Organic Carbon in Shallow Subterranean Habitats

Alternative Title

Krasoslovni zbornik

Author

Tanja Pipan, Karst Research Institute at ZRC SAZUFollow
David C. Culver

Files

Publication Date

9-2013

Publication Title

Acta Carsologica

Volume Number

42

Issue Number

2-3

Abstract

Organic carbon is likely to be a limiting factor in shallow subterranean habitats (SSHs). Data on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in three SSHs are reviewed: (1) hypotelminorheic and associated seepage springs (Nanos Mountain, Slovenia), (2) hyporheic zones (Rhône River, France and seepage streams on Nanos Mountain, Slovenia), and (3) epikarst (China, Slovenia, and USA). Hypotelminorheic habitats are superficial groundwater sites less than 1 m below the surface that exit from seepage springs. Hyporheic habitats are the underflow of streams and rivers. Epikarst is the uppermost zone of karst with extensive small cavities and channels. Nanos hypotelminorheic sites that harbored stygobiotic species had organic carbon values averaging 3.4 mg C L−1, and temporal variability was high. For hypoheic sites in the Rhône River basin and on Nanos Mountain, mean values ranged from 1.4 to 3.5 mg C L−1. In the more extensively studied Rhône River basin sites, temporal variability was low. Epikarst DOC ranged from 0.70 to 1.10 mg C L−1 in three caves in China (Shihua Cave), Slovenia (Postojna Planina Cave System) and United States (Organ Cave, West Virginia). These results suggest that organic carbon in aquatic SSHs is lowest in epikarst.

Keywords

Dissolved organic carbon, Epikarst, Hyporheic, Hypotelminorheic, Seepage spring

Geographic Subject

Nanos Mountain (Slovenia), Rhone River (France), China, United States

Document Type

Article

Language

English and Slovenia

Identifier

K26-00199

Recommended Citation

Pipan, Tanja and Culver, David C., "Organic Carbon in Shallow Subterranean Habitats" (2013). KIP Articles. 89.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/kip_articles/89