The impact of precipitation intensity and vegetation in the catchment area on autochthonous and allochthonous carbon transfer in stream biofilm food webs

• Applicant: Dr. Anne-Gret Seifert
• Subject Area: Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management ; Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
• Term: from 2013 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 233302479

In rivers and streams, biofilms are major sites of carbon cycling. They retain large amounts of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and consequently are most important for the development of aquatic organisms on higher trophic levels. Besides autochthonous primary production, which supports heterotrophic production in biofilms, large amounts of organic carbon (OC) are derived from the surrounding catchment areas. More precipitation and more frequent and severe floods due to climate change will increase the transport of material into streams. Moreover, catchment characteristics including vegetation affect the transport and nature of DOC into aquatic ecosystems. Thus, carbon dynamics depend on how a stream is embedded within and interacts with its surrounding terrestrial environment. Despite its importance for carbon cycling it is not understood to which extent autochthonous or allochthonous carbon is used in biofilms and how increased addition of allochthonous carbon determines the relative use of both carbon sources. The combined application of 13C and 14C analysis on differently labeled DOC sources intend to answer to which extent DOC from different sources is used by bacteria in biofilms and finally transported to higher trophic levels. The use of 13C and 14C signals on carbon compounds and biomarkers is an excellent method to determine carbon sources for microorganisms and the transport of labeled material within the food web.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants