Intermittent Surface Water Connectivity: Fill and Spill Vs. Fill and Merge Dynamics

Intermittent surface connectivity can influence aquatic systems, since chemical and biotic movements are often associated with water flow. Although often referred to as fill and spill, wetlands also fill and merge. We examined the effects of these connection types on water levels, ion concentrations...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Wetlands (Wilmington, N.C.) N.C.), 2016-12, Vol.36 (Suppl 2), p.323-342
Main Authors: Leibowitz, Scott G., Mushet, David M., Newton, Wesley E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic environment
Basins
Biodiversity
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Chemistry
Coastal Sciences
Connectivity
Convergence
Ecology
Ecosystem biology
Environmental Management
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Groundwater
Hydrogeology
Hydrology
Landscape Ecology
Life Sciences
Macroinvertebrates
Original Research
Potassium
Potholes
Sediments
Snowmelt
Surface water
Water flow
Water levels
Wetlands
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Summary:Intermittent surface connectivity can influence aquatic systems, since chemical and biotic movements are often associated with water flow. Although often referred to as fill and spill, wetlands also fill and merge. We examined the effects of these connection types on water levels, ion concentrations, and biotic communities of eight prairie pothole wetlands between 1979 and 2015. Fill and spill caused pulsed surface water connections that were limited to periods following spring snow melt. In contrast, two wetlands connected through fill and merge experienced a nearly continuous, 20-year surface water connection and had completely coincident water levels. Fill and spill led to minimal convergence in dissolved ions and macroinvertebrate composition, while these constituents converged under fill and merge. The primary factor determining differences in response was duration of the surface water connection between wetland pairs. Our findings suggest that investigations into the effects of intermittent surface water connections should not consider these connections generically, but need to address the specific types of connections. In particular, fill and spill promotes external water exports while fill and merge favors internal storage. The behaviors of such intermittent connections will likely be accentuated under a future with more frequent and severe climate extremes.
ISSN:0277-5212
1943-6246
DOI:10.1007/s13157-016-0830-z