Stable isotopes reveal independent carbon pools across an Arctic hydro‐climatic gradient: implications for the fate of carbon in warmer and drier conditions

Osburn, Christopher L.; Anderson, N. John; Leng, Melanie J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1115-5166; Barry, Christopher D. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1844-848X; Whiteford, Erika J.. 2019 Stable isotopes reveal independent carbon pools across an Arctic hydro‐climatic gradient: implications for the fate of carbon in warmer and drier conditions. Limnology and Oceanography Letters, 4 (6). 205-213. https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10119

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10119

Abstract/Summary

Arctic lakes are poised for substantial changes to their carbon (C) cycles in the near future. Autochthonous processes in lakes which consume inorganic C and create biomass that can be sequestered in sediments are accompanied by allochthonous inputs of organic matter from the surrounding watershed. Both C sources can be mineralized and degassed as CO2, but also become recalcitrant and accumulate in pelagic waters. Using stable carbon isotope (δ13C) values and elemental ratios as geochemical proxies, we investigated diverse organic matter sources to lakes located across a hydro‐climatic gradient in Southwest Greenland. Particulate organic matter (POM) and sediments were clearly of autochthonous algal origin, while dissolved organic matter (DOM) was a mix between autochthonous macrophytes and allochthonous watershed sources. Our results imply that a warmer and drier Arctic will lead to decoupled C pools: a water column dominated by increasingly autochthonous, macrophytic DOM, and sediments dominated by autochthonous algal POM.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10119
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	2378-2242
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	10 Sep 2019 14:25 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/525051

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10119

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

2378-2242

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

NORA Subject Terms:

Ecology and Environment