Scale-dependent effects of vegetation on flow velocity and biogeochemical conditions in aquatic systems

Sofia Licci; Pierre Marmonier; Geraldene Wharton; Cécile Delolme; Florian Mermillod-Blondin; Laurent Simon; Félix Vallier; Tjeerd J. Bouma; Sara Puijalon

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155123

Scale-dependent effects of vegetation on flow velocity and biogeochemical conditions in aquatic systems

Sofia Licci, Pierre Marmonier, Geraldene Wharton, Cécile Delolme, Florian Mermillod-Blondin, Laurent Simon, Félix Vallier, Tjeerd J. Bouma, Sara Puijalon^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Earth Surface Processes

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

In rivers, scale-dependent feedbacks resulting from physical habitat modifications control the lateral expansion of submerged plant patches, while the mechanisms that limit patch expansion on a longitudinal dimension remain unknown. Our objective was to investigate the effects of patch length on physical habitat modification (i.e., flow velocity, sediment grain size distribution), the consequences for biogeochemical conditions (i.e., accumulation/depletion of nutrients, microbial respiration), and for individual plants (i.e., shoot length). We measured all of these parameters along natural patches of increasing length. These measurements were performed at two sites that differed in mean flow velocity, sediment grain size, and trophic level. The results showed a significant effect of patch length on organic matter content and nutrient concentrations in interstitial water. For the shortest patches sampled, all of these parameters had similar values to those measured at the upstream control position. For longer patches, organic matter content and orthophosphate and ammonium concentrations increased within the patch compared to the upstream bare sediment, whereas nitrate concentrations decreased, suggesting changes in vertical water exchanges and an increase in anaerobic microbial activities. Furthermore, plant height was related to patch length by a quadratic pattern, probably due reduced hydrodynamic stress occurring for increasing patch length, combined with conditions that are less favourable for plants over a threshold length, possibly due to the light limitation or to the high concentration of ammonium that in the concentration range we measured may be toxic for plants. The threshold lengths over which patches influence the nutrient concentrations were reduced for the site with higher nutrient levels. We demonstrated that the plant-induced modifications of the physical habitat exert important effects on biogeochemical conditions, with possible consequences for patch dynamics and ecosystem functioning.

Original language	English
Article number	155123
Pages (from-to)	1-12
Number of pages	12
Journal	Science of the Total Environment
Volume	833
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155123
Publication status	Published - 10 Aug 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Leslie Blazere, Vanessa Gardette, Myriam Hammada and Youssouf Sy for field and laboratory assistance and the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR) for access to field sites. This research was supported by the Research Executive Agency through the 7th Framework Programme of the European Union, Support for Training and Career Development of Researchers (Marie Curie - FP7-PEOPLE-2012-ITN), which funded the Initial Training Network (ITN) HYTECH ‘Hydrodynamic Transport in Ecologically Critical Heterogeneous Interfaces’, N. 316546 . This study was conducted under the aegis of Rhône Basin Long-Term Environmental Research (ZABR, Zone Atelier Bassin du Rhône) and of the École Universitaire de Recherche H2O'Lyon (ANR-17-EURE-0018).

Funding Information:
We thank Leslie Blazere, Vanessa Gardette, Myriam Hammada and Youssouf Sy for field and laboratory assistance and the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR) for access to field sites. This research was supported by the Research Executive Agency through the 7th Framework Programme of the European Union, Support for Training and Career Development of Researchers (Marie Curie - FP7-PEOPLE-2012-ITN), which funded the Initial Training Network (ITN) HYTECH ‘Hydrodynamic Transport in Ecologically Critical Heterogeneous Interfaces’, N.316546. This study was conducted under the aegis of Rhône Basin Long-Term Environmental Research (ZABR, Zone Atelier Bassin du Rhône) and of the École Universitaire de Recherche H2O'Lyon (ANR-17-EURE-0018). The authors would like to thank the Associate Editor and five anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on the manuscript.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier B.V.

Funding

We thank Leslie Blazere, Vanessa Gardette, Myriam Hammada and Youssouf Sy for field and laboratory assistance and the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR) for access to field sites. This research was supported by the Research Executive Agency through the 7th Framework Programme of the European Union, Support for Training and Career Development of Researchers (Marie Curie - FP7-PEOPLE-2012-ITN), which funded the Initial Training Network (ITN) HYTECH ‘Hydrodynamic Transport in Ecologically Critical Heterogeneous Interfaces’, N. 316546 . This study was conducted under the aegis of Rhône Basin Long-Term Environmental Research (ZABR, Zone Atelier Bassin du Rhône) and of the École Universitaire de Recherche H2O'Lyon (ANR-17-EURE-0018). We thank Leslie Blazere, Vanessa Gardette, Myriam Hammada and Youssouf Sy for field and laboratory assistance and the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR) for access to field sites. This research was supported by the Research Executive Agency through the 7th Framework Programme of the European Union, Support for Training and Career Development of Researchers (Marie Curie - FP7-PEOPLE-2012-ITN), which funded the Initial Training Network (ITN) HYTECH ‘Hydrodynamic Transport in Ecologically Critical Heterogeneous Interfaces’, N.316546. This study was conducted under the aegis of Rhône Basin Long-Term Environmental Research (ZABR, Zone Atelier Bassin du Rhône) and of the École Universitaire de Recherche H2O'Lyon (ANR-17-EURE-0018). The authors would like to thank the Associate Editor and five anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on the manuscript.

Keywords

Ecosystem engineering
Feedbacks
Nutrient availability
Plant patches
Rivers
Sediment characteristics

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10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155123

1-s2.0-S0048969722022161-mainFinal published version, 1.64 MBLicence: Taverne

Cite this

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title = "Scale-dependent effects of vegetation on flow velocity and biogeochemical conditions in aquatic systems",

abstract = "In rivers, scale-dependent feedbacks resulting from physical habitat modifications control the lateral expansion of submerged plant patches, while the mechanisms that limit patch expansion on a longitudinal dimension remain unknown. Our objective was to investigate the effects of patch length on physical habitat modification (i.e., flow velocity, sediment grain size distribution), the consequences for biogeochemical conditions (i.e., accumulation/depletion of nutrients, microbial respiration), and for individual plants (i.e., shoot length). We measured all of these parameters along natural patches of increasing length. These measurements were performed at two sites that differed in mean flow velocity, sediment grain size, and trophic level. The results showed a significant effect of patch length on organic matter content and nutrient concentrations in interstitial water. For the shortest patches sampled, all of these parameters had similar values to those measured at the upstream control position. For longer patches, organic matter content and orthophosphate and ammonium concentrations increased within the patch compared to the upstream bare sediment, whereas nitrate concentrations decreased, suggesting changes in vertical water exchanges and an increase in anaerobic microbial activities. Furthermore, plant height was related to patch length by a quadratic pattern, probably due reduced hydrodynamic stress occurring for increasing patch length, combined with conditions that are less favourable for plants over a threshold length, possibly due to the light limitation or to the high concentration of ammonium that in the concentration range we measured may be toxic for plants. The threshold lengths over which patches influence the nutrient concentrations were reduced for the site with higher nutrient levels. We demonstrated that the plant-induced modifications of the physical habitat exert important effects on biogeochemical conditions, with possible consequences for patch dynamics and ecosystem functioning.",

keywords = "Ecosystem engineering, Feedbacks, Nutrient availability, Plant patches, Rivers, Sediment characteristics",

author = "Sofia Licci and Pierre Marmonier and Geraldene Wharton and C{\'e}cile Delolme and Florian Mermillod-Blondin and Laurent Simon and F{\'e}lix Vallier and Bouma, {Tjeerd J.} and Sara Puijalon",

note = "Funding Information: We thank Leslie Blazere, Vanessa Gardette, Myriam Hammada and Youssouf Sy for field and laboratory assistance and the Compagnie Nationale du Rh{\^o}ne (CNR) for access to field sites. This research was supported by the Research Executive Agency through the 7th Framework Programme of the European Union, Support for Training and Career Development of Researchers (Marie Curie - FP7-PEOPLE-2012-ITN), which funded the Initial Training Network (ITN) HYTECH {\textquoteleft}Hydrodynamic Transport in Ecologically Critical Heterogeneous Interfaces{\textquoteright}, N. 316546 . This study was conducted under the aegis of Rh{\^o}ne Basin Long-Term Environmental Research (ZABR, Zone Atelier Bassin du Rh{\^o}ne) and of the {\'E}cole Universitaire de Recherche H2O'Lyon (ANR-17-EURE-0018). Funding Information: We thank Leslie Blazere, Vanessa Gardette, Myriam Hammada and Youssouf Sy for field and laboratory assistance and the Compagnie Nationale du Rh{\^o}ne (CNR) for access to field sites. This research was supported by the Research Executive Agency through the 7th Framework Programme of the European Union, Support for Training and Career Development of Researchers (Marie Curie - FP7-PEOPLE-2012-ITN), which funded the Initial Training Network (ITN) HYTECH {\textquoteleft}Hydrodynamic Transport in Ecologically Critical Heterogeneous Interfaces{\textquoteright}, N.316546. This study was conducted under the aegis of Rh{\^o}ne Basin Long-Term Environmental Research (ZABR, Zone Atelier Bassin du Rh{\^o}ne) and of the {\'E}cole Universitaire de Recherche H2O'Lyon (ANR-17-EURE-0018). The authors would like to thank the Associate Editor and five anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 Elsevier B.V.",

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month = aug,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155123",

language = "English",

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T1 - Scale-dependent effects of vegetation on flow velocity and biogeochemical conditions in aquatic systems

AU - Licci, Sofia

AU - Marmonier, Pierre

AU - Wharton, Geraldene

AU - Delolme, Cécile

AU - Mermillod-Blondin, Florian

AU - Simon, Laurent

AU - Vallier, Félix

AU - Bouma, Tjeerd J.

AU - Puijalon, Sara

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Leslie Blazere, Vanessa Gardette, Myriam Hammada and Youssouf Sy for field and laboratory assistance and the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR) for access to field sites. This research was supported by the Research Executive Agency through the 7th Framework Programme of the European Union, Support for Training and Career Development of Researchers (Marie Curie - FP7-PEOPLE-2012-ITN), which funded the Initial Training Network (ITN) HYTECH ‘Hydrodynamic Transport in Ecologically Critical Heterogeneous Interfaces’, N. 316546 . This study was conducted under the aegis of Rhône Basin Long-Term Environmental Research (ZABR, Zone Atelier Bassin du Rhône) and of the École Universitaire de Recherche H2O'Lyon (ANR-17-EURE-0018). Funding Information: We thank Leslie Blazere, Vanessa Gardette, Myriam Hammada and Youssouf Sy for field and laboratory assistance and the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR) for access to field sites. This research was supported by the Research Executive Agency through the 7th Framework Programme of the European Union, Support for Training and Career Development of Researchers (Marie Curie - FP7-PEOPLE-2012-ITN), which funded the Initial Training Network (ITN) HYTECH ‘Hydrodynamic Transport in Ecologically Critical Heterogeneous Interfaces’, N.316546. This study was conducted under the aegis of Rhône Basin Long-Term Environmental Research (ZABR, Zone Atelier Bassin du Rhône) and of the École Universitaire de Recherche H2O'Lyon (ANR-17-EURE-0018). The authors would like to thank the Associate Editor and five anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2022/8/10

Y1 - 2022/8/10

N2 - In rivers, scale-dependent feedbacks resulting from physical habitat modifications control the lateral expansion of submerged plant patches, while the mechanisms that limit patch expansion on a longitudinal dimension remain unknown. Our objective was to investigate the effects of patch length on physical habitat modification (i.e., flow velocity, sediment grain size distribution), the consequences for biogeochemical conditions (i.e., accumulation/depletion of nutrients, microbial respiration), and for individual plants (i.e., shoot length). We measured all of these parameters along natural patches of increasing length. These measurements were performed at two sites that differed in mean flow velocity, sediment grain size, and trophic level. The results showed a significant effect of patch length on organic matter content and nutrient concentrations in interstitial water. For the shortest patches sampled, all of these parameters had similar values to those measured at the upstream control position. For longer patches, organic matter content and orthophosphate and ammonium concentrations increased within the patch compared to the upstream bare sediment, whereas nitrate concentrations decreased, suggesting changes in vertical water exchanges and an increase in anaerobic microbial activities. Furthermore, plant height was related to patch length by a quadratic pattern, probably due reduced hydrodynamic stress occurring for increasing patch length, combined with conditions that are less favourable for plants over a threshold length, possibly due to the light limitation or to the high concentration of ammonium that in the concentration range we measured may be toxic for plants. The threshold lengths over which patches influence the nutrient concentrations were reduced for the site with higher nutrient levels. We demonstrated that the plant-induced modifications of the physical habitat exert important effects on biogeochemical conditions, with possible consequences for patch dynamics and ecosystem functioning.

AB - In rivers, scale-dependent feedbacks resulting from physical habitat modifications control the lateral expansion of submerged plant patches, while the mechanisms that limit patch expansion on a longitudinal dimension remain unknown. Our objective was to investigate the effects of patch length on physical habitat modification (i.e., flow velocity, sediment grain size distribution), the consequences for biogeochemical conditions (i.e., accumulation/depletion of nutrients, microbial respiration), and for individual plants (i.e., shoot length). We measured all of these parameters along natural patches of increasing length. These measurements were performed at two sites that differed in mean flow velocity, sediment grain size, and trophic level. The results showed a significant effect of patch length on organic matter content and nutrient concentrations in interstitial water. For the shortest patches sampled, all of these parameters had similar values to those measured at the upstream control position. For longer patches, organic matter content and orthophosphate and ammonium concentrations increased within the patch compared to the upstream bare sediment, whereas nitrate concentrations decreased, suggesting changes in vertical water exchanges and an increase in anaerobic microbial activities. Furthermore, plant height was related to patch length by a quadratic pattern, probably due reduced hydrodynamic stress occurring for increasing patch length, combined with conditions that are less favourable for plants over a threshold length, possibly due to the light limitation or to the high concentration of ammonium that in the concentration range we measured may be toxic for plants. The threshold lengths over which patches influence the nutrient concentrations were reduced for the site with higher nutrient levels. We demonstrated that the plant-induced modifications of the physical habitat exert important effects on biogeochemical conditions, with possible consequences for patch dynamics and ecosystem functioning.

KW - Ecosystem engineering

KW - Feedbacks

KW - Nutrient availability

KW - Plant patches

KW - Rivers

KW - Sediment characteristics

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SN - 0048-9697

VL - 833

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JO - Science of the Total Environment

JF - Science of the Total Environment

M1 - 155123

ER -

Scale-dependent effects of vegetation on flow velocity and biogeochemical conditions in aquatic systems

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

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