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Riparian control on NO3 −, DOC, and dissolved Fe concentrations in mountainous streams, northern Japan

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Abstract

We evaluated (1) the longitudinal pattern of stream chemistry and (2) the effects of the riparian zone on this longitudinal pattern for nitrate (NO3 −), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and total dissolved iron (Fe). We selected two small watersheds; the “southern watershed” had an extending riparian wetland and the “northern watershed” had a narrow riparian area. Stream NO3 − concentrations decreased from the spring to outlet of both watersheds. In the southern watershed, stream DOC concentration decreased from the spring to midstream and then increased to the outlet. Stream Fe concentration in the southern watershed longitudinally increased. On the other hand, the northern watershed exhibited no longitudinal pattern for DOC and Fe concentrations. In both watersheds, while NO3 − concentrations in the soil and ground water were lower than those in the stream waters, DOC and Fe concentrations exhibited the opposite patterns. The longitudinal decreases of NO3 − concentrations in both streams and increase of stream Fe in the southern watershed mainly resulted from the inflow of the soil and ground water to the stream. The decrease in stream DOC from the spring to midstream in the southern watershed was due to the deep groundwater having low DOC, while the subsequent increase to the surrounding soil and ground water. Moreover, considerations of stream solute flow with soil and ground water chemistry suggested other mechanisms adding NO3 − and removing/diluting DOC and Fe, especially for the northern watershed; coexistence of oxidizing and reducing conditions in the riparian zone might control the longitudinal concentration change in the stream water chemistry.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the staff of the Hokkaido Forest Research Station, FSERC, Kyoto University. T. Kuboi helped us to install groundwater wells. The present study was facilitated by the Forest Research Station, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, especially for the chemical analyses. Dr Sheila F. Christopher suggested many helpful comments and modifications to the draft of this manuscript. Two anonymous referees gave many useful comments to this manuscript. This study was also supported by the JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists.

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Author notes

  1. Yasunori Nakagawa

    Present address: Environmental Research Division, Kaihatsu Koei Co., Ltd, Asty45 Building 13F, 1 Kita 4 Nishi 5 Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0004, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northern Forestry Research and Development Office, Forest Research Station, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Nayoro, Japan

    Yasunori Nakagawa & Hideaki Shibata

  2. Southern Forestry Research and Development Office, Forest Research Station, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

    Fuyuki Satoh & Kaichiro Sasa

Authors
  1. Yasunori Nakagawa
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  2. Hideaki Shibata
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  3. Fuyuki Satoh
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  4. Kaichiro Sasa
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Correspondence to Yasunori Nakagawa.

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Nakagawa, Y., Shibata, H., Satoh, F. et al. Riparian control on NO3 −, DOC, and dissolved Fe concentrations in mountainous streams, northern Japan. Limnology 9, 195–206 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-008-0251-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-008-0251-7

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