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1937 1962 1995 Landscape controls on surface water quality.

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Presentation on theme: "1937 1962 1995 Landscape controls on surface water quality."— Presentation transcript:

1 1937 1962 1995 Landscape controls on surface water quality

2 sourcepathwaydestination Stream ecology Landscape ecology precip

3 Variation in source water -Related to land use -Ionic composition (N, S) and pH

4 Landscape control on surface water quality is all about… Pathway of water from land to water body –As water moves from one place to another: Physical changes –Particulate accumulation/removal –Leaching Chemical transformations (biogeochemistry) –Different patches cause different types, amounts of physical, chemical change

5 source pathway destination Patch composition Patch size Patch arrangement

6 Effects of pathway (landscape structure) on water quality How pathway composition varies across large areas

7 Effects of landscape elements (patches) on water chemistry 1. Parent geology Variation in parent geology, weathering ---> chemical variation in water Sandstone + dolomite dolomite Mixed granites Dolomite, shale, limestone

8 From: Jones, J.B. 2002. Freshwater Biology 47:971-983

9 Geology/weathering effects Cations –In particular: Ca, Mg, Si Anions –Carbonates productivity, acidification risk Nutrients –Phosphorus all from rock weathering Slow rate of weathering  widespread P limitation –Nitrogen Geological effects exist within, between drainages

10 From: Holloway et al. 1998. Nature 395:785-788.

11 Geology/weathering effects Effects of parent geology on the path that water takes –Preferential flow paths –Land forms

12 Effects of landscape elements (patches) on water chemistry 2. Land Use/Land Cover Variation in land use/land cover ---> variation in water quality *Best studied landscape effect on water quality

13 Land use-water quality relationships % Agriculture in the basin (Stanley unpublished)

14 Signal of agricultural, urban land cover is often strong and direct –Nutrient enrichment –Classic pollutants –Organic C % agriculture But not always…

15 When water quality is not predictable from land cover H 1 : Hydrologic pathways by-pass land cover

16 What we see… What actually happens (Deep) groundwater sources by-passing land cover

17 Hydrology + landscape ecology There are many ways for water to flow downhill

18 When water quality is not predictable from land cover H 2 : Flowpaths vary as a function of landscape position –Water quality varies among lakes despite similar land cover Different lakes fed by water from different sources

19 Landscape position related to lake hydrology Precipitation Input Groundwater Input “Highland” lake “Lowland” lake

20 High (little GW) Low (lots of GW) 5 10 100 200 300 50 Cond (µS cm -1 ) Landscape position 40 20 10 5 1 Chl a (µ g L -1 ) Landscape position High (little GW) Low (lots of GW) From: Riera et al. 2000. Freshwater Biology 43:301-318

21 When water quality is not predictable from land cover H 3 : Hot spot effects –Patches that have a disproportionately large influence on water quality Addition of particles, solutes Removal of particles, solutes

22 Hot spots 1. Sites where water moves quickly from land to lake/stream

23 P derived from small hotspots (“effective areas”) Extent of hotspots affected by land use –Urban cover accounts for: 10% of cover 20-55% of P input to L. Mendota From:Soranno et al. 1996 Ecological Applications 6:865-878

24 Hot spots 2. Sites where water is subject to distinct physical/biogeochemical environment, intensive change  ecotones

25 Riparian zones Aquatic/terrestrial interface –Soils often saturated (anoxic), rich in OM –Water velocity slows Rapid bgc change, particle trapping NO 3 -N (ug/L) UP RM RO

26 Riparian zones Solution to non-point source pollution? –Sometimes… May or may not be effective in reducing nutrient loads in groundwater –Pathways –Size, shape of RZ

27 The challenge- determining when water does/does not pass through the riparian zone

28 Spatial configuration of riparian zone affects nutrient retention From: Weller et al. 1998. Ecological Applications 8:1156-1169

29

30 Landscape influence on water quality determined by: -Relative importance of different flowpaths -What happens along these flow path - Lots of research opportunities for questions re: -patch arrangement, patch size precip deep gw


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