O metano, assim como o dióxido de carbono e o óxido nitroso, é um importante gás traço da atmosfera. A habilidade do metano em absorver a irradiação infravermelha faz dele um gás 20 a 30 vezes mais eficiente que o dióxido de carbono como um gás de efeito estufa. As várzeas tropicais são as maiores fontes naturais de metano para a atmosfera, contribuindo com cerca de 60% de todas as emissões naturais. As grandes várzeas da bacia Amazônica são as maiores fontes de metano desta região, e estima-se que sua contribuição para as emissões totais de áreas alagadas no mundo seja da ordem de 5%. Por outro lado, os solos de terra firme, especialmente de origem antropogênica, têm elevados teores de matéria orgânica, uma das principais fontes de formação de gás metano natural produzido por um único grupo de microrganismos que, por sistemas enzimáticos únicos, é capaz de produzir metano como produto de seu metabolismo. O metano é produzido pelas arquéias (Archaea) metanogênicas, pela degradação anaeróbia da matéria orgânica. As arquéias metanogênicas são encontradas em diversos ambientes associados à decomposição da matéria orgânica e/ou atividades biogeoquímicas. Uma atmosfera modificada (H2:CO2, 80:20) em combinação com um ambiente anóxico -300mV foi estabelecida ao longo de 18 meses em três solos de várzea e três solos Terra Preta e adjacentes da região de Santarém-PA (Amazônia Oriental), para estimular o crescimento de arquéias metanogênicas. Métodos moleculares baseados no uso e análise do gene 16S rRNA de Archaea permitiram o estudo direto de 12 cultivos individuais de arquéias metanogênicas, enquanto que a determinação da diversidade de comunidades de arquéias foi obtida com a construção de quatro bibliotecas de um dos solos de várzea (Várzea 3) e análise de 669 sequências parciais do gene 16S rRNA. Ensaios envolvendo cultivo e crescimento, monitoramento da produção de metano, microscopia de contraste de fase e de varredura, detecção do gene mcr - coenzima da metil-redutase foram usados como métodos de referência ao longo do desenvolvimento e avaliação dos métodos moleculares. Entre os isolados da Várzea 3, o gênero Mehanosarcina foi predominante, indicando seu possível papel na produção de metano, detectado ao longo dos cultivos in vitro. Dentre os 12 tipos isolados a partir dos nove solos, dez (10) corresponderam a uma sequência de Methanobacterium isolado de trato intestinal de cupins presentes em ambientes tropicais. Em conclusão, nosso método molecular explorativo permitiu uma primeira visão quanto ao entendimento do papel de arquéias metanogênicas em solos de várzea e terra firme da Amazônia Oriental. / Methane, as well as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, is an important atmospheric trace gas. The ability of methane to absorb infrared irradiation makes this gas 20 or 30 times more efficient than carbon dioxide for the global warming. The tropical floodplains are the major sources of environment methane, contributing up to 60% for the natural gas emissions. In the Amazonian Basin, they are the major methane sources, contributing to around 5% for the global gas emission. On the other hand, upland soils, especially from anthropogenic origin present high organic matter content, one of the main sources for microbial production of methane by a unique group of microorganisms which present unique enzymatic systems for their metabolism. Methane is produced by methanogenic Archaea, by anaerobic degradation of the organic matter. These microorganisms are found in a variety of environments associated to organic matter decomposition and/or biogeochemical activities. A modified-atmosphere (H2:CO2, 80:20) in combination with an anoxic growth environment for enhancing the methanogenic Archaea growth was established during 18 months in three Amazonian floodplain and three Anthropogenic Dark Earth ("Terra Preta") soils and backgrounds located within the region of Santarém – Pará (Eastern Amazonia). Molecular approaches based on the Archaea 16S ribosomal rRNA gene sequence analysis allowed direct investigation of 12 individual types of methanogenic Archaea while community diversity of 669 clone sequences from four clone libraries from one floodplain soil (Várzea 3) was addressed by examining partial 16S rRNA gene sequences. Cultivation-dependent assays - enrichment and growth, as well as monitoring of methane production, direct phase-contrast microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, detection of the mcr - methyl coenzyme reductase – gene were used as reference methods in the development and evaluation of the molecular methods. Among the isolates from the Várzea 3 the genus Methanosarcina was predominant, indicating its possible role on the methane production, detected throughout the in vitro cultivation. Among the 12 types isolated from the nine soils, 10 corresponded to a sequence of Methanobacterium isolated from the gut of termites from a tropical environment. In conclusion, our explorative molecular approach gave the first picture towards the understanding of the role of methanogenic Archaea in floodplain and upland soils from the Eastern Amazonian.

A partir de setembro de 1999 até novembro de 2000 estudou-se a várzea da margem direita da planície de inundação do Ribeirão do Feijão, com objetivo de verificação da várzea funcionando como filtro natural na contenção de matéria orgânica utilizando-se para esse estudo, um modelo de simulação desenvolvido com o software Stella. Foram coletados dados climatológicos oriundos de estação climatológica automática (temperatura do ar, umidade relativa, precipitação, radiação solar, velocidade e direção do vento e pressão barométrica), em piezômetros instalados na várzea (em número de 9) e coleta de amostras de água no rio, dados limnológicos: físicos (temperatura da água, turbidez, oxigênio dissolvido, condutividade e profundidade); químicos (fósforo total, fósforo total dissolvido, silicato, nitrogênio total, nitrato, nitrito e amônia), além de dados obtidos pelo estudo da literatura e trabalhos próximos da área de estudo já publicados. A partir do estudo da inter-relação dos processos existentes na várzea de inundação do Ribeirão do Feijão, elaborou-se modelo de simulação. As conclusões que se obtiveram indicam bom comportamento do modelo de simulação e, também, que estudos em escala de tempo mais reduzida sejam utilizados em trabalhos futuros para estudos de várzeas. Outra conclusão refere-se ao funcionamento da várzea como filtro natural, onde houve armazenamento de carbono (matéria orgânica). Constatou-se grande amplitude da variação diária da altura da lâmina d\'água devido à evapotranspiração. Recomenda-se a preservação desse rio porque 40% da água de superfície que abastece a cidade de São Carlos é oriunda desse manancial. / From September 1999 up to November 2000 a wetland of the right margin of Feijão river floodplain was studied with the objective to verify its activity as an natural filter to retain organic matter making use of a simulation model constructed with the help of the Stella software. Were collected climatological data from an automatic climatological station (air temperature, air moisture, rain, solar radiation, speed and wind direction and atmospheric pressure), from piezometers installed within the wetland (number of 9) and samples collected of river water, limnological data: physical data (water temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, conductivity and depth); chemical data (total phosphorus, total dissolved phosphorus, silicate, total nitrogen, nitrate, nitrite and ammonium), moreover data obtained from literature and papers published of sites near the study area. From the interrelationship of processes occurring within the Feijão river floodplain wetland was constructed the simulation model. The obtained conclusions indicate the good simulation model behavior and show that time scales should be shorter in future wetland studies. Other conclusion refer to wetland conduction as a natural filter where occurred carbon storage (organic matter). Great amplitude of water table diary variation have been verified within the wetland due to evapotranspiration. Is possible to recommend the river preservation because 40% of the surface city supply is from this site.

Submitted by Liliane Ferreira (ljuvencia30@gmail.com) on 2018-04-04T14:02:36Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Jaques Everton Zanon - 2018.pdf: 3230898 bytes, checksum: 7e20d6f4c53febb70d99701805d33565 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-04-05T12:50:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Jaques Everton Zanon - 2018.pdf: 3230898 bytes, checksum: 7e20d6f4c53febb70d99701805d33565 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-05T12:50:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Jaques Everton Zanon - 2018.pdf: 3230898 bytes, checksum: 7e20d6f4c53febb70d99701805d33565 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Population synchrony occurs when abundance of different local populations increase and decrease simultaneously along time. In terms of other characteristics that can be measured in ecosystems, such as biomass and nutrient contents, intrinsic and extrinsic processes have also been used to explain synchronic variation patterns. Synchrony may clarify whether regional processes are more important than local processes. This study used epiphytic biomass data (chlorophyll-a) from eight locations collected in a floodplain through 11 years. The goal was to estimate epiphytic biomass synchrony. We anticipated that high synchrony levels would be consistent with the strong impact of floods, which affect different floodplain habitats simultaneously. This is equivalent to the Moran effect. In contrast, low synchrony levels would be consistent with the hypothesis that high environmental heterogeneity of floodplains hampers synchrony. Our results indicated low synchrony and its variation was not correlated with geographic or environmental distances and neither with environmental synchrony. Also, regression models demonstrated low predictive power of local environmental variables in predicting biomass variation in the different sites. In addition, we performed a meta-analysis that confirms the generality of our findings. In conclusion, these results challenge the efficiency of epiphytic biomass as an ecological indicator, at least in floodplain system. / Populações locais, mesmo quando distribuídas em amplas extensões espaciais, variam de forma sincrônica, ou seja, suas abundâncias aumentam e diminuem simultaneamente ao longo do tempo. Em termos de outras características que podem ser mensuradas em ecossistemas, tais como, biomassa e teores de nutrientes, os conceitos de coerência temporal, forças intrínsecas e extrínsecas também têm sido utilizadas para explicar padrões sincrônicos de variação. A magnitude do fenômeno de sincronia pode elucidar se o padrão que processos extrínsecos (e.g., efeitos de fontes difusas sobre as concentrações de nutrientes) são mais importantes que processos intrínsecos (efeitos de fontes pontuais). Nesse estudo nós utilizamos dados de biomassa (clorofila a) do perifíton em 8 locais e 37 meses coletados em uma planície de inundação. O objetivo desse estudo foi de avaliar o padrão de sincronia da biomassa perifítica. Primeiro, nós conjecturamos que elevados níveis de sincronia seriam condizentes com o forte impacto das inundações que influenciam simultaneamente diferentes hábitats de uma planície de inundação, analogamente ao efeito de Moran. Por outro lado, baixos níveis de sincronia seriam condizentes com a hipótese de maior importância da heterogeneidade ambiental (ao longo do espaço), uma vez que planícies de inundação são consideradas um mosaico de manchas de habitats. Em suma nós encontramos baixos valores de sincronia. Variações na sincronia não foram correlacionadas com a distâncias geográfica e ambiental tampouco com a sincronia ambiental. Ainda a nossos modelos GLS demonstraram pouco poder preditivo do ambiente local acerca da biomassa. Como conclusão nosso estudo demonstra o baixo poder preditivo da biomassa perifítica acerca de fatores regionais e locais nos ambientes estudados.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T19:24:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MarceloRemor.pdf: 1923655 bytes, checksum: dff59bb466e60be99888a97220e6f8da (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-17 / Floodplains have a high potential for nutrients transformation, however, when they accumulate at critical levels, generates an ecosystem degradation. The hydrological regime that controls nutrient dynamics in floodplains it is very responsive to changes in soil use and soil occupation or by changes climate pattern. In this context, this research aimed at reconstructing the history of nutrient accumulation and eutrophication of the Brazilian Pantanal, identifying the factors and/or phenomena that have influenced those variables. The sedimentation cores were collect in ponds that showed permanent connections to the main channel of Paraguai, São Lourenço and Cuiabá Rivers. The sediment cores were sliced in two-centimeter uniform intervals and quantification of total organic carbon and total nitrogen were carried out by readings in CNS elemental analyzer. Quantification of phosphorus was carried out by mass spectroscopy by inductively coupled plasma. The organic carbon in sediment of Brazilian Pantanal is mainly from allochthonous origin, being the nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients limiting of the productivity in the system, elements whose origins are agricultural practices in the drainage basin. The establishment of geochemical background is indispensable to determine the actual state of soils and sediments contamination. However, there is no scientific consensus about the methodology to determine those values. In this sense, this paper has established the geochemical background in Brazilian Pantanal sediments, based on the integrated method, in order to identify the appropriate calculation methodology for that region. The use of integrated methods, mainly the non-parametric statistics, has proved be useful in reliably determining geochemical reference values. Therefore, the authors recommend integrated methods to establish the geochemical background for others points in the Brazilian Pantanal / As planícies aluviais apresentam elevado potencial de transformação dos nutrientes, entretanto, o seu acúmulo em níveis críticos gera a degradação do ecossistema. O regime hidrológico que controla a dinâmica de nutrientes nas planícies aluviais, é muito sensível às mudanças no uso e ocupação do solo ou por mudança no padrão climático. Nesse contexto, o presente estudo tem por objetivo reconstruir o histórico do acúmulo de nutrientes e da eutrofização do Pantanal brasileiro, identificando os fatores e/ou fenômenos que influenciaram essas variáveis. Perfis de sedimento foram coletados em lagoas com ligações permanentes ao curso principal dos rios Paraguai, São Lourenço e Cuiabá. Os perfis de sedimento foram fatiados em intervalos uniformes de dois centímetros e as quantificações do carbono orgânico total e nitrogênio total foram realizadas por leituras em analisador elementar CNS. A quantificação do fósforo foi realizada por espectrometria de massa por plasma acoplado indutivamente. Observou-se que o carbono orgânico total no sedimento do Pantanal brasileiro é principalmente de origem alóctone, sendo o nitrogênio e o fósforo os nutrientes limitantes da produtividade no sistema, cuja origem são as práticas agrícolas na bacia de drenagem. O estabelecimento de valores geoquímicos de referência é indispensável para determinar o real estado de contaminação dos solos e sedimentos. Entretanto, não existe consenso científico quanto à metodologia de determinação destes valores. Nesse sentido, esta pesquisa busca estabelecer os valores geoquímicos de referência dos sedimentos do Pantanal brasileiro a partir do método integrado, a fim de identificar a metodologia de cálculo mais apropriada para a região. A utilização dos métodos integrados, principalmente a utilização de estatística não paramétrica, demonstrou-se útil para determinar, de forma confiável, os valores geoquímicos de referência. Sendo assim, os autores recomendam o uso de métodos integrados para que se estabeleçam os valores geoquímicos de referência para outros pontos no Pantanal brasileiro.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T14:47:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MarceloRemor.pdf: 1923655 bytes, checksum: dff59bb466e60be99888a97220e6f8da (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-17 / Floodplains have a high potential for nutrients transformation, however, when they accumulate at critical levels, generates an ecosystem degradation. The hydrological regime that controls nutrient dynamics in floodplains it is very responsive to changes in soil use and soil occupation or by changes climate pattern. In this context, this research aimed at reconstructing the history of nutrient accumulation and eutrophication of the Brazilian Pantanal, identifying the factors and/or phenomena that have influenced those variables. The sedimentation cores were collect in ponds that showed permanent connections to the main channel of Paraguai, São Lourenço and Cuiabá Rivers. The sediment cores were sliced in two-centimeter uniform intervals and quantification of total organic carbon and total nitrogen were carried out by readings in CNS elemental analyzer. Quantification of phosphorus was carried out by mass spectroscopy by inductively coupled plasma. The organic carbon in sediment of Brazilian Pantanal is mainly from allochthonous origin, being the nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients limiting of the productivity in the system, elements whose origins are agricultural practices in the drainage basin. The establishment of geochemical background is indispensable to determine the actual state of soils and sediments contamination. However, there is no scientific consensus about the methodology to determine those values. In this sense, this paper has established the geochemical background in Brazilian Pantanal sediments, based on the integrated method, in order to identify the appropriate calculation methodology for that region. The use of integrated methods, mainly the non-parametric statistics, has proved be useful in reliably determining geochemical reference values. Therefore, the authors recommend integrated methods to establish the geochemical background for others points in the Brazilian Pantanal. / As planícies aluviais apresentam elevado potencial de transformação dos nutrientes, entretanto, o seu acúmulo em níveis críticos gera a degradação do ecossistema. O regime hidrológico que controla a dinâmica de nutrientes nas planícies aluviais, é muito sensível às mudanças no uso e ocupação do solo ou por mudança no padrão climático. Nesse contexto, o presente estudo tem por objetivo reconstruir o histórico do acúmulo de nutrientes e da eutrofização do Pantanal brasileiro, identificando os fatores e/ou fenômenos que influenciaram essas variáveis. Perfis de sedimento foram coletados em lagoas com ligações permanentes ao curso principal dos rios Paraguai, São Lourenço e Cuiabá. Os perfis de sedimento foram fatiados em intervalos uniformes de dois centímetros e as quantificações do carbono orgânico total e nitrogênio total foram realizadas por leituras em analisador elementar CNS. A quantificação do fósforo foi realizada por espectrometria de massa por plasma acoplado indutivamente. Observou-se que o carbono orgânico total no sedimento do Pantanal brasileiro é principalmente de origem alóctone, sendo o nitrogênio e o fósforo os nutrientes limitantes da produtividade no sistema, cuja origem são as práticas agrícolas na bacia de drenagem. O estabelecimento de valores geoquímicos de referência é indispensável para determinar o real estado de contaminação dos solos e sedimentos. Entretanto, não existe consenso científico quanto à metodologia de determinação destes valores. Nesse sentido, esta pesquisa busca estabelecer os valores geoquímicos de referência dos sedimentos do Pantanal brasileiro a partir do método integrado, a fim de identificar a metodologia de cálculo mais apropriada para a região. A utilização dos métodos integrados, principalmente a utilização de estatística não paramétrica, demonstrou-se útil para determinar, de forma confiável, os valores geoquímicos de referência. Sendo assim, os autores recomendam o uso de métodos integrados para que se estabeleçam os valores geoquímicos de referência para outros pontos no Pantanal brasileiro

Nesta pesquisa foram estudadas morfologias e posições do relevo que apresentam solos e depósitos com regimes hídricos caracterizados pela saturação temporária ou permanente, tendo os seguintes objetivos: (i) caracterização dos solos e depósitos presentes no setor inferior de vertentes e em fundos de vale, incluindo planícies fluviais, com ênfase em suas propriedades hidromórficas; (ii) identificação de graus de hidromorfia nos solos e depósitos desses setores e morfologias, e representação de sua variabilidade espacial; (iii) elaboração de proposições a respeito do regime de saturação hídrica nos setores estudados e de sua relação com os graus de hidromorfia identificados; (iv) elaboração de proposições sobre tendências espaciais hidrodinâmicas associadas à inundação fluvial nas áreas de planície. Sob o aspecto metodológico, a pesquisa foi desenvolvida de acordo com os princípios da abordagem geossistêmica, apresentando uma análise integrada que buscou identificar as inter-relações entre as variáveis pesquisadas. Para tal estudo, foram selecionados dois perfis transversais na Alta Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Cotia, que abrangeram o setor inferior de vertentes e fundos de vale, um deles com planície fluvial. Ao longo desses perfis transversais foram realizados os seguintes levantamentos e procedimentos: (i) levantamento morfométrico e construção de gráficos dos perfis; (ii) descrição dos atributos morfológicos dos solos e depósitos; (iii) monitoramento dos níveis dágua do lençol freático ou lençol suspenso nos pontos de descrição. A caracterização e análise detalhadas das propriedades hidromórficas revelaram gradações de intensidade nas mesmas, e, a partir dessa base, desenvolveu-se uma proposta para classificação dos solos e depósitos segundo graus de hidromorfia. Foram construídas representações gráficas bidimensionais que ilustraram a sucessão vertical e lateral de horizontes pedogenéticos e camadas com diferentes graus de hidromorfia ao longo dos setores e morfologias estudadas. Desta maneira, foram identificadas tendências gerais no que se refere à distribuição espacial dos graus de hidromorfia e à relação desses graus com o regime de saturação hídrica. Um dos padrões identificados consistiu no aumento do grau de hidromorfia dos perfis verticais de solos e depósitos com o aumento da profundidade, que está associado a um maior tempo de duração das condições de saturação hídrica nos horizontes mais profundos. Também foram observadas diferenças significativas na intensidade das propriedades hidromórficas das vertentes, quando comparadas às áreas de fundos de vale, incluindo a planície fluvial. Neste sentido, foram identificados graus de hidromorfia mais baixos nos horizontes A e B dos pontos localizados nas vertentes, e graus mais elevados nos horizontes A e B dos pontos localizados nos fundos de vale. Essas diferenças na ocorrência dos graus de hidromorfia foram atribuídas a distintos regimes de saturação hídrica, sendo que, de maneira geral, os horizontes pedogenéticos e as camadas com graus de hidromorfia elevados estão sujeitos a condições de saturação hídrica de maior duração ou permanentes, quando comparados àqueles que possuem graus de hidromorfia mais baixos, nos quais os eventos de saturação hídrica tem menor duração e/ou ocorrem com menor frequência. Com relação às proposições referentes à inundação fluvial na planície estudada, foram identificadas morfologias que recebem preferencialmente os fluxos fluviais da inundação e apresentam taxas de deposição mais elevadas, e setores com taxas de deposição mais baixas nos quais a inundação é menos frequente e há predomínio da deposição de sedimentos finos. / In this research we studied morphologies and relief positions with soils and deposits with moisture regimes characterized by temporary or permanent water saturation, with the following objectives: (i) characterization of soils and deposits located in lower slope sectors and valley bottoms, with an emphasis on their hydromorphic properties; (ii) identification of degrees of hydromorphy in the soils and deposits of these sectors and morphologies, and representation of their spatial variability; (iii) development of propositions about the regime of water saturation in the studied areas and its relationship with the degrees of hydromorphy; (iv) development of propositions about the hydrodynamics of floods in the studied floodplain. Regarding the methodological aspect, the research was conducted according to the principles of the geosystemic approach, presenting an integrated analysis which considered the inter-relations among the studied variables. For this study, we selected two cross profiles in the Cotia Drainage Basin, comprising lower slope sectors and valley bottoms, including a floodplain. Along these cross profiles, the following surveys were conducted: (i) topographic survey and construction of cross section graphics; (ii) description of the morphological attributes of soils and deposits, including detailed description of their hydromorphic properties; (iii) monitoring the water levels of the water table and perched water tables in the sites of description. The detailed characterization and analysis of the hydromorphic properties revealed gradations of intensity in them, and, based primarily on this, we developed a proposal for classification the soils and deposits of the study area according to degrees of hydromorphy. We built two-dimensional graphical representations which illustrated vertical and lateral successions of pedogenetic horizons or layers with different degrees of hydromorphy. Thus, general trends were identified in respect to the spatial distribution of the degrees of hydromorphy and in respect to its relationship with the regime of water saturation. One of the patterns identified consisted in the increase of the degree of hydromorphy in the soil profiles with increasing depth, associated with a longer duration of water saturation conditions in the deeper horizons. It were also observed significant differences in the intensity of the hydromorphic properties of the slopes, when compared to the valley bottom areas, including the floodplain. In this regard, lower degrees of hydromorphy were identified in the A and B horizons in the slope sectors, and higher degrees in the A and B horizons in the valley bottom areas. Such differences in the degree of hydromorphy were ascribed to distinct regimes of water saturation, considering that, in general, the horizons and layers with higher degrees of hydromorphy are subject to water saturation conditions of longer duration, when compared to those classified according to lower degrees of hydromorphy, in which the water saturation events have shorter duration and/or have lower frequency. Concerning the propositions about the hydrodynamics of floods in the studied floodplain, we identified morphologies that preferentially receive the overflowing river flows and have higher deposition rates, and sectors with lower deposition rates, where flooding is less frequent and there is a predominance of fine sediments deposition.

This research presents methods of creating digital maps for floodplain delineation and flood probability studies and storing them in a geodatabase. Methods for creating a geodatabase for water resources outside of a GIS are presented. The geodatabase follows the ArcHydro data model. Methods are also shown for creating digital flood maps and storing them in the geodatabase. These flood maps, defining the floodplain boundary and flood probability, are stored in a digital format ready for use in a FEMA flood hazard project, allowing for better archival methods and reproducibility.

This thesis presents an experimental study, both in the field and laboratory to cast more light on the primary role of the river floodplains in releasing and/or removing total-P to/from the in-stream load, under high runoff and flood conditions, by investigating the soil total-P spatial and vertical deposition patterns and topsoil erodibility, along the three (3) main river sections (e.g., headwaters, transfer and deposition zones) of an agricultural watershed, such as the Turkey River (TR). In soils, phosphorus, P, primarily exists as sediment-bound and less often as dissolved. During wet hydrological years, soil erosion and surface runoff are the main P release and transport mechanisms, while during dry hydrological years, P leaches to the deeper soil levels and is transported to freshwaters through groundwater discharge. In between the upland areas and the river network, there is a buffer zone, known as floodplain that regulates the flux exchanges between these two watershed components. Floodplains play an essential role in the riverine system health by supporting important physical and biochemical processes and improving the water quality downstream. These characteristics have led to the conclusion that floodplains primarily act as sinks for P. However, floodplains are subject to erosion as well, where soil particles along with the attached P are removed from the topsoil or enter re-suspension, under high runoff and flood conditions. The study provides an insight into the soil total-P deposition patterns across the floodplains of five (5) identified field sites and couples them with topsoil erodibility to eventually address the research objectives, which can be summarized as follows: (i) investigation of the soil total-P spatial and vertical variability across the floodplains along the main river zones and development of relationships between P variability and soil physical properties (e.g., soil texture); (ii) identification and characterization of the soil total-P deposition patterns across the floodplains (e.g., short- vs. long-term P deposition areas); and (iii) comparisons of the soil total-P concentrations and critical shear stresses among the main river zones and determination of their primary function either as P sources or sinks, under high runoff and flood conditions. Following that line of thinking, this research results comprise of three (3) parts, each one addressing a specific objective. The first part of the results includes the soil texture and total-P concentration analyses of the extracted soil profiles to identify the soil total-P spatial and vertical deposition patterns across the floodplains, as well as, to investigate the total-P variability with respect to soil physical properties (e.g., soil texture). The second part of the results focuses on investigating the role of topography (e.g., flat vs. ridge vs. swale land surfaces) and flood characteristics (e.g., frequency, magnitude, duration) in soil total-P spatial and vertical deposition patterns across the river floodplains to understand the time-scale nature of the P storage. The last part of the results presents the experimentally determined topsoil critical shear stress values and erodibility rates to characterize the floodplains’ primary function, based on their location along the three (3) main river zones, either as sources or sinks for total-P, during high runoff and flood conditions. Overall, the results of this research show that (i) the total-P concentration in soils is tightly related to the fine particle content and monotonic linear relationships can be established between the two variables. In other words, the higher the fine particle content, the higher the total-P concentration in soils; (ii) a mixture of two normal distributions fit the log-transformed soil total-P concentration data of each field site considered in this study. The fitted distributions successfully capture the two peaks of the soil total-P concentration data correspond to the lower and upper floodplain terraces; (iii) the lower floodplain terraces (e.g., 2- and 5-year floodplains) are characterized by significantly lower soil fine particle percentage contributions and total-P concentrations compared to the upper floodplain terraces, at a 5% confidence level. These patterns can be attributed to the fact that the lower floodplain terraces are frequently flooded and/or under inundation compared to the upper floodplain terraces and thus part of the fine particles along with the attached P are regularly winnowed away. Therefore, the lower floodplain terraces can be considered as short-term P storage means, in between two consecutive major flood events, while the upper floodplain terraces act more as long-term P storage means; (iv) there is a longitudinal increase in the topsoil critical shear stress values, which follows the increase in the fine particle content reconfirming the principle that the more the fine particle content in soils, along with the existence of vegetation with dense, well-developed root systems, the more resistant to erosion are the soils. From a soil erodibility perspective, the floodplains along the headwaters zone can be considered as major fine sediment and total-P sources contributing to the in-stream loads, while the floodplains along the deposition zone primarily act as sinks for fine sediment and total-P. As far as the role of the floodplains along the transfer zone, they can be considered as sinks for fine sediment and total-P during low magnitude runoff and flood events (e.g., 2-; 5-; and 10-year return periods), while during higher magnitude events, they act as sources releasing fine sediment and total-P; and (v) topsoil samples characterized by dense, well-developed root systems fall approximately along a trend line that follows almost a parallel pattern with the trend line for the topsoil samples without dense and/or well-developed root systems. The existence of dense, well-developed vegetation root systems to topsoil consistently increases its critical shear stress threshold (e.g., > 1 Pa) and thus its ability to resist erosion.

Abstract not available

Riverine landscapes are complex. More than just a single channel, they comprise a shifting mosaic of hydrogeomorphic patches with varying physical and biological characteristics. These patches are connected by water during flows of varying magnitude and frequency, at a range of spatial and temporal scales. Combined, landscape complexity and hydrological connectivity create biological diversity that in turn maintains the productivity, ecological function, and resilience of these systems. This thesis investigates the ecological importance of spatial heterogeneity and temporal hydrological connectivity in a dryland floodplain river landscape. It focuses on anabranch channels, and uses major carbon sources in these and adjacent landscape patches as indicators of ecological pattern and process. A conceptual model was proposed, describing the potential effects upon the distribution and availability of major carbon sources of: a) a spatial mosaic of hydrogeomorphic patches in the landscape (e.g. anabranches, river channel, and wider floodplain); and b) four primary temporal phases of hydrological connection during flow pulses (disconnection, partial connection, complete connection, and draining). This was then tested by data collected over a three year period from a 16 km reach of the lower Macintyre River (NSW/QLD Australia). Results were examined at multiple spatial scales (patch scale � river channel vs. anabranches vs. floodplain; between individual anabranches; and within anabranches � entry, middle and exit sites). The data indicate that spatial heterogeneity in the lower Macintyre River landscape significantly influences ecological pattern. Carbon quantity was greater in anabranch channels compared to adjacent river channel patches, but not compared to the floodplain; while carbon quality was greater in anabranch channels compared to both adjacent river channel and floodplain patches. Stable isotope analysis indicated that carbon sources that were predominantly found in anabranch channels supported both anabranch and river organisms during a winter disconnection phase. Other carbon sources found in the main river channel and the wider floodplain appeared to play a comparatively minimal role in the food web. Different phases of hydrological connection between anabranch channels and the main river channel were associated with differences in the availability of carbon sources. In the river channel, draining of water from anabranches (the draining phase) was associated with relatively high concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and low concentrations of phytoplankton. Conversely, the disconnection phase was associated with relatively low concentrations of DOC and high concentrations of phytoplankton in the river channel. In anabranch channels and their waterbodies, the disconnection and draining phases were associated with high concentrations of both DOC and phytoplankton. Concentrations of these carbon sources were lowest in anabranches during the partial and complete connection phases. Different hydrological connection phases were also associated with changes in trophic status in the aquatic components of the landscape. On the riverbanks, relatively low rates of benthic production and respiration during the complete connection phase were associated with heterotrophy. The remaining phases appeared to be autotrophic. Benthic production on riverbanks was greatest during the disconnection phase, and respiration was greatest during the partial connection phase. In the anabranch channels, rates of production and respiration were similar during the disconnection phase, and were associated with heterotrophy in the anabranch waterbodies. The remaining phases appeared to be autotrophic. Respiration was greatest in anabranches during the disconnection phase, and production was greatest during the draining phase. Both production and respiration were lowest during complete connection. These differences and changes varied according to the landscape patch examined. At a landscape scale, anabranch channels act as both sinks and suppliers of carbon. High rates of sediment deposition facilitate their role as sinks for sediment-associated carbon and other particulate, refractory carbon sources. Simultaneously, anabranch channels supply aquatic carbon sources from their waterbodies, as well as via processes such as inundation-stimulated release of DOC from surface sediments. Modelled data indicated that water resource development reduces the frequency and duration of connection between anabranch channels and the main river channel. This loss of landscape complexity via loss of connectivity with anabranches has the potential to reduce the total availability of carbon sources to the ecosystem, as demonstrated by a modelled 13% reduction in potential dissolved organic carbon release from anabranch sediments. This thesis has demonstrated the importance of spatial heterogeneity in riverine landscapes, by documenting its association with variability in the distribution and quality of primary energy sources for the ecosystem. It has shown that this variability is augmented by different phases of hydrological connectivity over time. Spatial heterogeneity and hydrological connectivity interact to increase the diversity and availability of ecological energy sources across the riverine landscape, at multiple spatial and temporal scales. This has positive implications for the resilience and sustainability of the system. Anabranch channels are particularly important facilitators of these effects in this dryland floodplain river system. Anabranch channels are �intermediate� in terms of spatial placement, temporal hydrological connection, and availability of carbon sources; of high value in terms of high-quality carbon sources; and relatively easy to target for management because of their defined commence-to-flow levels. Further research should be directed toward evaluating other ecological roles of anabranch channels in dryland rivers, thereby providing a more complete understanding of the importance of connectivity between these features and other patches. This knowledge would assist management of floodplain river landscapes at larger regional scales, including amelioration of the effects of water resource development.