Key pathway of methane production and characteristics of stable carbon isotope of the Tuojia River waterbody.

doi:10.13287/j.1001-9332.201805.030

Abstract

Abstract: This study aimed at exploring the key pathway of methane production and clarifying the composition and distribution of carbon (C) isotopes in the Tuojia River waterbody in Hunan Pro-vince. We estimated CH₄ concentrations and fluxes of four reaches (S₁, S₂, S₃ and S₄) by a two-layer diffusion model and gas chromatography. The spatial and temporal distribution of CH₄ flux and its relationship with environmental factors were examined. The key pathway of CH₄ production was investigated by stable C isotope method to analyze the distribution characteristics of ¹³C isotope (δ¹³C) of water dissolved CH₄ and seston/benthic organic matter. There was significant seasonal variability in water pH, with mean value of (7.27±0.03). The concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) showed strong seasonal and spatial variations, with the range of 0.43-13.99 mg·L^-1. The maximum value of DO occurred in S₁ and differed significantly in summer and autumin. In addition, DO differed significantly in winter and other seasons in S₂, S₃ and S₄. The concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) showed a gradual increasing trend from source to estuary. The highest concentration of DOC (8.32 mg·L^-1) was found in S₂, while the lowest was observed in S₁ (0.34 mg·L^-1). The electrical conductivity (EC) and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of water ranged from 17 to 436 μS·cm^-1 and from -52.30 to 674.10 mV, respectively, which were significantly different among the four reaches (P<0.05). Water ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^--N) concentrations were in the ranges of 0.30-1.35 (averaged 0.90±0.10) mg·L^-1 and 0.82-2.45 (averaged 1.62±0.16) mg·L^-1, respectively. The dissolved concentration and diffusion flux of CH₄ ranged from 0 to 5.28 μmol·L^-1 and from -0.34 to 619.72 μg C·m^-2·h^-1, respectively, with significant temporal and spatial variations. They showed a similar trend among reaches. Their values were highest in spring, followed by in winter and lowest in summer and autumn. Spatially, the CH₄ concentration and flux followed the order of S₂>S₃>S₄>S₁. The correlation analysis showed that CH₄ flux was positively correlated with NH₄⁺-N and DOC. The pathway of CH₄ production of all reaches was dominated by acetic acid fermentation, while there were obvious differences among the four reaches. The contribution of CH₄ from acetic acid fermentation was greatest (87%) in S₁, followed by S₄(81%), S₂(78%) and S₃(76%). The mean value of the δ¹³C for dissolved CH₄, seston organic matter and benthic organic matter was -41.64‰±1.91‰, -14.07‰±1.06‰ and -26.20‰±1.02‰, respectively. There was a positive correlation between the δ¹³C of dissolved CH₄ and benthic organic matter, whereas the δ¹³C value of dissolved CH₄was negatively correlated with CH₄flux.

ZHAO Qiang, LYU Cheng-wen, QIN Xiao-bo, WU Hong-bao, WAN Yun-fan, LIAO Yu-lin, LU Yan-hong, WANG Bin, LI Yong. Key pathway of methane production and characteristics of stable carbon isotope of the Tuojia River waterbody.[J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2018, 29(5): 1450-1460.

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