Seasonal and spatial distribution of dissolved and particulate organic carbon and bacteria in the bank of an impounding reservoir on the Enns River, Austria

Author(s)
Albert Brugger, Bettina Reitner, Ingrid Kolar, Nadia Quéric, Gerhard J. Herndl
Abstract

1. Interstitial bacterial abundance, production and ectoenzyme activity were investigated over an annual cycle in an Austrian river when infiltration of oligotrophic river water into a river-bank was artificially enhanced. These microbial parameters were related to porewater chemistry and the concentration of particulate (POC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). 2. Porewater chemistry reflected the hydrodynamic mixing of infiltrating river water with riparian groundwater. Seasonal fluctuations in the microbial parameters resulted mainly from changes in temperature and organic matter supply. Seasonal change in porewater chemistry in the river-bank was detectable laterally only within the first metre of the sediment and decreased rapidly with increasing distance from the sediment-water interface. 3. The DOC concentration decreased only slightly during lateral transport through the aquifer, while total organic carbon (TOC) concentration as well as abundance and activity of interstitial bacteria were reduced by up to one order of magnitude within the top metre of the sediment. Retention of incoming particulate matter structured the lateral distribution pattern of TOC concentration. The POC and not the DOC pool was the main source of carbon for interstitial bacteria and, therefore, the quality of POC determines the distribution of microbial metabolism within the riparian zone.

Organisation(s)
External organisation(s)
Universität Wien, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
Journal
Freshwater Biology
Volume
46
Pages
997-1016
No. of pages
20
ISSN
0046-5070
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2427.2001.00743.x
Publication date
08-2001
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
106021 Marine biology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Aquatic Science
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 14 - Life Below Water
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/seasonal-and-spatial-distribution-of-dissolved-and-particulate-organic-carbon-and-bacteria-in-the-bank-of-an-impounding-reservoir-on-the-enns-river-austria(6b41910d-01b1-453d-bcf9-c6cdc228c3a0).html