Abstract
River ecosystems are one of the dynamic components of the terrestrial carbon cycle that provide a crucial function in ecosystem processes and high value to ecosystem services. A large amount of carbon is transported from terrestrial to the ocean through river flows. In order to evaluate the contribution of Sile River ecosystem to the global carbon stock, the river ecosystem Organic Carbon (OC) stock was quantified for sediments and dominant submerged aquatic macrophytes (SAMs) during the two sampling periods at three different stations along the Sile River (North Eastern Italy). The total mean ecosystem OC stock was 95.2 ± 13.8 Mg C ha−1 while those of SAMs ranged from 7.0 to 10.9 Mg C ha−1 which accounted for approx. 10% of the total OC stock. The total aboveground biomass retains approx. 90% of the SAM carbon stock, with a mean of 8.9 ± 1.6 Mg C ha−1. The mean sediment OC stock was 86.6 ± 14.5 Mg C ha−1 with low seasonal variations among the sites. Indeed, various environmental parameters and hydrodynamics appear to affect the accumulation of OC within the river ecosystem. The results highlight the role that freshwater river ecosystems play in the global carbon cycle, which consequently provide a baseline for future river ecosystem monitoring programs. Furthermore, future studies with additional sites and seasonal surveys of the river will enhance our understanding of the effects of global climate change on the river ecosystem and improve the ecosystem services.
Highlights
Rivers represent the most dynamic components of the terrestrial carbon cycle and provide important functions in ecosystem processes
This study highlights the contribution of the river ecosystems in the global carbon stock
The quantification of stored Organic Carbon (OC) within sediment and submerged aquatic macrophytes (SAMs) from the Sile River implied that the storage capacity for Carbon of the river ecosystem was varied, depending on the differences of vegetation biomass and SAMs biodiversity
Summary
Rivers represent the most dynamic components of the terrestrial carbon cycle and provide important functions in ecosystem processes. Significant amounts of organic and inorganic carbon typically deliver rivers from the surrounding landscape or originate from the photosynthesis of algae and plants in the water [1]. Despite their dynamic role in the terrestrial carbon stock cycle, river systems and the potential mechanistic controls of OC storage are among the least investigated [2], in comparison to other ecosystems. Research in ecosystem processing underlines the importance of Organic Carbon (OC) in river systems. Understanding physical and biological processes in rivers is crucial for determining the potential impacts of global climate change, land-use, and land-cover changes on OC dynamics within river systems [5]
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