Contrary effects of flow intermittence and land uses on organic matter decomposition in a Mediterranean river basin

Flow interruption in intermittent rivers (IRs) generates a mosaic of terrestrial and aquatic habitats across the river network affecting ecosystem processes, as organic matter (OM) decomposition. Water use for farming in arid and semi-arid climates intensifies the dry conditions and affects local ri...

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Authors: Viza, Aida; Muñoz Gràcia, Isabel; Oliva Cuyàs, Francesc; Menéndez López, Margarita
Format: Article
Status:Published version
Publication date:2021
Country:España
Institution:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repository:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/183538
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/183538
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Fongs
Conques hidrogràfiques
Mediterrània (Regió)
Fungi
Watersheds
Mediterranean Region
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author Viza, Aida
author2 Muñoz Gràcia, Isabel
Oliva Cuyàs, Francesc
Menéndez López, Margarita
author2_role author
author
author
author_browse Menéndez López, Margarita
Muñoz Gràcia, Isabel
Oliva Cuyàs, Francesc
Viza, Aida
author_facet Viza, Aida
Muñoz Gràcia, Isabel
Oliva Cuyàs, Francesc
Menéndez López, Margarita
author_role author
collection Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
description Flow interruption in intermittent rivers (IRs) generates a mosaic of terrestrial and aquatic habitats across the river network affecting ecosystem processes, as organic matter (OM) decomposition. Water use for farming in arid and semi-arid climates intensifies the dry conditions and affects local river characteristics. In that way, flow intermittence and the distribution of land uses may affect the OM processing along the river. To understand the role of IRs in global OM dynamics and how global change affecting water flow regimes determines these dynamics, it is important to estimate OM-processing rates at a basin scale. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the intensity of flow intermittence on OM processing, and how this effect was modulated by local environmental factors related to land uses across a Mediterranean river basin. To do this, wood decomposition (mass loss and fungal biomass) was selected as a functional indicator. Drying duration and frequency were measured to characterize flow intermittence in different reaches along the river, as well as local environmental factors. Linear models stablished the role of factors on decomposition. The results showed that differences in decomposition rates across the river network were negatively related to the duration of flow interruption. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen associated with agriculture counteracted the negative effect of intermittence on mass loss (increasing by up to three times); but with a higher duration of dry conditions, its effect was insignificant. An increase of 20% of canopy (higher in natural areas) resulted in increases of up to 5% of mass loss. Overall, our study is relevant to understanding the interaction between flow intermittence and land uses on OM processing, especially considering the intensification of flow intermittence and its increased distribution to other regions, which is expected to be a consequence of climate warming and human activities.
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
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id ES_bc93d11e319e4b6a67f88fa4e5b0a4b2
institution Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
instname_str Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
network_acronym_str ES
network_name_str España
oai_identifier_str oai:recercat.cat:2445/183538
publishDate 2021
publishDateSort 2021
publisher Elsevier B.V.
publisherStr Elsevier B.V.
reponame_str Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
spelling Contrary effects of flow intermittence and land uses on organic matter decomposition in a Mediterranean river basin Viza, Aida Muñoz Gràcia, Isabel Oliva Cuyàs, Francesc Menéndez López, Margarita Fongs Conques hidrogràfiques Mediterrània (Regió) Fungi Watersheds Mediterranean Region Flow interruption in intermittent rivers (IRs) generates a mosaic of terrestrial and aquatic habitats across the river network affecting ecosystem processes, as organic matter (OM) decomposition. Water use for farming in arid and semi-arid climates intensifies the dry conditions and affects local river characteristics. In that way, flow intermittence and the distribution of land uses may affect the OM processing along the river. To understand the role of IRs in global OM dynamics and how global change affecting water flow regimes determines these dynamics, it is important to estimate OM-processing rates at a basin scale. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the intensity of flow intermittence on OM processing, and how this effect was modulated by local environmental factors related to land uses across a Mediterranean river basin. To do this, wood decomposition (mass loss and fungal biomass) was selected as a functional indicator. Drying duration and frequency were measured to characterize flow intermittence in different reaches along the river, as well as local environmental factors. Linear models stablished the role of factors on decomposition. The results showed that differences in decomposition rates across the river network were negatively related to the duration of flow interruption. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen associated with agriculture counteracted the negative effect of intermittence on mass loss (increasing by up to three times); but with a higher duration of dry conditions, its effect was insignificant. An increase of 20% of canopy (higher in natural areas) resulted in increases of up to 5% of mass loss. Overall, our study is relevant to understanding the interaction between flow intermittence and land uses on OM processing, especially considering the intensification of flow intermittence and its increased distribution to other regions, which is expected to be a consequence of climate warming and human activities. Elsevier B.V. https://hdl.handle.net/2445/183538
spellingShingle Contrary effects of flow intermittence and land uses on organic matter decomposition in a Mediterranean river basin
Viza, Aida
Fongs
Conques hidrogràfiques
Mediterrània (Regió)
Fungi
Watersheds
Mediterranean Region
status_str publishedVersion
title Contrary effects of flow intermittence and land uses on organic matter decomposition in a Mediterranean river basin
title_full Contrary effects of flow intermittence and land uses on organic matter decomposition in a Mediterranean river basin
title_fullStr Contrary effects of flow intermittence and land uses on organic matter decomposition in a Mediterranean river basin
title_full_unstemmed Contrary effects of flow intermittence and land uses on organic matter decomposition in a Mediterranean river basin
title_short Contrary effects of flow intermittence and land uses on organic matter decomposition in a Mediterranean river basin
title_sort Contrary effects of flow intermittence and land uses on organic matter decomposition in a Mediterranean river basin
topic Fongs
Conques hidrogràfiques
Mediterrània (Regió)
Fungi
Watersheds
Mediterranean Region
topic_facet Fongs
Conques hidrogràfiques
Mediterrània (Regió)
Fungi
Watersheds
Mediterranean Region
url https://hdl.handle.net/2445/183538