Biogeochemistry of “pristine” freshwater stream and lake systems in the western Canadian Arctic

Joshua F. Dean; Michael F. Billett; Robert Baxter; Kerry J. Dinsmore; Jason S. Lessels; Lorna E. Street; Jens Arne Subke; Doerthe Tetzlaff; Ian Washbourne; Philip A. Wookey

doi:10.1007/s10533-016-0252-2

Biogeochemistry of “pristine” freshwater stream and lake systems in the western Canadian Arctic

Joshua F. Dean^*, Michael F. Billett, Robert Baxter, Kerry J. Dinsmore, Jason S. Lessels, Lorna E. Street, Jens Arne Subke, Doerthe Tetzlaff, Ian Washbourne, Philip A. Wookey

^*Corresponding author for this work

Geography & Environment

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Abstract

Climate change poses a substantial threat to the stability of the Arctic terrestrial carbon (C) pool as warmer air temperatures thaw permafrost and deepen the seasonally-thawed active layer of soils and sediments. Enhanced water flow through this layer may accelerate the transport of C and major cations and anions to streams and lakes. These act as important conduits and reactors for dissolved C within the terrestrial C cycle. It is important for studies to consider these processes in small headwater catchments, which have been identified as hotspots of rapid mineralisation of C sourced from ancient permafrost thaw. In order to better understand the role of inland waters in terrestrial C cycling we characterised the biogeochemistry of the freshwater systems in a c. 14 km² study area in the western Canadian Arctic. Sampling took place during the snow-free seasons of 2013 and 2014 for major inorganic solutes, dissolved organic and inorganic C (DOC and DIC, respectively), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) concentrations from three water type groups: lakes, polygonal pools and streams. These groups displayed differing biogeochemical signatures, indicative of contrasting biogeochemical controls. However, none of the groups showed strong signals of enhanced permafrost thaw during the study seasons. The mean annual air temperature in the region has increased by more than 2.5 °C since 1970, and continued warming will likely affect the aquatic biogeochemistry. This study provides important baseline data for comparison with future studies in a warming Arctic.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	191-213
Number of pages	23
Journal	Biogeochemistry
Volume	130
Issue number	3
Early online date	11 Oct 2016
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-016-0252-2
Publication status	Published - Nov 2016

Bibliographical note

This work was supported by the UK Natural
Environment Research Council (grant numbers NE/K000217/1,
NE/K000225/1, NE/K000268/1 and NE/K000284/1). We would
like to thank the Aurora Research Institute in Inuvik, Prof Philip
Marsh of Wilfrid Laurier University, Dr Oliver Sonnentag of
Universite´ de Montre´al and Dr Mark Cooper of the University of
Exeter for their support during the field campaigns, and Dr James
Weedon of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam for support with the
statistical analyses. We would also like to thank the associate editor
for this manuscript—Dr Breck Bowden—and three anonymous
reviewers whose comments have substantially improved this paper.
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Keywords

Arctic catchments
Baseline study
Climate change
Freshwater biogeochemistry
Inland waters
Permafrost thaw
Pristine environment

UN SDGs

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Cite this

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title = "Biogeochemistry of “pristine” freshwater stream and lake systems in the western Canadian Arctic",

abstract = "Climate change poses a substantial threat to the stability of the Arctic terrestrial carbon (C) pool as warmer air temperatures thaw permafrost and deepen the seasonally-thawed active layer of soils and sediments. Enhanced water flow through this layer may accelerate the transport of C and major cations and anions to streams and lakes. These act as important conduits and reactors for dissolved C within the terrestrial C cycle. It is important for studies to consider these processes in small headwater catchments, which have been identified as hotspots of rapid mineralisation of C sourced from ancient permafrost thaw. In order to better understand the role of inland waters in terrestrial C cycling we characterised the biogeochemistry of the freshwater systems in a c. 14 km2 study area in the western Canadian Arctic. Sampling took place during the snow-free seasons of 2013 and 2014 for major inorganic solutes, dissolved organic and inorganic C (DOC and DIC, respectively), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) concentrations from three water type groups: lakes, polygonal pools and streams. These groups displayed differing biogeochemical signatures, indicative of contrasting biogeochemical controls. However, none of the groups showed strong signals of enhanced permafrost thaw during the study seasons. The mean annual air temperature in the region has increased by more than 2.5 °C since 1970, and continued warming will likely affect the aquatic biogeochemistry. This study provides important baseline data for comparison with future studies in a warming Arctic.",

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author = "Dean, {Joshua F.} and Billett, {Michael F.} and Robert Baxter and Dinsmore, {Kerry J.} and Lessels, {Jason S.} and Street, {Lorna E.} and Subke, {Jens Arne} and Doerthe Tetzlaff and Ian Washbourne and Wookey, {Philip A.}",

note = "This work was supported by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (grant numbers NE/K000217/1, NE/K000225/1, NE/K000268/1 and NE/K000284/1). We would like to thank the Aurora Research Institute in Inuvik, Prof Philip Marsh of Wilfrid Laurier University, Dr Oliver Sonnentag of Universite´ de Montre´al and Dr Mark Cooper of the University of Exeter for their support during the field campaigns, and Dr James Weedon of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam for support with the statistical analyses. We would also like to thank the associate editor for this manuscript—Dr Breck Bowden—and three anonymous reviewers whose comments have substantially improved this paper. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.",

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AU - Billett, Michael F.

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AU - Lessels, Jason S.

AU - Street, Lorna E.

AU - Subke, Jens Arne

AU - Tetzlaff, Doerthe

AU - Washbourne, Ian

AU - Wookey, Philip A.

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N2 - Climate change poses a substantial threat to the stability of the Arctic terrestrial carbon (C) pool as warmer air temperatures thaw permafrost and deepen the seasonally-thawed active layer of soils and sediments. Enhanced water flow through this layer may accelerate the transport of C and major cations and anions to streams and lakes. These act as important conduits and reactors for dissolved C within the terrestrial C cycle. It is important for studies to consider these processes in small headwater catchments, which have been identified as hotspots of rapid mineralisation of C sourced from ancient permafrost thaw. In order to better understand the role of inland waters in terrestrial C cycling we characterised the biogeochemistry of the freshwater systems in a c. 14 km2 study area in the western Canadian Arctic. Sampling took place during the snow-free seasons of 2013 and 2014 for major inorganic solutes, dissolved organic and inorganic C (DOC and DIC, respectively), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) concentrations from three water type groups: lakes, polygonal pools and streams. These groups displayed differing biogeochemical signatures, indicative of contrasting biogeochemical controls. However, none of the groups showed strong signals of enhanced permafrost thaw during the study seasons. The mean annual air temperature in the region has increased by more than 2.5 °C since 1970, and continued warming will likely affect the aquatic biogeochemistry. This study provides important baseline data for comparison with future studies in a warming Arctic.

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ER -

Biogeochemistry of “pristine” freshwater stream and lake systems in the western Canadian Arctic

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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