Partitioning assimilatory nitrogen uptake in streams: an analysis of stable isotope tracer additions across continents

Year: 
2018
Publications Type: 
Journal Article
Publication Number: 
5033
Citation: 

Tank, J. L.; Martí, E.; Riis, T.; von Schiller, D.; Reisinger, A. J.; Dodds, W. K.; Whiles, M. R.; Ashkenas, L. R.; Bowden, W. B.; Collins, S. M.; Crenshaw, C. L.; Crowl, T. A.; Griffiths, N. A.; Grimm, N. B.; Hamilton, S. K.; Johnson, S. L.; McDowell, W. H.; Norman, B. M.; Rosi, E. J.; Simon, K. S.; Thomas, S. A.; Webster, J. R. 2018. Partitioning assimilatory nitrogen uptake in streams: an analysis of stable isotope tracer additions across continents. Ecological Monographs. 88(1): 120-138. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/ecm.1280

Abstract: 

Headwater streams remove, transform, and store inorganic nitrogen (N) delivered from surrounding watersheds, but excessive N inputs from human activity can saturate removal capacity. Most research has focused on quantifying N removal from the water column over short periods and in individual reaches, and these ecosystem-scale measurements suggest that assimilatory N uptake accounts for most N removal. However, cross-system comparisons addressing the relative role of particular biota responsible for incorporating inorganic N into biomass are lacking. Here we assess the importance of different primary uptake compartments on reach-scale ammonium (NH4+-N) uptake and storage across a wide range of streams varying in abundance of biota and local environmental factors. We analyzed data from 17 15N-NH4+ tracer addition experiments globally, and found that assimilatory N uptake by autotrophic compartments (i.e., epilithic biofilm, filamentous algae, bryophytes/macrophytes) was higher but more variable than for heterotrophic microorganisms colonizing detrital organic matter (i.e., leaves, small wood, and fine particles). Autotrophic compartments played a disproportionate role in N uptake relative to their biomass, although uptake rates were similar when we rescaled heterotrophic assimilatory N uptake associated only with live microbial biomass. Assimilatory NH4+-N uptake, either estimated as removal from the water column or from the sum uptake of all individual compartments, was four times higher in open- than in closed-canopy streams. Using Bayesian Model Averaging, we found that canopy cover and gross primary production (GPP) controlled autotrophic assimilatory N uptake while ecosystem respiration (ER) was more important for the heterotrophic contribution. The ratio of autotrophic to heterotrophic N storage was positively correlated with metabolism (GPP:?ER), which was also higher in open- than in closed-canopy streams. Our analysis shows riparian canopy cover influences the relative abundance of different biotic uptake compartments and thus GPP:ER. As such, the simple categorical variable of canopy cover explained differences in assimilatory N uptake among streams at the reach scale, as well as the relative roles of autotrophs and heterotrophs in N storage. Finally, this synthesis links cumulative N uptake by stream biota to reach-scale N demand and provides a mechanistic and predictive framework for estimating and modeling N cycling in other streams.
Keywords: ammonium; assimilation; 15N; nitrogen; riparian canopy cover; stable isotopes; storage; stream; uptake