Kincaid, D.W. and S.K. Hamilton.
Presented at the All Scientist Meeting (2013-04-04 to 2013-04-05 )
Wetlands play a critical role in regulating biogeochemical cycles in watersheds across the globe.
These cycles are driven by physical, biological, and chemical processes, which in wetlands are
controlled by hydrology. In light of climate change models that predict increased intensity and
frequency of droughts, there is increasing interest in the influence of droughts on wetland
biogeochemistry. During the summer of 2013, we manipulated the hydrology of a through-flow
wetland in southwestern Michigan that had accumulated a thick layer of loose, flocculent
sediment high in organic matter content. The hydrologic manipulation consisted of a two-week
draining period, a six-week stable period with a minimal, though consistently present water level,
and a two-week re-flooding period. Throughout the simulated experiment we collected water
samples to examine changes in the chemistry of pore and surface water. We predicted that drying
the wetland sediments would stimulate aerobic decomposition and result in the release of
available N and P, Fe, and major solutes. We report the results of this simulated drought on
surface water chemistry.
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