals that river ecosystem respiration rates are faster than previously thought, based on innovative measurements using stable oxygen isotope signatures. Conducted by Flavia Tromboni and colleagues, the research highlights significant differences in metabolism estimations in rivers across diverse biomes.

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Playback language: English
Abstract
River metabolism, crucial for carbon cycling, is traditionally measured using diel dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations, which fail to capture diel changes in ecosystem respiration. This study compares metabolism derived from DO concentrations with estimates from stable oxygen isotope signatures (δ¹⁸O₂) across 14 river sites spanning three biomes. Isotopically derived ecosystem respiration was consistently higher during the day than at night, revealing significantly faster rates of ecosystem respiration and gross primary production (GPP) compared to DO concentration-based methods. This suggests that ecosystem respiration and microbial carbon cycling in rivers are more rapid than previously thought.
Publisher
Communications Earth & Environment
Published On
Nov 07, 2022
Authors
Flavia Tromboni, Erin R. Hotchkiss, Anne E. Schechner, Walter K. Dodds, Simon R. Poulson, Sudeep Chandra
Tags
river metabolism
carbon cycling
dissolved oxygen
ecosystem respiration
stable oxygen isotopes
gross primary production
biomes
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