Oxygen is one of the most crucial elements on earth and equally affects life and inorganic redox processes. After its transition to water with moderate solubility and slow diffusion rates, most aquatic organisms depend on permanent renewal of dissolved oxygen (DO). Recharge of this pivotal aqueous gas may become hampered by anthropogenic and climatic influences with so far unknown consequences for surface freshwater systems and entire ecosystems. Because rivers integrate biogeochemical information of catchments, their oxygen dynamics may also reflect ecosystem and landscape health. Here we summarize the most important sources and sinks of DO and its role in river systems. These considerations also extend to associated water compartments and fluxes including lakes, reservoirs, soils, groundwater and the hyporheic zone. In addition, for continental-scale considerations, we analysed the GLObal RIver CHemistry (GLORICH) database with 170,369 DO measurements. These analyses revealed that DO in rivers relates to water temperature, pH and nutrient availability. On larger scales, it is also influenced by catchment area, slope, ratios of forests to managed land and population density. Our review also highlights important links between physical and biological influences on DO transfer as well as its sources and sinks in streams and rivers. We conclude that DO monitoring should be combined with novel interdisciplinary tracing techniques such as stable isotope ratios, radon gas and biological analyses. Such combined analyses have the potential to improve our understanding of transfer and transformations of oxygen in rivers as essential integrators of landscapes.

氧气是地球上最重要的元素之一，同样影响生命和无机氧化还原过程。在过渡到具有中等溶解度和缓慢扩散速度的水之后，大多数水生生物依赖于溶解氧 (DO) 的永久更新。这种关键的含水气体的补给可能会受到人为和气候影响的阻碍，迄今为止对地表淡水系统和整个生态系统的影响尚不清楚。由于河流整合了集水区的生物地球化学信息，它们的氧气动态也可能反映生态系统和景观健康。在这里，我们总结了溶解氧最重要的来源和汇及其在河流系统中的作用。这些考虑还扩展到相关的水区和通量，包括湖泊、水库、土壤、地下水和潜流带。此外，出于大陆尺度的考虑，我们分析了具有 170,369 DO 测量值的 GLObal 河流化学 (GLORICH) 数据库。这些分析表明，河流中的溶解氧与水温、pH 值和养分有效性有关。在更大的范围内，它还受集水区、坡度、森林与管理土地的比率和人口密度的影响。我们的评论还强调了物理和生物对溶解氧转移的影响及其在溪流和河流中的来源和汇之间的重要联系。我们得出结论，溶解氧监测应与新的跨学科示踪技术相结合，例如稳定同位素比、氡气和生物分析。这种综合分析有可能提高我们对河流中氧气作为景观基本整合者的转移和转化的理解。我们分析了具有 170,369 DO 测量值的 GLObal 河流化学 (GLORICH) 数据库。这些分析表明，河流中的溶解氧与水温、pH 值和养分有效性有关。在更大的范围内，它还受集水区、坡度、森林与管理土地的比率和人口密度的影响。我们的评论还强调了物理和生物对溶解氧转移的影响及其在溪流和河流中的来源和汇之间的重要联系。我们得出结论，溶解氧监测应与新的跨学科示踪技术相结合，例如稳定同位素比、氡气和生物分析。这种综合分析有可能提高我们对河流中氧气作为景观基本整合者的转移和转化的理解。我们分析了具有 170,369 DO 测量值的 GLObal 河流化学 (GLORICH) 数据库。这些分析表明，河流中的溶解氧与水温、pH 值和养分有效性有关。在更大的范围内，它还受集水区、坡度、森林与管理土地的比率和人口密度的影响。我们的评论还强调了物理和生物对溶解氧转移的影响及其在溪流和河流中的来源和汇之间的重要联系。我们得出的结论是，溶解氧监测应与新的跨学科示踪技术相结合，例如稳定同位素比、氡气和生物分析。这种综合分析有可能提高我们对河流中氧气作为景观基本整合者的转移和转化的理解。