Salt retention in wetland soils and effects on dissolved organic carbon export

<p>Deicing salt runoff has negative effects on ecosystems. Wetland ecosystems can act as important filters for runoff pollution (e.g., nutrients), mitigating damage to plants and microbes. Wetlands are important sinks for nutrients and pollutants (e.g., road salt) and transformation spots for many nutrients including carbon. The interactions between deicing salt runoff and wetland soil carbon were explored by measuring chloride export and retention, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) export, and carbon quality using mesocosm experiments. Net retention of Cl- was highest in soils receiving high salt treatments (5.0 g/L NaCl), although percent retention of Cl- was greater in soils receiving moderate salt treatments (2.5 g/L NaCl), indicating a retention cap for Cl-. The export of DOC was significantly lower upon addition of salt for two of three wetland sites. The quality of carbon exported was not affected by salt addition. The storage of salt found could further alter the biogeochemistry of wetland ecosystems.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2018

Author dc:creator

• McGuire, Kayla Marie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kristin E. Judd, PhD
• Steven N. Francoeur, PhD
• Katherine R. Greenwald, PhD

• chloride
• deicing salt
• dissolved organic carbon
• wetland
• Biology
• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Environmental Sciences

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/918

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-2299