Abstract
In a previous laboratory experiment, water velocity had a strong negative effect on periphyton δ13C and δ15N, probably reflecting the effect of flow on boundary-layer exchange. To determine whether similar patterns could be detected in situ at different spatial scales, we examined several reaches, each with a wide range in water velocity and chlorophyll standing stock. Periphyton samples were uniform in composition, composed predominantly of living and dead diatoms of very few species. δ13C signatures were more variable (–17.7 to –31.5) than δ15N signatures (–0.4 to 5.7). Velocity and chlorophyll were significant predictors of periphyton δ13C within reaches, mainly at medium scales (10–500 m) where persistent alternations between fast and slow current (riffles–runs–pools) produced inverse fluctuations of periphyton δ13C. However, none of the variability in δ15N could be explained, possibly a result of severe boundary-layer N depletion. Similarly, the velocity and chlorophyll predictors could not explain the among-reach signature differences for either isotope. δ13C signatures tended to be13C-depleted in the tributary streams and13C-enriched in the downstream reaches.
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