Scales of spatial variability in dissolved organic carbon concentrations in lakes

What is it about?

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is partially decomposed plant matter that stains lake water brown. DOC has a controlling influence on key lake characteristics including water temperature, fish productivity, pH, and green house gas emissions. However, little is known spatial patterns of DOC concentration and this limits the ability of scientists to predict lake response to climate change. Our study is the first to evaluate spatial patterns of DOC concentration. We find two scales of variation, local (between lakes within regions) and regional (between regional baseline concentrations) that exist because of geographic heterogeneity in the factors influencing DOC concentration. There are discrete regions within which factors determining DOC concentration are similar. The factors influencing DOC concentration are dissimilar between regions. Taking this regional into account greatly improves the predictive power of models for DOC concentration.

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Why is it important?

Our analysis reveals that the regional scale (mesoscale) is key to understanding patterns and processes in lake ecosystems. We provide a data-driven approach for geographically partitioning lakes into regions in which lakes respond similarly to environmental change. This will improve the ability of environmental scientists to predict lake response to broad-scale environmental change.