Factors controlling the fluvial export of large woody debris, and its contribution to organic carbon budgets at watershed scales

Abstract

The fluvial export of large woody debris (LWD) was monitored in 131 reservoirs throughout Japan. Published data on the fluvial export of dissolved and particulate organic carbon were used to estimate the contributions of LWD in carbon budgets. Of all variables tested, watershed area was most important in explaining LWD carbon (LWDC) export, followed by annual precipitation. LWDC export per unit area was relatively high in small watersheds, highest in intermediate‐sized watersheds, and decreased in large watersheds. In small watersheds, a large proportion of LWD retained on narrow valley floors may fragment or decay and eventually be exported in forms other than LWD. In intermediate‐sized watersheds, LWD supplied from upstream and recruited by bank erosion is consistently transported downstream. In large watersheds, LWD recruitment is limited and LWD transported from upstream is stored on large floodplains. These differences in LWD recruitment, retention and transport in watersheds of different sizes lead to the proportion of LWDC in organic carbon exports to be maximum in intermediate‐sized watersheds and decline rapidly in large watersheds.