title: Forest clearfelling effects on dissolved oxygen and metabolism in peatland streams.
abstract: Peatlands cover ∼3% of the world's landmass and large expanses have been altered significantly as a consequence of land use change. Forestry activities are a key pressure on these catchments increasing suspended sediment and nutrient export to receiving waters. The aim of this study was to investigate stream dissolved oxygen (DO) and metabolic activity response following clearfelling of a 39-year-old lodgepole pine and Sitka spruce forestry in an upland peat catchment. Significant effects of clearfelling on water temperature, flows, DO and stream metabolic (photosynthesis, respiration) rates were revealed. Stream temperature and discharge significantly increased in the study stream following clearfelling. Instream ecosystem respiration increased significantly following clearfelling, indicating an increase in the net consumption of organic carbon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: connieodriscoll@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Driscoll
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Zaki-Ul-Zaman
authors.initials: ZU
authors.lastname: Asam
authors.affiliation: Marine Institute, Newport, Co., Mayo, F28 PF65, Ireland.
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Eyto
authors.affiliation: School of Geography/water@Leeds, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lee E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Liwen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D016468:Forestry / Q000379:methods*; D065928:Forests; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D002244:Carbon; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Blanket peat catchments; Dissolved oxygen; Forest clearfelling; Stream metabolism; Temperature; Water quality