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Sources of Dissolved Inorganic Carbon in Two Small Streams with Different Bedrock Geology: Insights from Carbon Isotopes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 February 2016

Naoto F Ishikawa ,
Ichiro Tayasu ,
Masako Yamane ,
Yusuke Yokoyama ,
Saburo Sakai  and
Naohiko Ohkouchi
Naoto F Ishikawa*
Affiliation:
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan
Ichiro Tayasu
Affiliation:
Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, 2-509-3 Hirano, Otsu, Shiga 520-2113, Japan Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, 457-4 Motoyama, Kamigamo, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8047 Japan
Masako Yamane
Affiliation:
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan
Yusuke Yokoyama
Affiliation:
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan
Saburo Sakai
Affiliation:
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan
Naohiko Ohkouchi
Affiliation:
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan
*
2. Corresponding author. Email: ishikawan@jamstec.go.jp.
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Abstract

Radiocarbon natural abundances (Δ14C) are being increasingly used to trace carbon cycling in stream ecosystems. To understand the ultimate sources of carbon, we determined the stable carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) and Δ14C values of dissolved inorganic and organic carbon (DIC and DOC, respectively) and of particulate organic carbon (POC) in two small streams in central Japan, one of which flows over limestone bedrock (Seri) and the other does not (Fudoji). Investigations over four seasons revealed that the Δ14C values of the DIC (from −238‰ to −174‰ for Seri and −23‰ to +10‰ for Fudoji) were less variable than those of the other carbon fractions (DOC: from −400‰ to −138‰ for Seri and −2‰ to +103‰ for Fudoji; POC: from −164‰ to −60‰ for Seri and −55‰ to +37‰ for Fudoji). Based on mass balance calculations using the δ13C and Δ14C values, the proportions of carbon in the DIC originated from (1) atmospheric CO2 were 47% to 57% for Seri and 74% to 90% for Fudoji, (2) organic matter degradation were 29% to 35% for Seri and 4% to 21% for Fudoji, and (3) carbonate rock were 14% to 22% for Seri and 4% to 6% for Fudoji. We compared the results with previous studies that had been conducted in larger rivers and showed that in small streams, the dissolution of atmospheric CO2 and weathering of carbonate rock are more important factors in the carbon cycling than the biological degradation of organic matter.

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Type
Articles
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 57 , Issue 3 , 2015 , pp. 439 - 448
Copyright
Copyright © 2015 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

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