Flow intermittency, physico-chemistry and function of headwater streams in an Alpine glacial catchment

Robinson, C. T.; Tonolla, Diego; Imhof, B.; Vukelic, R.; Uehlinger, U.

doi:10.21256/zhaw-3716

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3716

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Flow intermittency, physico-chemistry and function of headwater streams in an Alpine glacial catchment
Authors:	Robinson, C. T. Tonolla, Diego Imhof, B. Vukelic, R. Uehlinger, U.
DOI:	10.21256/zhaw-3716 10.1007/s00027-015-0434-3
Published in:	Aquatic Sciences
Volume(Issue):	78
Issue:	2
Page(s):	327
Pages to:	341
Issue Date:	2015
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Springer
ISSN:	1015-1621 1420-9055
Language:	English
Subjects:	Function; Glacier; Hydrology; Intermittent stream; Sediment respiration; Organic matter
Subject (DDC):	551: Geology and hydrology
Abstract:	Relatively little is known regarding the extent of intermittent streams or the general ecology of headwaters in alpine catchments with glacial influence. This study quantified the contribution of intermittent streams to the total length of the stream network along with an ecological assessment during spring-summer of headwater streams (higher than 1,900 m above sea level) in the Val Roseg, a high Alpine glacial catchment. Stream network mapping revealed that ca. 90 % (76.8 km) of the drainage network consisted of intermittent streams. Glacier-fed headwaters experienced diel surface flows in late spring and summer, most going dry during the night due to reduced glacial inputs. In contrast, groundwater-fed streams often went dry in summer with the contraction of groundwater and other subsurface inputs. A principal components analysis of physico-chemical characteristics revealed headwaters to be primarily glacial-fed (kryal), groundwater-fed (krenal), or having a mixed water source. Although quite variable, periphyton biomass reached high levels (ca. 40 mg m-2 chla, 10 g m-2 AFDM) by late spring in most headwaters. Organic matter in transport (seston) ranged from 0.03 to 0.09 mg L-1 mostly consisting of fine particulate organic matter (FPOM: 33–76 %). Hyporheic sediment respiration rates varied considerably, ranging from 0.005 to 0.126 mg O2 h-1 kg-1 sediment and primarily related to the amount of loosely attached organic matter. These results indicate that intermittent streams are predominant in alpine landscapes, comprising mostly 1st to 2nd order systems, and that ecosystem properties vary substantially among headwater streams likely in relation to annual/daily changes in flow and water source. Such headwaters may contribute strongly to the production, processing and transport of organic matter to downstream waters, especially in light of the expected increase in intermittent streams in alpine catchments experiencing rapid glacial recession.
Further description:	Erworben im Rahmen der Schweizer Nationallizenzen (http://www.nationallizenzen.ch)
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/6685
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Restricted until:	2021-05-01
Departement:	Life Sciences and Facility Management
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Natural Resource Sciences (IUNR)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Life Sciences und Facility Management

Files in This Item:

File	Description	Size	Format
10.1007_s00027-015-0434-3.pdf		1.71 MB	Adobe PDF	View/Open

Show full item record

Robinson, C. T., Tonolla, D., Imhof, B., Vukelic, R., & Uehlinger, U. (2015). Flow intermittency, physico-chemistry and function of headwater streams in an Alpine glacial catchment. Aquatic Sciences, 78(2), 327–341. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3716

Robinson, C.T. et al. (2015) ‘Flow intermittency, physico-chemistry and function of headwater streams in an Alpine glacial catchment’, Aquatic Sciences, 78(2), pp. 327–341. Available at: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3716.

C. T. Robinson, D. Tonolla, B. Imhof, R. Vukelic, and U. Uehlinger, “Flow intermittency, physico-chemistry and function of headwater streams in an Alpine glacial catchment,” Aquatic Sciences, vol. 78, no. 2, pp. 327–341, 2015, doi: 10.21256/zhaw-3716.

ROBINSON, C. T., Diego TONOLLA, B. IMHOF, R. VUKELIC und U. UEHLINGER, 2015. Flow intermittency, physico-chemistry and function of headwater streams in an Alpine glacial catchment. Aquatic Sciences. 2015. Bd. 78, Nr. 2, S. 327–341. DOI 10.21256/zhaw-3716

Robinson, C. T., Diego Tonolla, B. Imhof, R. Vukelic, and U. Uehlinger. 2015. “Flow Intermittency, Physico-Chemistry and Function of Headwater Streams in an Alpine Glacial Catchment.” Aquatic Sciences 78 (2): 327–41. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3716.

Robinson, C. T., et al. “Flow Intermittency, Physico-Chemistry and Function of Headwater Streams in an Alpine Glacial Catchment.” Aquatic Sciences, vol. 78, no. 2, 2015, pp. 327–41, https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3716.