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Spatial and temporal patterns of benthic nutrient cycling define the extensive role of internal loading in an agriculturally influenced oxbow lake

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Abstract

Benthic habitats in shallow oxbow lakes may serve as permanent nitrogen (N) sinks by facilitating denitrification. Oxbow sediments may also accumulate nutrients through uptake, deposition and heterotrophic N2 fixation, and ultimately provide a significant internal source of N and phosphorus (P) through sediment release to the water column. To better understand nutrient source-sink dynamics in oxbow lakes, we explored seasonal and habitat specific patterns in sediment dissolved dinitrogen gas (N2-N) and nutrient flux within an oxbow in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Time series models indicate a higher probability of positive N2-N fluxes in fall through spring, significant negative summer fluxes, and clear differences among habitats with net annual N2-N fluxes, ranging from − 2.34 g m−2 Y−1 in open water habitat to 0.26 g m−2 Y−1 in shoreline areas. Integrated lake-wide N2-N sediment flux estimates were negative indicating the significant role of net N2 fixation. More complex models explained similar amounts of variation (Adj. R2 = 0.57 vs. 0.45) and indicated that benthic N2-N fluxes were associated with changes in temperature, dissolved inorganic N, sediment oxygen demand, and sediment carbon:N ratios. Ammonium and P flux from sediments were substantial across all habitats and internal N regeneration far outpaced removal from the system by sediment N2-N flux. Results indicate that nutrient release from sediments generate internal nutrient loads proportional to external loading from the watershed. Our results highlight the significant potential for internal nutrient loading and benthic N2 fixation within sediments to regulate biogeochemical processes within understudied oxbow lake ecosystems.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Sam Testa, Terry Welch, Wade Steinreide, Mark Griffith, Lisa Brooks, James Hill, Tate Hillhouse, and James Gledhill for assisting in data collection and sample processing. Lindsey Yasarer provided data to establish habitat zone areas and participated in discussions which greatly improved this manuscript. Tim Strickland, Cliff Ochs, and two anonymous reviewers provided much appreciated comments which improved an earlier draft of this manuscript. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture. The US Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

Funding

This research was supported by the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.

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  1. Rachel L. Nifong

    Present address: Southeast Watershed Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Tifton, GA, 31794, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Quality and Ecology Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Oxford, MS, 38655, USA

    Rachel L. Nifong, Jason M. Taylor & Stephen DeVilbiss

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  1. Rachel L. Nifong
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  2. Jason M. Taylor
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Contributions

Conceptualization: RLN and JMT; Methodology: RLN and JMT; Formal analysis and investigation: RLN, JMT, and SED; Writing—original draft preparation: RLN; Writing—reviewing and editing: RLN, JMT, and SED.

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Correspondence to Rachel L. Nifong.

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Nifong, R.L., Taylor, J.M. & DeVilbiss, S. Spatial and temporal patterns of benthic nutrient cycling define the extensive role of internal loading in an agriculturally influenced oxbow lake. Biogeochemistry 159, 413–433 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-022-00935-7

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