Distribution, origin and cycling of carbon in the Tana River (Kenya): a dry season basin-scale survey from headwaters to the delta
| dc.contributor.author | Bouillon, S. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Abril, G. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Borges, A.V. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Dehairs, F. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Govers, G. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Hughes, H.J. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Merckx, R. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Meysman, FJR. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Nyunga, J. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Osburn, C. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Middelburg, J.J. | |
| dc.date | 2009 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2016-03-15T10:03:30Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2016-03-15T10:03:30Z | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 1726-4170 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://orfeo.belnet.be/handle/internal/569 | |
| dc.description | The Tana River basin (TRB) is the largest in Kenya (~120 000 km<sup>2</sup>). We conducted a survey during the dry season throughout the TRB, analyzing a broad suite of biogeochemical parameters. Biogeochemical signatures in headwater streams were highly variable. Along the middle and lower river course, total suspended matter (TSM) concentrations increased more than 30-fold despite the absence of tributary inputs, indicating important resuspension events of internally stored sediment. These resuspended sediment inputs were characterized by a lower and <sup>14</sup>C-depleted OC content, suggesting selective degradation of more recent material during sediment retention. Masinga Dam (a large reservoir on the upper river) induced a strong nutrient retention (~50% for inorganic N, ~72% for inorganic phosphate, and ~40% for dissolved silicate). Moreover, while DOC pools and δ<sup>13</sup>C signatures were similar above, in and below the reservoir, the POC pool in Masinga surface waters was dominated by <sup>13</sup>C-depleted phytoplankton, which contributed to the riverine POC pool immediately below the dam, but rapidly disappeared further downstream, suggesting rapid remineralization of this labile C pool in the river system. Despite the generally high turbidity, the combination of relatively high oxygen saturation levels, low δ<sup>18</sup>O signatures of dissolved O<sub>2</sub> (all <+24.2 ), and the relatively low pCO<sub>2</sub> values suggest that in-stream primary production was significant, even though pigment data suggest that phytoplankton makes only a minor contribution to the total POC pool in the Tana River. | |
| dc.language | eng | |
| dc.publisher | Copernicus GmbH | |
| dc.title | Distribution, origin and cycling of carbon in the Tana River (Kenya): a dry season basin-scale survey from headwaters to the delta | |
| dc.type | Article | |
| dc.subject.frascati | Earth and related Environmental sciences | |
| dc.audience | Scientific | |
| dc.subject.free | Surface environments and collection management | |
| dc.source.title | Biogeosciences | |
| dc.source.volume | 6 - 11 | |
| dc.source.page | 2475 2493 | |
| Orfeo.peerreviewed | Yes | |
| dc.identifier.url | www.biogeosciences.net/6/2475/2009/ | |
| dc.identifier.rmca | 556 |
