The effect of different natural habitats (macrophyte dominated versus macrophyte free broaches) on the immobilisation of dissolved organic carbon in river biofilms

• Applicant: Dr. Susanne Halbedel
• Subject Area: Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
• Term: from 2010 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 187216033

Biofilms, which are now recognized as the dominant form of microbial life in many aquatic ecosystems, are particularly important in rivers where they govern relevant ecosystem processes. For instance, their ability to take up and store carbon indicates a key role for carbon cycling in rivers. Nevertheless, the knowledge on the impact of various habitat properties on biofilm structure and function - affecting their dissolved organic carbon (DOC) processing capacities - remains obscure. Here, I propose a first study that relates the properties of macrophytes as a major determinant in rivers to biofilm architecture, structure and function, i.e. DOC immobilisation. In this context, biofilms originated from macrophyte dominated will be compared with biofilms from macrophyte free reaches along the course of the river Bode (Saxony-Anhalt, Germany). For this purpose a combination of field studies and experiments in the laboratory scale are planned. The expected results will allow statements about the role of river biofilms on the carbon-cycle in rivers as coupled to different habitat properties.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants