10.5061/DRYAD.4GK00
Newcomer, Tamara A.
University of Maryland, College Park
Kaushal, Sujay S.
University of Maryland, College Park
Mayer, Paul M.
VA Office of Research and Development
Shields, Amy R.
Environmental Protection Agency
Canuel, Elizabeth A.
College of William & Mary
Groffman, Peter M.
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Gold, Arthur J.
University of Rhode Island
Data from: Influence of natural and novel organic carbon sources on
denitrification in forest, degraded urban, and restored streams
Dryad
dataset
2012
C:N ratio
grass clippings
stream restoration
lipid biomarkers
Denitrification
dissolved organic carbon
organic carbon
urban stream
2012-12-06T19:19:41Z
2012-12-06T19:19:41Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1890/12-0458.1
562354 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Organic carbon is important in regulating ecosystem function, and its
source and abundance may be altered by urbanization. We investigated
shifts in organic carbon quantity and quality associated with urbanization
and ecosystem restoration, and its potential effects on denitrification at
the riparian–stream interface. Field measurements of streamwater
chemistry, organic carbon characterization, and laboratory-based
denitrification experiments were completed at two forested, two restored,
and two unrestored urban streams at the Baltimore Long-Term Ecological
Research site, Maryland, USA. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrate
loads increased with runoff according to a power-law function that varied
across sites. Stable isotopes and molar C:N ratios suggested that stream
particulate organic matter (POM) was a mixture of periphyton, leaves, and
grass that varied across site types. Stable-isotope signatures and lipid
biomarker analyses of sediments showed that terrestrial organic carbon
sources in streams varied as a result of riparian vegetation. Laboratory
experiments indicated that organic carbon amendments significantly
increased rates of denitrification (35.1 ± 9.4 ng N·[g dry
sediment]−1·h−1; mean ± SE) more than nitrate amendments (10.4 ± 4.0 ng
N·[g dry sediment]−1·h−1) across streamflow conditions and sites.
Denitrification experiments with naturally occurring carbon sources showed
that denitrification was significantly higher with grass clippings from
home lawns (1244 ± 331 ng N·g dry sediment−1·h−1), and overall unrestored
urban sites showed significantly higher denitrification rates than
restored and forest sites. We found that urbanization influences organic
carbon sources and quality in streams, which can have substantial
downstream impacts on ecosystem services such as denitrification.
Newcomer et al. 2012 (Ecological Monographs) Organic C and Denitrification
in StreamsThe file “Newcomer et al. 2012 (Ecological Monographs) Organic C
and Denitrification in Streams.xlsx” provides original data from the
manuscript. The worksheets are named to correspond with the figures in the
manuscript. “Figure 4” has field measurements of nitrate and DOC loads (g
ha-1 day-1) and runoff (mm day-1). We measured discharge at Spring Branch
and discharge was downloaded from USGS gaging stations at the other sites.
“Figure 5” was created using discharge (cfs) downloaded from USGS gaging
stations and dividing it by watershed area to get runoff (mm day-1).
“Figure 6” has field measurements of mean C:N molar ratios for leaves,
periphyton, grass, sediment, and stream particulate organic matter (POM).
“Figure 7” has field measurements of 15N and 13C stable isotope signatures
for leaves, periphyton, grass, sediment, and stream POM. “Figure 8” has
laboratory measurements of denitrification potentials associated with
glucose versus nitrate amendments. “Figure 9” has laboratory measurements
of denitrification potentials associated with the use of leaves,
periphyton, and grass as a carbon source.
USA
Maryland
Baltimore Ecoystem Study LTER