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Calcium carbonate deposition drives nutrient cycling in a calcareous headwater stream
Author(s) -
Corman Jessica R.,
Moody Eric K.,
Elser James J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
ecological monographs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.254
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1557-7015
pISSN - 0012-9615
DOI - 10.1002/ecm.1229
Subject(s) - periphyton , phosphorus , deposition (geology) , shading , plant litter , nutrient , chemistry , alkalinity , nutrient cycle , environmental chemistry , cycling , litter , ecosystem , calcareous , biomass (ecology) , zoology , ecology , botany , biology , history , art , paleontology , organic chemistry , archaeology , sediment , visual arts
Calcium carbonate (Ca CO 3 ) deposition is common in aquatic ecosystems and may reduce phosphorus availability via coprecipitation of phosphate, an impact with broad implications for ecosystem processes. To determine if Ca CO 3 deposition in streams increases phosphorus (P) retention in minerals while reducing P availability to organisms, we studied paired streams (with and without active Ca CO 3 deposition) subjected to experimental shading and monitored changes in ecosystem attributes (e.g., periphyton biomass content, nutrient spiraling, periphyton nutrient limitation, and leaf litter decomposition). Shading reduced rates of Ca CO 3 deposition by over 50%, suggesting that a substantial proportion of Ca CO 3 deposition is supported by photosynthetically induced changes in alkalinity. Shading‐induced reductions in Ca CO 3 deposition led to increases in epilithon biomass P content ( P < 0.05) and periphyton growth ( F 2,12 = 5.79, P < 0.05). Reductions in Ca CO 3 deposition also relieved P limitation of periphyton growth ( F 3,16 = 59.32, P < 0.001), extended P uptake lengths at least an order of magnitude, and reduced both P mass transfer velocity and areal uptake rates by over 80% ( F 2,3 = 22.62, P < 0.05 and F 2,3 = 13.19, P < 0.05, respectively). Finally, while shading caused reductions in leaf litter decomposition in the non‐Ca CO 3 depositing stream ( F 5,7 = 22.45, P < 0.001), shading had no effect on leaf litter decomposition in the stream with active Ca CO 3 deposition. These results indicate that Ca CO 3 deposition can regulate P bioavailability and retention in streams and may drive streams to be P limited, as has been suggested in lake and wetland ecosystems.