Positive priming of terrestrially derived dissolved organic matter in a freshwater microcosm system Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • AbstractThe role of priming processes in the remineralization of terrestrially derived dissolved organic carbon (TDOC) in aquatic systems has been overlooked. We provide evidence for TDOC priming using a labbased microcosm experiment in which TDOC was primed by the addition of 13Clabeled algal dissolved organic carbon (ADOC) or a 13Clabeled disaccharide (trehalose). The rate of TDOC remineralization to carbon dioxide (CO2) occurred 4.10.9 and 1.50.3 times more rapidly with the addition of trehalose and ADOC, respectively, relative to experiments with TDOC as the sole carbon source over the course of a 301h incubation period. Results from these controlled experiments provide fundamental evidence for the occurrence of priming of TDOC by ADOC and a simple disaccharide. We suggest that priming effects on TDOC should be considered in carbon budgets for largeriver deltas, estuaries, lakes, hydroelectric reservoirs, and continental shelves.

published proceedings

  • GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS

altmetric score

  • 8.7

author list (cited authors)

  • Bianchi, T. S., Thornton, D., Yvon-Lewis, S. A., King, G. M., Eglinton, T. I., Shields, M. R., Ward, N. D., & Curtis, J.

citation count

  • 110

complete list of authors

  • Bianchi, Thomas S||Thornton, Daniel CO||Yvon-Lewis, Shari A||King, Gary M||Eglinton, Timothy I||Shields, Michael R||Ward, Nicholas D||Curtis, Jason

publication date

  • July 2015