The composition and quantity of organic carbon is fundamental as it forms the basis of the food web in streams, it is involved in contaminant transport and it can attenuate light in streams (that is, browning). In analogy to the biology of organisms, the dynamics of primary production, respiration and production can be understood as ecosystem metabolism. Ecosystem metabolism connects carbon and nutrient biogeochemistry in streams and is a measure of critical terrestrial-aquatic interactions. We are interested in landscape controls on stream metabolism and in the source and reactivity of DOM and its link to carbon cycling in streams. We combine optical and ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry analyses (with Prof. Thorsten Dittmar), with various experimental assays, online sensing and modelling to establish these links.
Further reading
1. Battin, TJ, L. A. Kaplan, S. Findlay, C. S. Hopkinson, E. Marti, A. I. Packman, J. D. Newbold & F. Sabater (2008) Biophysical controls on organic carbon fluxes in fluvial networks. Nature Geoscience doi:10.1038/ngeo101.
2. Haggerty R, M Ribot, GA Singer, E Martí, A Argerich, G Agell & TJ Battin (2014) Ecosystem respiration increases with biofilm growth and bed forms: Flume measurements with resazurin. JGR-Biogeosciences 119, doi:10.1002/2013JG002498.
3. Fasching C, B Behounek, GA Singer & TJ Battin (2014) Microbial degradation of terrigenous dissolved organic matter and potential consequences for carbon cycling in brown-water streams. Scientific Reports 4:4981 | DOI: 10.1038/srep04981.
4. Bengtsson MM, K Wagner1, NR Burns, ER Herberg, W Wanek, LA Kaplan & TJ Battin (2014) No evidence of aquatic priming effects in hyporheic zone microcosms. Scientific Reports 4:5187 | DOI: 10.1038/srep05187.
5. Fasching C & TJ Battin (2011) Exposure of dissolved organic matter to UV-radiation increases bacterial growth efficiency in a clear-water Alpine stream and its adjacent groundwater. Aquatic Sciences74:143-153.
