Hydrologic Disturbances and Land Cover: A Study on Stream Metabolism Dynamics

This study examines the effects of hydrologic disturbances and land cover on stream metabolism within various watersheds in the Piedmont region. I utilized continuous dissolved oxygen measurements and stream metabolism data from 14 sites, collected over a period of up to 11 years. This research builds on existing datasets to assess changes in flow and land cover impacts on gross primary productivity (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER). Results indicate that GPP resistance significantly decreases with flow event size, while ER resistance remains stable. GPP recovery times were longer for larger storms, showing significant differences between the highest and lower flow quartiles. Even-mixed land-cover watersheds exhibited lower GPP resistance and longer recovery times than urban and vegetated watersheds, while ER resistance and recovery did not significantly differ across land cover types. These findings underscore the importance of considering hydrologic regimes and land cover in watershed management to enhance stream resilience.