Landscape integration of North Patagonian mountain lakes: a first approach using characterization of dissolved organic matter

• DOI: 10.1111/lre.12083
• Publication Date: 2015-03-25T06:39:36Z
• Authors: Patricia E. Garcia; María C. Dieguez; Claudia Queimaliños
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5; 13. Climate action; Mountain Lakes; 15. Life on land; Dissolved Organic Matter; Fluorescence Excitation? Emission Matrix (Eem); https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1; 01 natural sciences; Water Chemistry

Abstract North‐western Patagonia contains a variety of glacially formed mountain lakes located at different positions from the treeline in Andean Patagonian forest region. Water chemistry six North an altitudinal gradient, above, and below (~41°S) were analysed this study. The relative importance allochtonous to autochthonous carbon inputs along marked catchment vegetation gradient encompassing altoandino Nothofagus forests was addressed. dissolved organic ( DOC ) concentration varied among study lakes, with higher landscape exhibiting lower concentrations (<1 mg L −1 than or (>2 ). Analysis coloured fluorescent matter CDOM FDOM , respectively) followed pattern, despite contrasting catchments lakes. results indicated all had low molecular weight aromaticity. excitation–emission matrices EEM s) highlighted three distinctive fluorophores including two humic‐like (peak A peak C) revealing presence humic terrestrial material, protein‐like fluorophore T) generally associated DOM . increased intensities suggest their catchments. This evidence collectively suggests that exhibit some heterogeneity terms likely attributable position relation treeline, which determines contribution catchment. As remote are extremely sensitive changes catchments, these may accurately track impact climate anthropogenic on landscape.