Fluxes of bacteria and organic matter into a blackwater river from river sediments and floodplain soils

Abstract

SUMMARY1. The Ogeechee River, in south‐eastern Georgia, U.S.A, is a blackwater river with an extensive floodplain that is inundated regularly during winter months. Previous studies have shown that low to moderate bacterial production rates cannot support the relatively high suspended bacteria concentrations observed (107−‐108 cells ml−1), suggesting an allochthonous source of bacteria. We report the results of a combination of field and flume experiments which demonstrate that river sediments and floodplain soils are significant sources of suspended bacteria during seasonal flooding. Benthic bacteria are also entrained by normal discharges. There are sizeable fluxes of POC and DOC from river sediments and floodplain soils.2. Bacterial, POC and DOC fluxes (14, 250, and 790 mg Cm−2 h−1, respectively) were substantial when water was percolated upward through floodplain soils.3. Simulation of overland flow using a flume demonstrated further fluxes of bacteria and POC from floodplain soils (up to 61 and 10700 mg Cm−2h−1, respectively) and river sediments, but did not yield additional DOC from floodplain soils.4. These laboratory results are supported by experiments in which we measured significant increases in concentrations of bacteria and DOC in a downstream direction in (i) the main river channel during a winter flood in 1986, and (ii) a floodplain slough (channel side‐arm) which re‐entered the main channel 800m from its initial divergence. Inputs of bacteria and DOC from the surrounding floodplain were estimated to be up to 3500 kg DOC h−1, and 4000 kg bacteria Ch−1 over a 50‐km reach.5. These previously unmeasured fluxes of organic carbon help to explain the high concentrations of suspended bacteria in the Ogeechee River.