@article {4107, title = {Spatial and temporal patterns of microbial mats and associated invertebrates along an Antarctic stream}, journal = {Polar Biology}, volume = {41}, year = {2018}, month = {10/2018}, pages = {1911{\textendash}1921}, abstract = {

Microbial biofilms are biological hotspots in many alpine and polar ecosystems, but the controls on and functional significance of their fauna are little known. We studied cyanobacterial mats and the underlying sediment in a glacial meltwater stream in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. We investigated mat biomass (total and phototrophic), diatoms, and micro-meiofauna (nematodes, rotifers, and tardigrades) at nine sites along a 1670 m stream reach in a cold, low-flow growing season, and in a warmer growing season in which peak flows (above 100 L s\−1) scoured the mats. Diatom and invertebrate communities were not related, but mat biomass in the low-flow year was negatively related to nematode abundance, including that of the omnivore\ Eudorylaimus. In the high-flow year that followed, invertebrate abundance was reduced in the mats, diatom community structure was altered, and mat biomass was higher. The difference in invertebrate abundance between years was greater in mats in upstream reaches, where the greatest increases in flow velocity may have occurred, and was negligible in mats in downstream reaches as well as in the sediment beneath the mats. Integrating our results with previous findings, we generate two predictive hypotheses to be tested in glacial meltwater streams: (1) under peak flows invertebrates decline in the microbial mats, while (2) the sediment beneath the mats is a refuge from the flow disturbance. Our results also suggest that, under stable flow conditions, microinvertebrate grazers could exert top-down control on microbial mat biomass.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, diatoms, Disturbance, Dry valleys, Epilithon, Microfauna, Stream flow}, doi = {10.1007/s00300-018-2331-4}, url = {http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00300-018-2331-4}, author = {Andriuzzi, Walter S. and Lee F. Stanish and Breana L. Simmons and Chris Jaros and Byron Adams and Diana H. Wall and Diane M. McKnight} } @article {4031, title = {Characterizing hyporheic exchange processes using high-frequency electrical conductivity-discharge relationships on subhourly to interannual timescales}, journal = {Water Resources Research}, volume = {53}, year = {2017}, month = {05/2017}, pages = {4124 - 4141}, abstract = {

Concentration-discharge (C-Q) relationships are often used to quantify source water contributions and biogeochemical processes occurring within catchments, especially during discrete hydrological events. Yet, the interpretation of C-Q hysteresis is often confounded by complexity of the critical zone, such as numerous source waters and hydrochemical nonstationarity. Consequently, researchers must often ignore important runoff pathways and geochemical sources/sinks, especially the hyporheic zone because it lacks a distinct hydrochemical signature. Such simplifications limit efforts to identify processes responsible for the transience of C-Q hysteresis over time. To address these limitations, we leverage the hydrologic simplicity and long-term, high-frequency Q and electrical conductivity (EC) data from streams in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. In this two end-member system, EC can serve as a proxy for the concentration of solutes derived from the hyporheic zone. We utilize a novel approach to decompose loops into subhysteretic EC-Q dynamics to identify individual mechanisms governing hysteresis across a wide range of timescales. We find that hydrologic and hydraulic processes govern EC response to diel and seasonal Q variability and that the effects of hyporheic mixing processes on C-Q transience differ in short and long streams. We also observe that variable hyporheic turnover rates govern EC-Q patterns at daily to interannual timescales. Last, subhysteretic analysis reveals a period of interannual freshening of glacial meltwater streams related to the effects of unsteady flow on hyporheic exchange. The subhysteretic analysis framework we introduce may be applied more broadly to constrain the processes controlling C-Q transience and advance understanding of catchment evolution.\ 

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1002/wrcr.v53.510.1002/2016WR019739}, url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2016WR019739/full}, author = {Singley, Joel G. and Wlostowski, Adam and Bergstrom, Anna J. and Eric R. Sokol and Torrens, Christa L. and Chris Jaros and Wilson, Colleen E. and Hendrickson, Patrick J. and Michael N. Gooseff} } @article {4023, title = {Hydrologic connectivity and implications for ecosystem processes - Lessons from naked watersheds}, journal = {Geomorphology}, volume = {277}, year = {2017}, month = {01/2017}, pages = {63 - 71}, abstract = {

Hydrologic connectivity has received great attention recently as our conceptual models of watersheds and water quality have evolved in the past several decades. However, the structural complexity of most temperate watersheds (i.e. connections among shallow soils, deep aquifers, the atmosphere and streams) and the dynamic seasonal changes that occur within them (i.e., plant senescence which impacts evapotranspiration) create significant challenges to characterizing or quantifying hydrologic connectivity. The McMurdo Dry Valleys, a polar desert in Antarctica, provide a unique opportunity to study hydrologic connectivity because there is no vegetative cover (and therefore no transpiration), and no deep aquifers connected to surface soils or streams. Glacier melt provides stream flow to well-established channels and closed-basin, ice-covered lakes on the valley floor. Streams are also connected to shallow hyporheic zones along their lengths, which are bounded at ~75 cm depth by ice-cemented permafrost. These hydrologic features and connections provide water for and underpin biological communities. Hence, exchange of water among them provides a vector for exchange of energy and dissolved solutes. Connectivity is dynamic on timescales of a day to a flow season (6\–12 weeks), as streamflow varies over these timescales. The timescales over which these connections occur is also dynamic. Exchanges between streams and hyporheic zones, for example, have been estimated to be as short as hours to as long as several weeks. These exchanges have significant implications for the biogeochemistry of these systems and the biotic communities in each feature. Here we evaluate the lessons we can learn about hydrologic connectivity in the MDV watersheds that are simplified in the context of processes occurring and water reservoirs included in the landscape, yet are sensitive to climate controls and contain substantial physical heterogeneity. We specifically explore several metrics that are simple and/or commonly employed in hydrologic analyses and interpret them in the context of connectivity between and among hydrologic features.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, issn = {0169555X}, doi = {10.1016/j.geomorph.2016.04.024}, url = {http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0169555X16302483}, author = {Michael N. Gooseff and Wlostowski, Adam and Diane M. McKnight and Chris Jaros} } @article {3951, title = {Hydrological Controls on Ecosystem Dynamics in Lake Fryxell, Antarctica}, journal = {PLOS ONE}, volume = {11}, year = {2016}, month = {07/2016}, pages = {e0159038}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.015903810.1371}, url = {http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0159038}, author = {Herbei, Radu and Rytel, Alexander L. and W. Berry Lyons and Diane M. McKnight and Chris Jaros and Michael N. Gooseff and John C. Priscu}, editor = {Hewitt, Judi} } @article {3718, title = {Patterns of hydrologic connectivity in the McMurdo dry valleys, Antarctica: a synthesis of 20 years of hydrologic data}, journal = {Hydrological Processes}, volume = {30}, year = {2016}, month = {04/2016}, pages = {2958-2975}, chapter = {2958}, abstract = {

Streams in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDVs) of Antarctica moderate an important hydrologic and biogeochemical connection between upland alpine glaciers, valley-bottom soils, and lowland closed-basin lakes. Moreover, MDV streams are simple but dynamic systems ideal for studying interacting hydrologic and ecological dynamics. This work synthesizes 20\ years of hydrologic data, collected as part of the MDVs Long-Term Ecological Research project, to assess spatial and temporal dynamics of hydrologic connectivity between glaciers, streams, and lakes. Long-term records of stream discharge (Q), specific electrical conductance (EC), and water temperature (T) from 18 streams were analysed in order to quantify the magnitude, duration, and frequency of hydrologic connections over daily, annual, and inter-annual timescales. At a daily timescale, we observe predictable diurnal variations in Q, EC, and T. At an annual timescale, we observe longer streams to be more intermittent, warmer, and have higher median EC values, compared to shorter streams. Longer streams also behave chemostatically with respect to EC, whereas shorter streams are more strongly characterized by dilution. Inter-annually, we observe significant variability in annual runoff volumes, likely because of climatic variability over the 20 record years considered. Hydrologic connections at all timescales are vital to stream ecosystem structure and function. This synthesis of hydrologic connectivity in the MDVs provides a useful end-member template for assessing hydrologic connectivity in more structurally complex temperate watersheds.\ 

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1002/hyp.10818}, url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hyp.10818}, author = {Wlostowski, Adam and Michael N. Gooseff and Diane M. McKnight and Chris Jaros and W. Berry Lyons} } @article {3712, title = {Potential for real-time understanding of coupled hydrologic and biogeochemical processes in stream ecosystems: Future integration of telemetered data with process models for glacial meltwater streams}, journal = {Water Resources Research}, volume = {51}, year = {2015}, month = {08/2015}, pages = {6725 - 6738}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1002/2015WR017618}, url = {http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/2015WR017618http://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002\%2F2015WR017618}, author = {Diane M. McKnight and Cozzetto, K and Cullis, James D.S. and Michael N. Gooseff and Chris Jaros and Koch, J. and W. Berry Lyons and Neupauer, R. M. and Wlostowski, Adam} } @article {3189, title = {Pressure-driven, shoreline currents in a perennially ice-covered, pro-glacial lake in Antarctica, identified from a LiCl tracer injected into a pro-glacial stream}, journal = {Hydrological Processes}, volume = {29}, year = {2015}, month = {05-2015}, pages = {2212 - 2231}, abstract = {

The distribution of streamwater within ice-covered lakes influences sub-ice currents, biological activity and shoreline morphology. Perennially ice-covered lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, provide an excellent natural laboratory to study hydrologic\–limnologic interactions under ice cover. For a 2\ h period on 17 December 2012, we injected a lithium chloride tracer into Andersen Creek, a pro-glacial stream flowing into Lake Hoare. Over 4\ h, we collected 182 water samples from five stream sites and 15 ice boreholes. Geochemical data showed that interflow travelled West of the stream mouth along the shoreline and did not flow towards the lake interior. The chemistry of water from Andersen Creek was similar to the chemistry of water below shoreline ice. Additional evidence for Westward flow included the morphology of channels on the ice surface, the orientation of ripple marks in lake sediments at the stream mouth and equivalent temperatures between Andersen Creek and water below shoreline ice. Streamwater deflected to the right of the mouth of the stream, in the opposite direction predicted by the Coriolis force. Deflection of interflow was probably caused by the diurnal addition of glacial runoff and stream discharge to the Eastern edge of the lake, which created a strong pressure gradient sloping to the West. This flow directed stream momentum away from the lake interior, minimizing the impact of stream momentum on sub-ice currents. It also transported dissolved nutrients and suspended sediments to the shoreline region instead of the lake interior, potentially affecting biological productivity and bedform development.

}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1002/hyp.v29.910.1002/hyp.10352}, url = {http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/hyp.v29.9http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/hyp.10352}, author = {Castendyk, Devin and Diane M. McKnight and Kathleen A. Welch and Niebuhr, Spencer and Chris Jaros} } @article {1077, title = {Characterization of fulvic acid fractions of dissolved organic matter during ice-out in a hyper-eutrophic, coastal pond in Antarctica}, journal = {Environmental Research Letters}, volume = {8}, year = {2013}, month = {12/2013}, pages = {045015}, abstract = {Dissolved humic material (HDOM) is ubiquitous to all natural waters and its source material influences its chemical structure, reactivity, and bioavailability. While terrestrially derived HDOM reference materials distributed by the International Humic Substances Society (IHSS) have been readily available to engineering and scientific communities, a microbially derived reference HDOM was not, despite the well-characterized differences in the chemistry and reactivity of HDOM derived from terrestrial versus microbial sources. To address this gap, we collected a microbial reference fulvic acid from Pony Lake (PLFA) for distribution through the IHSS. Pony Lake is a saline coastal pond on Ross Island, Antarctica, where the landscape is devoid of terrestrial plants. Sample collection occurred over a 17-day period in the summer season at Pony Lake. During this time, the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations increased nearly two-fold, and the fulvic acid fraction (collected using the XAD-8 method) accounted for 14.6\% of the DOC. During the re-concentration and desalting procedures we isolated two other chemically distinct fulvic acid fractions: (1) PLFA-2, which was high in carbohydrates and (2) PLFA-CER, which was high in nitrogen. The chemical characteristics (elemental analysis, optical characterization with UV{\textendash}vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, and 13C NMR spectroscopy) of the three fulvic acid fractions helped to explain their behavior during isolation.}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1088/1748-9326/8/4/045015}, author = {Kaelin M. Cawley and Diane M. McKnight and Penney L. Miller and Rose M. Cory and Fimmen, Ryan L and Guerard, Jennifer and Markus Dieser and Chris Jaros and Yu-Ping Chin and Christine M. Foreman} } @article {1081, title = {Physicochemical and biological dynamics in a coastal Antarctic lake as it transitions from frozen to open water}, journal = {Antarctic Science}, volume = {25}, year = {2013}, month = {12/2013}, pages = {663{\textendash}675}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Markus Dieser and Christine M. Foreman and Chris Jaros and John T. Lisle and Mark C. Greenwood and Johanna Laybourn-Parry and Penney L. Miller and Yu-Ping Chin and Diane M. McKnight} } @article {1104, title = {The geochemistry of upland ponds, Taylor Valley, Antarctica}, journal = {Antarctic Science}, volume = {24}, year = {2012}, month = {2/2012}, pages = {3 - 14}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1017/S0954102011000617}, url = {http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online\&aid=8483351}, author = {W. Berry Lyons and Kathleen A. Welch and Christopher B. Gardner and Chris Jaros and Daryl L. Moorhead and Knoepfle, J and Peter T. Doran} } @article {1138, title = {When a habitat freezes solid: microorganisms over-winter within the ice column of a coastal Antarctic lake}, journal = {FEMS Microbiology Ecology}, volume = {76}, year = {2011}, month = {06/2011}, pages = {401 - 412}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01061.x}, url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01061.x/full}, author = {Christine M. Foreman and Markus Dieser and Mark Greenwood and Rose M. Cory and Johanna Laybourn-Parry and John T. Lisle and Chris Jaros and Penney L. Miller and Yu-Ping Chin and Diane M. McKnight} } @article {1204, title = {Hydrologic response to extreme warm and cold summers in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, East Antarctica}, journal = {Antarctic Science}, volume = {20}, year = {2008}, month = {05/16/2008}, pages = {499-509}, type = {Journal}, keywords = {LTER-MCM, Climate Response, streams}, doi = {10.1017/S0954102008001272}, author = {Peter T. Doran and Christopher P. McKay and Andrew G Fountain and Thomas H. Nylen and Diane M. McKnight and Chris Jaros and John E. Barrett} } @mastersthesis {1388, title = {Climatic controls on interannual variation in streamflow in Fryxell Basin, Taylor Valley}, volume = {M.S.}, year = {2002}, school = {University of Colorado}, type = {masters}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, doi = {LTER}, author = {Chris Jaros} } @inbook {1426, title = {Climate and hydrologic variations and implications for lake and stream ecological response in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica}, booktitle = {Climate Variability and Ecosystem Response at Long Term Ecological Research Sites}, year = {2000}, pages = {174-195}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, organization = {Oxford University Press}, keywords = {LTER-MCM}, author = {Kathleen A. Welch and W. Berry Lyons and Diane M. McKnight and Chris Jaros and Andrew G Fountain and Thomas H. Nylen and Peter T. Doran and Clive Howard-Williams}, editor = {D. Greenland and D. G. Goodin and R. C. Smith} }