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Karoline Qasem, PhDAugust 28th, 2019

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The Effect of Floods on Ecosystem Metabolism in Suburban Streams

Introduction

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• Education• Bachelor: Architectural Engineering - Islamic University, Palestine (2009)• Masters: Urban Planning – University of Illinois at Chicago (2014)• PhD: Civil and Material Engineering – University of Illinois at Chicago

(2018)

• Current work• Senior Staff Professional at Geosyntec Consultants

Watershed and water quality modeling (e.g., HSPF, FRSG Qual2k), stormwater management, GIS analysis, and coding for data analysis (e.g., Python)

Overview

Motivation

Introduction

Methods

Results

Recommendations

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Motivation

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Physical changes

Chemical changes

Biological changes

Human activities in urban/suburban streams cause

“Flashy hydrology”

The occurrence of morefrequent high flows due toincreased impervious surfacecover that alters the quantityand quality of water deliveredto urban streams.

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Motivation

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MotivationStorm events

Stream Metabolism

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Stream metabolism is what is happening at the base of the food web.

IntroductionStream Metabolism

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Introduction

• Gross Primary ProductionGPP

• Ecosystem RespirationER

• Net Ecosystem ProductionNEP

Stream Metabolism

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Introduction

The process of producing energy in the form of organic compounds (i.e. sugars or glucose) from inorganic compounds (i.e. water and CO2).

I only consider Aerobic production:

Gross Primary Production (GPP)

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Carbon Fixation:

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Introduction

The process of converting organic carbon to inorganic carbon.

Ecosystem Respiration (ER)

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Carbon Mineralization

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Introduction

NEP is the difference between GPP and ER

Positive NEP means internal energy sources are more than sufficient

Negative NEP means energy import is required

Net Ecosystem Production

Energy Excess𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁 = 𝐺𝐺𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁 − 𝑁𝑁𝐸𝐸

(CH2O)n

(CH2O)n(CH2O)n

(CH2O)n

(CH2O)n

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Introduction

NEP is the difference between GPP and ER

Positive NEP means internal energy sources are more than sufficient

Negative NEP means energy import is required

Net Ecosystem Production

Energy Excess𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁 = 𝐺𝐺𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁 − 𝑁𝑁𝐸𝐸

(CH2O)n

(CH2O)n(CH2O)n

(CH2O)n

(CH2O)n

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Stream metabolism is an integrative metric of stream ecosystem processes

It is important to understand stream controls on food webs and stream response to human activities

It is a matrix to assess ecosystem health

It represents carbon cycle in streams

IntroductionWhy do we need to assess stream

metabolism?

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Introduction

GPP:ER

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𝐺𝐺𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁

𝑁𝑁𝐸𝐸

Hoellein et al. (2013)

Autotrophic

Heterotrophic

𝐺𝐺𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝐸𝐸

IntroductionGPP and ER values? GPP and ER values?

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IntroductionGPP and ER values?

Young et al., 2004

GPP and ER values?

IntroductionFactors influencing stream

metabolism

Light availability

Storm events

Temperature

Stream size

Riparian vegetation

Land use

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Introduction

Tracking the evolution of dissolved O2 is the simplest means of quantifying metabolism metrics.

Quantify Stream Metabolism

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Study Sites

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7 sites: East Branch DuPage River, West Branch DuPage River and Salt Creek.

Summer and fall data between 2009 and 2013

Methods

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Whole stream metabolism (RIVERMET)

1. DO (DO from the DuPage River and Salt Creek Work Group)

2. Discharge (Q)3. Temperature (T)4. Water depth (H)

Methods

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Whole stream metabolism (RIVERMET)

1. DO 2. Discharge (Q)3. Temperature (T)4. Water depth (H)

Methods

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Whole stream metabolism (RIVERMET)

1. DO 2. Discharge (Q)3. Temperature (T)4. Water depth (H)

(Cross section data from DuPage River Storm Water Division)

Expected outcomes

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Methods

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Gross Primary Production

Ecosystem Respiration

Net Ecosystem Production

Flow

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Results

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Results

SCBR has significantly higher respiration than the rest of the sites.

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Results

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Results

SCYR has much lower productivity than the rest of the sites.

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Results

Previous studies showed a trend for changing metabolic activity with the increase of RI but there was no significant relationship

Roley et al. (2014), Reisinger et al. (2017)

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Results

GPP resistance

ER resistance

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Non-flood days

Flood days

Flow disturbances increasingly affect metabolism.

GPP in urban stream ecosystems was more susceptible to disturbance than the ER.

Large flow events sustain heterotrophic conditions more than autotrophic conditions.

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Conclusion

Stream metabolism should be considered in stream monitoring schemes.

Stream metabolism can be used to assess the success of restoration projects on a shorter-term compared to biological diversity.

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Recommendations

The effect of dam removal on stream metabolism

The influence of urban intensity on stream metabolism

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Ongoing studies

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Questions?

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