This project is an ongoing collaboration with Jennifer Tank (University of Notre Dame). Our primary question is what controls the variability in nutrient uptake among streams? Small streams are hotspots for N uptake and retention, yet we know little about what controls this uptake. We have been addressing this question by relating nitrogen uptake estimates with measures of whole-stream production and respiration in Grand Teton National Park.
We are
continuing this research as part of LINX2 a
large, NSF-funded collaborative, multi-site project that will use 15N
nitrate additions to examine nitrate uptake and retention in streams
draining watersheds of various land uses. Our site includes
streams in Jackson Hole and encompasses pristine, agricultural, and
suburban streams in the valley. We start
fieldwork on this project in Summer 2003. Below is Spread Creek,
one
of our study streams and a reference stream for the LINX2
project. We have finished all of the fieldwork for this project
and are working up the data
Publications from this research:
Hall, R. O. and J. L. Tank. 2005. Correcting
whole-stream estimates of metabolism for groundwater input. Limnology
and Oceanography: Methods 3:222-229.
Hall, R. O. and J. L. Tank. 2003. Ecosystem metabolism controls
nitrogen uptake in streams in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Limnology and Oceanography 48:1120-1128.