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Macrophyte presence is an indicator of enhanced denitrification and nitrification in sediments of a temperate restored agricultural stream

  • TRIBUTE TO STANLEY DODSON
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Abstract

Stream macrophytes are often removed with their sediments to deepen stream channels, stabilize channel banks, or provide habitat for target species. These sediments may support enhanced nitrogen processing. To evaluate sediment nitrogen processing, identify seasonal patterns, and assess sediment processes relative to stream load, we measured denitrification and nitrification rates in a restored third- to fourth-order agricultural stream, Black Earth Creek, Wisconsin, and estimated processing over a 10 km reach. Our results show that sediments with submerged and emergent macrophytes (e.g., Potomageton spp. and Phalaris arudinacea) support greater denitrification rates than bare sediments (1.12 μmol N g−1 h−1 vs. 0.29). Sediments with macrophytes were not carbon limited and organic matter fraction was weakly correlated to denitrification. The highest denitrification potential occurred in macrophyte beds (5.19 μmol N g−1 h−1). Nitrification rates were greater in emergent beds than bare sediments (1.07 μg N ml−1day−1 vs. 0.35) with the greatest nitrification rates during the summer. Total denitrification removal in sediments with macrophytes was equivalent to 43% of the nitrate stream load (463.7 kg N day−1) during spring and nitrification in sediments with macrophytes was equivalent to 247% of summer ammonium load (3.5 kg N day−1). Although the in-channel connectivity to nitrogen rich water was limited, actual stream nitrogen loads could increase with removal of macrophytes. Macrophyte beds and supporting fringing wetted areas are important if nitrogen management is a concern for riparian stream restoration efforts.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Bob Stelzer, Harry Read, Sarah Kerr, Paul Mayer, and Phil Emmling for technical assistance. Jessica Wallace, Christine Donahoe, Bridget Forshay, Francis J. Nuñez, Max Gehrman, and Jennifer Rutka provided field and lab support. The Milwaukee Zoological Society, the Summer Science Institute, and UW Department of Zoology grants provided support for this work. Notice: The research described herein was developed by the author, an employee of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), prior to his employment with EPA. It was conducted independent of EPA employment and has not been subjected to the Agency’s peer and administrative review. Therefore, the conclusions and opinions drawn are solely those of the author and are not necessarily the views of the Agency. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Dr., Madison, WI, 53706-1492, USA

    Kenneth J. Forshay & Stanley I. Dodson

  2. Office of Research and Development, Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 919 Kerr Research Drive, Ada, OK, 74820, USA

    Kenneth J. Forshay

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  1. Kenneth J. Forshay
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Correspondence to Kenneth J. Forshay.

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Guest editors: H. J. Dumont, J. E. Havel, R. Gulati & P. Spaak / A Passion for Plankton: a tribute to the life of Stanley Dodson

Stanley I. Dodson died on 23 August 2009.

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Forshay, K.J., Dodson, S.I. Macrophyte presence is an indicator of enhanced denitrification and nitrification in sediments of a temperate restored agricultural stream. Hydrobiologia 668, 21–34 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-011-0619-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-011-0619-2

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