Abstract
The complexity and variability of processes determining dissolved organic matter (DOM) quality is likely to increase in highly dynamic systems such as Mediterranean water bodies. We studied the dynamics of DOM in a Mediterranean lagoon dominated by seasonal submerged vegetation and receiving torrential freshwater inputs. In order to trace changes in DOM quality throughout the year in relation with potential DOM sources, we used spectroscopic techniques including UV–visible absorbance and fluorescence excitation–emission matrices. The quality of the lagoon DOM fluctuates on a seasonal basis between the characteristics of torrential inputs and macrophytes. Humification and aromaticity of DOM increased markedly after the torrential inputs of materials derived from terrestrial vegetation and soils in the catchment. The macrophytes in the lagoon contributed with less humified materials and protein-like compounds. Other minor processes such as seawater entrances, photodegradation or temporary bottom hypoxia translated into sporadic DOM quality changes. These results highlight the need of a whole ecosystem approach to understand changes in DOM quality due to ecosystem processes that might otherwise be exclusively attributed to DOM reactivity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Álvarez-Cobelas, M. A., C. Rojo & D. G. Angeler, 2005. Mediterranean limnology: current status, gaps and the future of Mediterranean freshwater ecosystems. Journal of Limnology 64: 13–29.
Anderson, M. J., 2001. A new method for non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance. Austral Ecology 26: 32–46.
Anesio, A. M., J. Theil-Nielsen & W. Granéli, 2000. Bacterial growth on photochemically transformed leachates from aquatic and terrestrial primary producers. Microbial Ecology 40: 200–208.
Arnold, T. M. & N. M. Targett, 2002. Marine tannins: the importance of a mechanistic framework for predicting ecological roles. Journal of Chemical Ecology 28: 1919–1934.
Battin, T. J., S. Luyssaert, L. A. Kaplan, A. K. Aufdenkampe, A. Richter & L. J. Tranvik, 2009. The boundless carbon cycle. Nature Geoscience 2: 598–600.
Beklioglu, M., S. Romo, I. Kagalou, X. Quintana & E. Bécares, 2007. State of the art in the functioning of shallow Mediterranean lakes: workshop conclusions. Hydrobiologia 584: 317–326.
Bertilsson, S. & J. B. Jones, 2003. Supply of dissolved organic matter to aquatic ecosystems: autochthonous sources. In Findlay, S. E. G. & R. L. Sinsabaugh (eds), Aquatic Ecosystems. Interactivity of Dissolved Organic Matter. Academic Press/Elsevier Science, San Diego: 3–19.
Bianchi, T., 2007. Biogeochemistry of Estuaries. Oxford University Press, New York.
Birdwell, J. E. & A. S. Engel, 2010. Characterization of dissolved organic matter in cave and spring waters using UV–Vis absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy. Organic Geochemistry 41: 270–280.
Bull, W. B., 1997. Discontinuous ephemeral streams. Geomorphology 19: 227–276.
Cammack, W. K. L., J. Kalff, Y. T. Prairie & E. M. Smith, 2004. Fluorescent dissolved organic matter in lakes: relationships with heterotrophic metabolism. Limnology and Oceanography 49: 2034–2045.
Catalán, N., B. Obrador, C. Alomar & J. L. Pretus, 2013a. Seasonality and landscape factors drive dissolved organic matter properties in Mediterranean ephemeral washes. Biogeochemistry 112: 261–274.
Catalán, N., B. Obrador, M. Felip & J. L. Pretus, 2013b. Higher reactivity of allochthonous vs. autochthonous DOC sources in a shallow lake. Aquatic Sciences 75: 581–593.
Coble, P. G., 1996. Characterization of marine and terrestrial DOM in seawater using excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy. Marine Chemistry 51: 325–346.
Coops, H., M. Beklioglu & T. L. Crisma, 2003. The role of water-level fluctuations in shallow lake ecosystems – workshop conclusions. Hydrobiologia 506–509: 23–27.
Cory, R. M. & L. A. Kaplan, 2012. Biological lability of streamwater fluorescent dissolved organic matter. Limnology and Oceanography 57: 1347–1360.
Cory, R. M. & D. M. McKnight, 2005. Fluorescence spectroscopy reveals ubiquitous presence of oxidized and reduced quinones in dissolved organic matter. Environmental Science & Technology 39: 8142–8149.
Del Vecchio, R. & N. V. Blough, 2004. Spatial and seasonal distribution of chromophoric dissolved organic matter and dissolved organic carbon in the Middle Atlantic Bight. Marine Chemistry 89: 169–187.
Demarty, M. & Y. T. Prairie, 2009. In situ dissolved organic carbon (DOC) release by submerged macrophyte–epiphyte communities in southern Quebec lakes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 66: 1522–1531.
Downing, J. A., Y. T. Prairie, J. J. Cole, C. M. Duarte, L. J. Tranvik, R. G. Striegl, W. H. McDowell, et al., 2006. The global abundance and size distribution of lakes, ponds and impoundments. Limnology and Oceanography 51: 2388–2397.
Fellman, J. B., E. Hood & R. G. M. Spencer, 2010. Fluorescence spectroscopy opens new windows into dissolved organic matter dynamics in freshwater ecosystems: a review. Limnology and Oceanography 55: 2452–2462.
Fulton, J. R., D. M. McKnight, R. M. Cory, C. Stedmon, E. Blunt & C. M. Foreman, 2004. Changes in fulvic acid redox state through the oxycline of a permanently ice-covered Antarctic lake. Aquatic Sciences 66: 27–46.
Guillemette, F. & P. A. DelGiorgio, 2011. Reconstructing the various facets of dissolved organic carbon bioavailability in freshwater ecosystems. Limnology and Oceanography 56: 734–748.
Helms, J. R., A. Stubbins, J. D. Ritchie, E. C. Minor, D. J. Kieber & K. Mopper, 2008. Absorption spectral slopes and slope ratios as indicators of molecular weight, source and photobleaching of chromophoric dissolved organic matter. Limnology and Oceanography 53: 955–969.
Hernes, P. J., B. A. Bergamaschi, R. S. Eckard & R. G. M. Spencer, 2009. Fluorescence-based proxies for lignin in freshwater dissolved organic matter. Journal of Geophysical Research 114: G00F03.
Hood, E., D. M. McKnight & M. W. Williams, 2003. Sources and chemical quality of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) across an alpine/subalpine ecotone, Green Lakes Valley, Colorado Front Range, USA. Water Resources Research 39: 1188.
Huguet, A., L. Vacher, S. Relexans, S. Saubusse, J. M. Froidefond & E. Parlanti, 2009. Organic geochemistry properties of fluorescent dissolved organic matter in the Gironde Estuary. Organic Geochemistry 40: 706–719.
Huguet, A., L. Vacher, S. Saubusse, H. Etcheber, G. Abril, S. Relexans, F. Ibalot, et al., 2010. New insights into the size distribution of fluorescent dissolved organic matter in estuarine waters. Organic Geochemistry 41: 595–610.
Inamdar, S., N. Finger, S. Singh, M. Mitchell, D. Levia, H. Bais, D. Scott, et al., 2011. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentration and quality in a forested mid-Atlantic watershed, USA. Biogeochemistry 108: 55–76.
Jaffé, R., D. M. McKnight, N. Maie, R. M. Cory, W. H. McDowell & J. L. Campbell, 2008. Spatial and temporal variations in DOM composition in ecosystems: the importance of long-term monitoring of optical properties. Journal of Geophysical Research 113: 1–15.
Jeffrey, S. & G. Humphrey, 1975. New spectrophotometric equations for determining chlorophyll a, b, c1, and c2 in higher plants, algae and phytoplankton. Biochemie und Physiologie der Pflanzen 167: 191–194.
Jiang, G., R. Ma, S. A. Loiselle & H. Duan, 2012. Optical approaches to examining the dynamics of dissolved organic carbon in optically complex inland waters. Environmental Research Letters 7: 034014.
Kalbitz, K., W. Geyer & S. Geyer, 1999. Spectroscopic properties of dissolved humic substances? A reflection of land use history in a fen area. Biogeochemistry 47: 219–238
Kothawala, D. N., E. Von Wachenfeldt, B. Koehler & L. J. Tranvik, 2012. Selective loss and preservation of lake water dissolved organic matter fluorescence during long-term dark incubations. The Science of the Total Environment 433: 238–246.
Kowalczuk, P., W. J. Cooper, M. J. Durako, A. E. Kahn, M. Gonsior & H. Young, 2010. Characterization of dissolved organic matter fluorescence in the South Atlantic Bight with use of PARAFAC model: relationships between fluorescence and its components, absorption coefficients and organic carbon concentrations. Marine Chemistry 118: 22–36.
Kritzberg, E. S., J. J. Cole, M. Pace, W. Granéli & D. L. Bade, 2004. Autochthonous versus allochthonous carbon sources of bacteria: results from whole-lake 13C addition experiments. Limnology and Oceanography 49: 588–596.
Lakowicz, J. R. 2006. Principles of Fluorescence Spectroscopy. Springer, New York.
Lapierre, J. F. & J. J. Frenette, 2009. Effects of macrophytes and terrestrial inputs on fluorescent dissolved organic matter in a large river system. Aquatic Sciences 71: 15–24.
Maie, N., N. M. Scully, O. Pisani & R. Jaffé, 2007. Composition of a protein-like fluorophore of dissolved organic matter in coastal wetland and estuarine ecosystems. Water Research 41: 563–570.
Mcknight, D. M., E. W. Boyer, P. Westerhoff, P. T. Doran, T. Kulbe & D. T. Andersen, 2001. Spectrofluorometric characterization of dissolved organic matter for indication of precursor organic material and aromaticity. Limnology and Oceanography 46: 38–48.
Miller, M. P. & D. M. McKnight, 2010. Comparison of seasonal changes in fluorescent dissolved organic matter among aquatic lake and stream sites in the Green Lakes Valley. Journal of Geophysical Research 115: 1–14.
Moran, M. A., W. M. Sheldon & R. G. Zepp, 2000. Carbon loss and optical property changes during long-term photochemical and biological degradation of estuarine dissolved organic matter. Limnology and Oceanography 45: 1254–1264.
Murphy, K. R., K. D. Butler, R. G. M. Spencer, C. A. Stedmon, J. R. Boehme & G. R. Aiken, 2010. Measurement of dissolved organic matter fluorescence in aquatic environments: an interlaboratory comparison. Environmental Science & Technology 44: 9405–9412.
Obrador, B. & J. L. Pretus, 2010. Spationtemporal dynamics of submerged macrophytes in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon. Estuarine, coastal and Shelf Science 87: 145–155.
Obrador, B. & J. L. Pretus, 2012. Budgets of organic and inorganic carbon in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon dominated by submerged vegetation. Hydrobiologia 699: 35–54.
Obrador, B. & J. L. Pretus, 2013. Carbon and oxygen metabolism in a densely vegetated lagoon: implications of spatial heterogeneity. Limnetica 32: 321–336.
Obrador, B., J. L. Pretus & M. Menéndez, 2007. Spatial distribution and biomass of aquatic rooted macrophytes and their relevance in the metabolism of a Mediterranean coastal lagoon. Scientia Marina 71: 57–64.
Obrador, B., E. Moreno-Ostos & J. L. Pretus, 2008. A dynamic model to simulate water level and salinity in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon. Estuaries and Coasts 31: 1117–1129.
Prairie, Y. T., 2008. Carbocentric limnology: looking back, looking forward. Aquatic Science 548: 543–548.
R Development Core Team, 2012. A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. ISBN 3-900051-07-0. http://www.R-project.org/.
Singh, S., E. J. D’Sa & E. M. Swenson, 2010. Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) variability in Barataria Basin using excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). The Science of the Total Environment 408: 3211–3222.
Sobek, S., L. J. Tranvik, Y. T. Prairie & J. J. Cole, 2007. Patterns and regulation of dissolved organic carbon: an analysis of 7500 widely distributed lakes. Limnology and Oceanography 52: 1208–1219.
Stedmon, C. A. & S. Markager, 2005. Tracing the production and degradation of autochthonous fractions of dissolved organic matter using fluorescence analysis. Limnology and Oceanography 50: 1415–1426.
Stedmon, C. A., S. Markager & R. Bro, 2003. Tracing dissolved organic matter in aquatic environments using a new approach to fluorescence spectroscopy. Marine Chemistry 82: 239–254.
Tank, S. E., L. F. W. Lesack, J. A. L. Gareis, C. L. Osburn & R. H. Hesslein, 2011. Multiple tracers demonstrate distinct sources of dissolved organic matter to lakes of the Mackenzie Delta, western Canadian Arctic. Limnology and Oceanography 56: 1297–1309.
Tranvik, L. J., 1992. Allochthonous dissolved organic matter as an energy source for pelagic bacteria and the concept of the microbial loop. Hydrobiologia 229: 107–114.
Tranvik, L. J. & S. Bertilsson, 2001. Contrasting effects of solar UV radiation on dissolved organic sources for bacterial growth. Ecology Letters 4: 458–463.
Tranvik, L. J., J. A. Downing, J. B. Cotner, S. A. Loiselle, R. G. Striegl, T. J. Ballatore, P. Dillon, et al., 2009. Lakes and reservoirs as regulators of carbon cycling and climate. Limnology and Oceanography 54: 2298–2314.
Vázquez, E., S. Amalfitano, S. Fazi & A. Butturini, 2010. Dissolved organic matter composition in a fragmented Mediterranean fluvial system under severe drought conditions. Biogeochemistry 102: 59–72.
Vergnoux, A., R. Di Rocco, M. Domeizel, M. Guiliano, P. Doumenq & F. Théraulaz, 2011. Effects of forest fires on water extractable organic matter and humic substances from Mediterranean soils: UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy approaches. Geoderma 160: 434–443.
Weishaar, J. L., G. R. Aiken, B. A. Bergamaschi, M. S. Fram, R. Fujii & K. Mopper, 2003. Evaluation of specific ultraviolet absorbance as an indicator of the chemical composition and reactivity of dissolved organic carbon. Environmental Science & Technology 37: 4702–4708.
Westerhoff, P. & D. Anning, 2000. Concentrations and characteristics of organic carbon in surface water in Arizona: influence of urbanization. Journal of Hydrology 236: 202–222.
Wetzel, R. G., 2001. Limnology: lake and river ecosystems. Academic Press, San Diego.
Weyhenmeyer, G. A., M. Fröberg, E. Karltun, M. Khalili, D. N. Kothawala, J. Temnerud & L. J. Tranvik, 2012. Selective decay of terrestrial organic carbon during transport from land to sea. Global Change Biology 18: 349–355.
Zhang, Y., X. Liu, M. Wang & B. Qin, 2013. Compositional differences of chromophoric dissolved organic matter derived from phytoplankton and macrophytes. Organic Geochemistry 55: 26–37.
Zsolnay, A., E. Baigar, M. Jimenez, B. Steinweg & F. Saccomandi, 1999. Differentiating with fluorescence spectroscopy the sources of dissolved organic matter in soils subjected to drying. Chemosphere 38: 45–50.
Acknowledgements
This study was funded by the project CGL 2008-05095/BOS, from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spain). NC held a doctoral fellowship (FI 2010–2013) from the Generalitat de Catalunya and is currently sustained by the unemployment allowance of the Spanish Public Employment Service (SEPE). We would like to thank Carmen Alomar for her assistance in the field work.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Handling editor: Stefano Amalfitano
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Catalán, N., Obrador, B. & Pretus, J.L. Ecosystem processes drive dissolved organic matter quality in a highly dynamic water body. Hydrobiologia 728, 111–124 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-1811-y
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-1811-y