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Related Experiment Videos

Dissolved organic nitrogen regulation in freshwaters.

V B Willett1, B A Reynolds, P A Stevens

  • 1School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Deniol Road, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK.

Journal of Environmental Quality
|February 18, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) is a major part of aquatic nitrogen, but its levels are not seasonal. Land use and soil type significantly impact DON, limiting its use as a broad indicator of ecosystem health.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Biogeochemistry

Background:

  • Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) is a key component of nitrogen cycling in ecosystems.
  • Understanding DON dynamics is crucial for assessing aquatic ecosystem health and nutrient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate seasonal and concentration relationships between dissolved organic carbon (DOC), DON, and nitrate (NO3-) in Welsh streams and lakes.
  • To determine the influence of land use, soil type, and vegetation on DON and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) patterns.
  • To assess the potential of DON as a widespread indicator of catchment condition.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of water samples from 102 streams and 16 lakes across Wales.
  • Statistical assessment of relationships between DOC, DON, DIN, NO3-, land use, soil type, and vegetation.

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  • Evaluation of seasonal trends and concentration variations.

    • Main Results:

    • DON represents a significant portion (40-50%, sometimes >85%) of the total dissolved nitrogen pool.
    • DON levels were inversely correlated with DIN concentrations.
    • DON showed no consistent seasonal trends, unlike the seasonal DIN concentrations.
    • Higher DON export was observed from Histosol-dominated catchments compared to Spodosol-dominated watersheds.
    • Forested catchments exhibited nearly a twofold decrease in DON export compared to nonforested areas.

    Conclusions:

    • DON is a substantial nitrogen pool in aquatic systems, with its concentration influenced by soil type and vegetation cover.
    • The lack of consistent seasonality in DON, contrasted with DIN, suggests differences in bioavailability.
    • The variable behavior of DON across diverse catchments may hinder its use as a universal indicator for monitoring ecosystem health.