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Dissolved organic carbon and nitrate concentrations in streams: a useful index indicating carbon and nitrogen availability in catchments
Author(s) -
Konohira Eiichi,
Yoshioka Takahito
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
ecological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1440-1703
pISSN - 0912-3814
DOI - 10.1007/s11284-005-0051-z
Subject(s) - dissolved organic carbon , biogeochemical cycle , streams , watershed , environmental science , nitrate , hydrology (agriculture) , nitrogen , biogeochemistry , environmental chemistry , ecology , chemistry , geology , biology , computer network , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , machine learning , computer science
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and NO 3 − are important forms of C and N in stream water. Hypotheses concerning relationships between DOC and NO 3 − concentrations have been proposed, but there are no reports demonstrating a relationship between them in stream water. We observed 35 natural streams in the Lake Biwa watershed, central Japan, and found an inverse relationship between DOC and NO 3 − concentrations. This relationship was also found in observations of their seasonal variations in the Lake Biwa watershed. Moreover, this relationship was also found to apply to watersheds in other regions in Japan. These results suggest that forest biogeochemical processes which control DOC and NO 3 − concentrations in Japanese streams are closely related. Excess N availability together with a C (energy) deficit in a soil environment may explain this relationship. DOC and NO 3 − concentrations in streams will thus be a useful index indicating C and N availability in catchments.