Diel phosphorus variation and the stoichiometry of ecosystem metabolism in a large spring-fed river

Elemental cycles are coupled directly and indirectly to ecosystem metabolism at multiple time scales. Understanding coupling in lotic ecosystems has recently advanced through simultaneous high-frequency measurements of multiple solutes. Using hourly in situ measurements of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), specific conductance (SpC), and dissolved oxygen (DO), we estimated phosphorus (P) retention pathways and dynamics in a large (discharge, Q ≈ 7.5 m3/s) spring-fed river (Ichetucknee River, Florida, USA). Across eight multi-day deployments, highly regular diel SRP variation of 3–9 μg P/L (mean ∼50 μg P/L) was strongly correlated with DO variation, suggesting photosynthetic control directly via assimilation, and/or indirectly via geochemical reactions. Consistent afternoon SRP maxima and midnight minima suggest peak removal lags gross primary production (GPP) by ∼8 hours. Two overlapping processes were evident, one dominant with maximum removal near midnight, the other smaller with maximum removal near m...

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