Superlinear scaling of riverine biogeochemical function with watershed size

Wilfred M Wollheim,Tamara K Harms,Ashley M Helton,William B Bowden,Lauren E Koenig,Jacques C Finlay,Andrew L Robison,Chao Song

doi:10.1038/s41467-022-28630-z

Abstract

River networks regulate carbon and nutrient exchange between continents, atmosphere, and oceans. However, contributions of riverine processing are poorly constrained at continental scales. Scaling relationships of cumulative biogeochemical function with watershed size (allometric scaling) provide an approach for quantifying the contributions of fluvial networks in the Earth system. Here we show that allometric scaling of cumulative riverine function with watershed area ranges from linear to superlinear, with scaling exponents constrained by network shape, hydrological conditions, and biogeochemical process rates. Allometric scaling is superlinear for processes that are largely independent of substrate concentration (e.g., gross primary production) due to superlinear scaling of river network surface area with watershed area. Allometric scaling for typically substrate-limited processes (e.g., denitrification) is linear in river networks with high biogeochemical activity or low river discharge but becomes increasingly superlinear under lower biogeochemical activity or high discharge, conditions that are widely prevalent in river networks. The frequent occurrence of superlinear scaling indicates that biogeochemical activity in large rivers contributes disproportionately to the function of river networks in the Earth system.

Highlights

River networks regulate carbon and nutrient exchange between continents, atmosphere, and oceans
River networks are fractal transport networks[21,22] and might exhibit similar allometric scaling relationships, though key differences from circulatory systems of organisms or estuaries suggest that scaling of cumulative biogeochemical function of entire river networks might deviate from the sublinear scaling observed in these systems
River length along with river hydraulics define the distribution of benthic or air-water surface area (SA), where most biogeochemical processes occur in rivers[28]

Summary

Introduction

River networks regulate carbon and nutrient exchange between continents, atmosphere, and oceans. The scaling parameter (d) was most variable at high flows across scenarios of river hydraulics (Eq (3)) for a given network structure (range from 1.10 to 1.24 for rectangular network, Fig. 4; Supplementary Fig. 5), indicating physical characteristics are more important determinants of cumulative biogeochemical function under high-flow conditions.

Results

Conclusion