Contrary effects of flow intermittence and land uses on organic matter decomposition in a Mediterranean river basin

Abstract

Flow interruption in intermittent rivers (IRs) generates a mosaic of terrestrial and aquatic habitats across the river network affecting ecosystem processes, as organic matter (OM) decomposition. Water use for farming in arid and semi-arid climates intensifies the dry conditions and affects local river characteristics. In that way, flow intermittence and the distribution of land uses may affect the OM processing along the river. To understand the role of IRs in global OM dynamics and how global change affecting water flow regimes determines these dynamics, it is important to estimate OM-processing rates at a basin scale. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the intensity of flow intermittence on OM processing, and how this effect was modulated by local environmental factors related to land uses across a Mediterranean river basin. To do this, wood decomposition (mass loss and fungal biomass) was selected as a functional indicator. Drying duration and frequency were measured to characterize flow intermittence in different reaches along the river, as well as local environmental factors. Linear models stablished the role of factors on decomposition. The results showed that differences in decomposition rates across the river network were negatively related to the duration of flow interruption. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen associated with agriculture counteracted the negative effect of intermittence on mass loss (increasing by up to three times); but with a higher duration of dry conditions, its effect was insignificant. An increase of 20% of canopy (higher in natural areas) resulted in increases of up to 5% of mass loss. Overall, our study is relevant to understanding the interaction between flow intermittence and land uses on OM processing, especially considering the intensification of flow intermittence and its increased distribution to other regions, which is expected to be a consequence of climate warming and human activities.