Retention time as a primary determinant of colour and light attenuation in two tropical Australian reservoirs

1. The light climates of Darwin River Reservoir (DRR) and Manton River Reservoir (MRR), in northern Australia, are compared for an 8-year period. The reservoirs are subject to the same wet/dry tropical climate and have similar catchment characteristics, but differ in their basin morphology, retention time and trophic status.
2. Median euphotic depths in DRR and MRR were 9.7 and 4.4 m, respectively. Seasonal variation in each reservoir's euphotic depth was best explained by colour, based on a stepwise linear regression. Turbidity was excluded from the two regressions, while chlorophyll a concentration was significant only for the MRR regression.
3. Both reservoirs showed the same seasonal pattern for colour. Wet season inflow increased reservoir colour, and was followed by a reduction in colour due to photodegradation and microbial decomposition of humic material, reaching a minimum before the next wet seasons inflow.
4. Although the colour of catchment run-off into both reservoirs was similar, MRR colour was two to three times greater than that measured in DRR. The higher colour and greater light attenuation of MRR is attributed primarily to its shorter retention time, and therefore shorter time for colour removal. Annual retention time accounted for 97% of the variability of average annual colour (measured as absorption at 440 nm), based on a linear regression of log₁₀ transformed data for both reservoirs.
5. Long retention times favour reduced colour, increasing water transparency, particularly in water bodies of low trophic state and inorganic turbidity.     

Distinct age and landscape influence on two reservoirs under the same climate

With the purpose of finding out whether different landscape occupation could affect water quality in two reservoirs of distinct age and subjected to the same climatic influence, several factors were investigated in a study lasting from January 2000 till December 2001. Total phosphorus, orthophosphate, chlorophyll a concentrations and water colour were determined monthly in winter and biweekly in summer, in two reservoirs located in the Portuguese part of River Douro catchment. Complementarily, variables such as nitrate, ammonium ion and ammonia gas, as well as water temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and transparency were measured. Trophic state of both reservoirs was assessed by computation of Carlson's Trophic State Index. The potential allochthonous sources of phosphorus and nitrogen to both reservoirs were identified and estimated. Differences between reservoirs were found for conductivity, water temperature, transparency and water colour. According to Carlson's Trophic State Index both reservoirs were classified as meso-eutrophic from winter to the beginning of summer, and as eutrophic from this period onwards. Intrinsic factors such as age of reservoir, organic matter inputs from decomposition of flooded terrestrial vegetation and exposure of littoral sediments to cycles of drying and wetting, as well as extrinsic factors such as grazing and frequent land fires, can explain the trophic state of S. Serrada Reservoir. Allochthonous sources of nutrients originated from agriculture and grazing in the catchment area, and recreational activities in the reservoir probably are the factors with greatest influence on Azibo Reservoir trophic state. Based upon the obtained data, management measures are suggested to prevent further eutrophication and water quality degradation in both reservoirs.     

三座南亚热带大型水库敞水区桡足类群落结构比较

于2000-2002年对南亚热带三座大型水库:新丰江水库、公平水库和飞来峡水库敞水区桡足类进行了定性定量采样.三座水库桡足类种类数较少,共检出桡足类4科10属14种,其中8种哲水蚤,5种剑水蚤和1种猛水蚤.主要分布在广东省水库的我国特有种舌状叶镖水蚤(Phyllodiaptomus tunguidus)和广布性种类右突新镖水蚤(Neodiaptomus schmackeri)是出现频率较高的哲水蚤种类,温中剑水蚤(Mesocyclops thermocyclopoides)、台湾温剑水蚤(Thermocyclops taihokuensis)和博平近剑水蚤(Tropocycl opsbopingi)是出现频率较高的剑水蚤种类.水库的流域面积、滞留时间、鱼类捕食和营养状态是影响水库桡足类种类组成和数量的重要因素.三座水库桡足类种类数与水库流域面积大小存在正相关关系.随着水库营养水平的升高,桡足类密度和生物量也相应增加,但是大型哲水蚤的优势度降低,而剑水蚤和桡足类幼体的优势度上升.水力滞留时间很短是引起飞来峡水库桡足类种群波动的主要因素.水库捕食性鱼类对甲壳浮游动物的选择性捕食,对桡足类种类影响较小,对桡足类成体密度影响较大.由于地区差异和鱼类捕食强度等因素的影响,桡足类种类多样性与水体营养状态之间存在不确定性.     

流溪河水库水动力学对营养盐和浮游植物分布的影响

流溪河水库2001年年降雨量2250mm,其中79％来自4月至9月的丰水期。入库流量变幅4．25～414．00m^3／s,近60％的入库水量流来自吕田河。流域营养盐输送量取决于流域降雨径流强度,吕田河高于玉溪河。由于营养盐被泥沙吸附沉积,丰水期湖泊区营养盐浓度明显低于河流区。浮游植物密度为17～1245cells／ml,以硅藻为主要优势种群。硅藻密度分布与水流流速和透明度的相关程度明显高于与营养盐和温度的相关程度。在丰水期,由于受水流和透明度的强烈控制,尽管营养盐供应比较充足,硅藻密度处于比较低的水平。丰水期硅藻密度稍低于枯水期,河流区明显低于大坝处。浮游植物香农-威纳多样性指数为0．97～2．75。受水库水动力学(水位波动等因素)的影响,最大浮游植物多样性出现于水位波动比较大的8月份,最小值则出现于水位波动最小的6月份。     

山美水库氮营养盐滞留特征及其影响因素的多时间尺度分析

水库对氮营养盐的滞留效应对水体富营养化防控有重要影响,为揭示不同时间尺度下水库氮营养盐的滞留特征及影响因素的差异,通过构建山美水库流域生态动力学模型,在统计水库氮滞留量和滞留率的基础上,从年、月、日不同时间尺度对氮营养盐的滞留效应进行分析;并通过多元线性相关分析,对入库流量、出入库流量比、水力滞留时间、流速、温度5种因素的影响进行研究.结果表明: 不同时间尺度下山美水库的氮滞留过程均呈现波动特征.在年尺度上,水库主要呈现正滞留效应,是流域重要的氮汇;在月尺度上,氮滞留呈现丰枯期变化特征,水库在源和汇的角色上发生转变;在日尺度上,枯水年氮滞留过程波动剧烈,滞留率在-300%～100%之间变化.不同时间尺度下,出入库流量比、流速因子均是影响水库氮滞留的重要因素;随着时间尺度的降低,入库流量和温度因子对氮滞留的影响程度有所增强;水力滞留时间对氮滞留的影响程度则随时间尺度变化而有正负差异.     

Does reservoir trophic status influence the feeding and growth of the sharptooth catfish,Clarias gariepinus (Teleostei: Clariidae)?

The diet and growth of sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus, in an oligotrophic system (Kat River Reservoir, Eastern Cape, South Africa) were compared to those in a eutrophic system (Laing Reservoir, Eastern Cape) to determine if the trophic status of a waterbody had an effect on the growth rate of the species. In order of importance, the diet of catfish in Kat River Reservoir consisted of fish, insects, zooplankton, plant material and other items, while the diet of catfish in Laing Reservoir consisted of fish, plant material, zooplankton, other vertebrates and insects. The diets of catfish in the two reservoirs had a similarity index of 68.1% and there was no significant difference in their nutritional value. Fish prey was the most important dietary component in both reservoirs. Temperature regime and zooplankton and zoobenthos density were similar in both systems. However, fish prey density was significantly higher in the eutrophic Laing Reservoir and catfish grew significantly faster in that system. The slower growth rate in Kat River Reservoir was attributed to the higher energy costs associated with the capture of fish prey, which was less abundant than in Laing Reservoir. Trophic status therefore had an indirect effect on catfish growth by influencing the availability of fish prey.     

辽河流域丰枯遭遇下水库调度

利用Copula函数分析辽河流域水库入库流量边缘分布及其生态径流量,得出水库可调水范围,在满足生态流量基础上,保障辽河流域城市供水。研究表明:(1)英那河与张家堡水库入库流量以对数正态分布为最佳边缘分布,其余水库入库流量最佳边缘分布均为广义极值分布,同时,Gumbel Copula与Frank Copula函数对水库入库流量拟合效果最优;(2)7组水库组合中有3组水库组合入库流量(白石与锦凌、白石与青山、张家堡与碧流河)丰枯异步概率高于丰枯同步概率,且枯枯遭遇概率较低,分别为13%,12%以及13%。其余4组水库组合枯枯遭遇概率皆高于27%,水库间入库水文过程发生同枯概率可能性较大;(3)使用90%保证率逐月频率计算法所求流量是辽河流域9个水库的最佳生态径流量。(4)枯水月水库间易发生枯枯遭遇,当水库间入库径流皆低于最小生态径流标准,水库无法对各自调水城市进行供水调度,其中,大伙房与桓仁、白石与锦凌、白石与青山主要在1、2月无法对沈阳、凌海和绥中县进行输水,桓仁与清河水库仅在2002年5月无法对开原进行供水,此时需考虑水库提前蓄水以满足城市用水需求。碧流河、英那河和张家堡水库虽两两存在无法输水情况,但可三者联动对大连进行联合调度,缓解无法输水问题。     

Advective effects of a reservoir flood on zooplankton abundance and dispersion

SUMMARY. 1. The diel vertical distribution and abundance of zooplankton in the Red River arm of Lake Texoma, Oklahoma-Texas, U.S.A., were examined between 25 January and 26 June 1982.
2. During periods of low river inflow, zooplankton vertical patchiness was related to wind stress. Zooplankton did not maintain distinct vertical patches under strong mixing.
3. In mid May heavy rainfall in the drainage basin increased discharge from the Red River and reduced water retention time in the reservoir. The Red River water mass entered the lake as a turbid, surface overflow plume. During this period of flooding most zooplankton populations declined and the distributions of remaining individuals deepened. Greatest population losses occurred between 0 and 7m, depths where most zooplankton had been concentrated prior to the flood.
4. A model of population dynamics based on depth specific rates of water exchange between the lake and the Red River, estimated from conductivity changes through time, accounted for the general pattern of change in zooplankton abundance and vertical dispersion.     

大沙河水库主要入库河流氮磷营养输入分析

为了解大沙河水库流域内营养盐输入对水库水质的影响,以 2011年3月~2012年2月大沙河水库5条主要入库河流(大沙河、白沙河、双石河、富食河和沃江河)的水文水质监测数据为依据,分析了这些入库河流的流量和氮磷营养盐浓度,并估算了外源负荷总量,旨在为水库进行高效和合理的流域规划以及水质保护方案的制定提供科学依据。结果表明:位于西南方向的白沙河年平均流量最大(1.01 m³·s^-1),西北部富食河流量最小(0.23 m³·s^-1)。各入库河流总氮平均浓度变化范围为1.62~4.37 mg·L^-1,总磷平均浓度范围为0.08~0.36 mg·L^-1,其中富食河氮和磷营养盐的浓度最高,大沙河总氮浓度最低,白沙河总磷浓度最低,总体上西北部河流的氮磷浓度高于西南部河流。全年大沙河水库总氮输入量为176.7 t,总磷输入量为13.7 t。在所有入库河流中,位于水库北部的沃江河对水库营养盐输入量贡献最大,氮、磷负荷分别占总输入量的33%和32%,位于西部的双石河氮负荷最小(12%),西南方向大沙河磷负荷最小(9%)。     

广东省水库轮虫分布特征

在2000年调查了广东省18座水库的轮虫种类分布特征。在此基础上,于2001～2003年研究了滞留时间对飞来峡水库、流溪河水库和新丰江水库三座典型水库(平均滞留时间分别为14d、172d和644d)轮虫分布的影响。共检到轮虫101种,其中大多数种类来自臂尾轮科(Brachionidae)、腔轮科(Lecanidae)、异尾轮科(Trichcercidae)和疣毛轮科(Synchaetidae)。常见属为龟甲轮属(Keratella)、臂尾轮属(Brachionus)、腔轮属(Lecane)、多肢轮属(Polyarthra)、异尾轮属(Trichocerca)、晶囊轮属(Asplanchna)、聚花轮属(Conochilus)和无柄轮属(Ascomorpha)。从不同生活习性种类组成看．每次采样均以浮游种类为主。在直流型的飞来峡水库中,底栖和着生种类占种类数的41％;而在长滞留时间的新丰江水库中只占18％;中等滞留时间的流溪河水库则介于它们之间。从不同食性种类的丰度看,在新丰江水库和流溪河水库中,轮虫以滤食细小悬浮颗粒物的种类(螺形龟轮虫、独角聚花轮虫和广生多肢轮虫)为优势种;而在直流型的飞来峡水库中,以劫掠粒径较大食物的种类(疣毛轮虫等)为优势种。聚类分析表明,不同营养水平水库轮虫的组成并不是绝然不同的,而是随着营养水平的上升逐渐发生变化的。在营养水平较低水库中以广栖性的螺形龟甲轮虫为优势种,随着营养水平的上升,螺形龟甲轮虫优势度逐渐降低,而异尾轮虫或臂尾轮虫优势度逐渐上升,并在中富营养和富营养水库中成为优势种。     

Biomanipulation as a useful water quality management tool in deep stratifying reservoirs

In six deep, soft-water reservoirs, ranging from oligotrophic to eutrophic, fishery management has been guided by the use of biomanipulation to improve water quality and opportunities for recreational fishing. As evidenced by the establishment of larger-bodied daphnids, a low level of zooplanktivory could be maintained in the newly filled Grosse Dhünn and refilled Brucher and Lingese Reservoirs only by regular stocking of piscivores (Sander lucioperca, Esox lucius, Salmo trutta lacustris, Onchorhynchus mykiss) in combination with size and bag limitations for the recreational fisheries. However, in the mesotrophic Pre-Reservoir Grosse Dhünn, Bever Reservoir and the newly filled slightly eutrophic Wupper Reservoir it took between 8 and 10 years before the predator-resistant zooplankton community responded to management with a switch to larger daphnids. Except for oligotrophic Grosse Dhünn Reservoir where angling is prohibited, the expected enhancement of piscivore biomass through stocking not least was prevented by anglers. However, growth of perch (Perca fluviatilis) benefited from the changed fishery management relying upon stocking piscivores only allowing them to reach the size of piscivory. The appearance of larger daphnids in Pre-Reservoir Grosse Dhünn and Wupper Reservoir resulted in the biomass of the Daphnia spring peak to increase and occur earlier causing prolonged clear water conditions. Although the larger daphnids increased transparency, total summer mean chlorophyll concentrations in the euphotic zone only decreased in the slightly eutrophic reservoirs due to reduced phosphorus availability following unchanged external phosphorus loadings. Reduced phosphorus availability in these reservoirs caused a real oligotrophication. Although the edible seston fraction was controlled “top down” the results did not support the trophic cascade hypotheses because total phytoplankton remained controlled “bottom up”, admittedly triggered by “top down” forces. In general, the results support the importance of indirect (non-lethal) effects as the driving forces for the successful biomanipulations, particularly in slightly eutrophic reservoirs. Not least, the delayed zooplankton response provides an indication that the underlying change of internal feedbacks was not driven by external forces to stabilize the reservoirs trophic state in these deep stratifying reservoirs. Handling editor: D. Ryder     

Vertical Distribution of Chlorophyll in the Upper Volga Reservoirs

The vertical distribution of phytoplankton (chlorophyll a, CHL) was investigated in August 2015 at 25 sampling stations in the Ivankovo, Uglich, and Rybinsk reservoirs (Upper Volga, Russia) using a bbe Moldaenke Fluoroprob submersible fluorimeter. Three types of CHL vertical distribution were identified under homothermy. There was a gradual CHL decline in the water column at the upper part of reservoirs; a sharp decline at a certain depth in most riverine sections; and uniform distribution opposite the mouth of a small river (the Kashinka River, Uglich Reservoir), as well as at the open lacustrine sites of the Rybinsk Reservoir under wind-driven mixing. The average CHL content in the euphotic layer at the stations of three groups were 25.0 ± 6.3, 44.1 ± 4.0, and 20.8 ± 2.9 μg/L, respectively; the CHL contributions to the PAR absorption were 47 ± 9%, 66 ± 4%, and 38 ± 6%. Under thermal stratification the vertical distribution of CHL corresponds to the course of the temperature dynamics (r = 0.85).     

热带直流型水库蓝藻季节变化特征

于2004年调查了广东省飞来峡和深圳两座直流型水库的蓝藻季节分布特征。共检到蓝藻17属,绝大多数为丝状体种类。常见属有假鱼腥藻(Pseudanabaena)、微囊藻(Microcystis)和蓝纤维藻(Dactylococcopsis)。蓝藻细胞密度为5-2052个细胞ml-1。深圳水库最高蓝藻细胞密度出现在6月,其中丝状蓝藻的相对丰度在75%以上;飞来峡水库最高蓝藻细胞密度出现在12月,丝状蓝藻的相对丰度达到90%。水动力学条件是限制蓝藻丰度和种类的主要环境因子。由于飞来峡水库的水力滞留时间变化较大,所以蓝藻季节性变化受水动力学条件的影响比深圳水库的大。假鱼腥藻等丝状蓝藻更适合在水库中生长,特别是在氮磷营养水平较高,水力滞留时间明显增加时,其细胞密度将大幅度上升。     

Distribution of the bathypelagic perch fry layer along the longitudinal profile of two large canyon-shaped reservoirs

The distribution of the bathypelagic perch Perca fluviatilis fry (BPF) layer and its qualitative and quantitative changes were studied along the longitudinal profiles of the large canyon-shaped Slapy and Orlík Reservoirs (Czech Republic), using acoustic methods (SIMRAD EY500 echosounder, split-beam transducer, Sonar5 post-processing software). In Slapy Reservoir (sampled in late May), the BPF layer created by the mass of non-shoaling perch larvae and juveniles (average total length, L _T, 10·4 mm) was recorded from the dam for 29 km upstream. The BPF layer only vanished in the upper third of the reservoir due to the extremely cold hypolimnetic water discharged from Orlík Reservoir, which is situated upstream in the cascade. Both abundance and size of BPF increased significantly upstream following, in Slapy Reservoir, the trophic gradient. In Orlík Reservoir (sampled in late June), the BPF layer was created predominantly by shoaling perch fry individuals (average L _T 31·8 mm), recorded along the whole longitudinal profile of the reservoir (>50 km, filled with relatively warm water). Both the sizes of BPF and their shoaling activity again increased significantly from the dam towards the inflow following, in Orlík Reservoir, the trophic gradient. Pooling the data from both reservoirs, it was evident that the tendency to flock in a dense layer and, much later, to create distinct shoals, increased continuously with the size of BPF. A number of variables describing the BPF layer in Slapy and Orlík Reservoir are given.     

香溪河流域梯级水库底栖动物群落比较

对香溪河流域3座梯级水库（古洞口一级水库、古洞口二级水库和三峡水库香溪河库湾）的底栖动物进行了比较生态学研究。运用主成分分析（PCA）对梯级水库的水质进行研究,表明沿着水库的梯度水质逐渐恶化。运用非度量多维标度法（NMS）对梯级水库的底栖动物群落结构进行相似性比较,表明选择水库湖泊区的样点进行梯级水库底栖动物生态学研究具有典型代表性。在物种组成和密度方面,古洞口一级水库和香溪河库湾都是寡毛类占优势,古洞口二级水库是摇蚊幼虫占优势。但3个水库都是耐污种占优势。采用典型对应分析（CCA）解析底栖动物群落结构与环境因子的关系,显示3个水库群落结构的差异主要由浊度造成。用TOC／Turb来表征有机物对浊度的贡献,结果显示古洞口二级水库有机物对浊度的贡献相对较小,因而表明泥沙等无机物对浊度的贡献相对较大。     

广东省公平水库与星湖生态特征的对比分析

在采样和测定分析的基础上,对营养盐水平和水深较为接近的公平水库和星湖的生态特征进行对比分析。结果表明,公平水库和星湖的生态特征差异显著,其主要原因是两者水动力过程的不同。公平水库水力滞留时间是星湖的1／2,水柱全年混合较好,而星湖在夏季则有明显分层现象。公平水库总氮、总磷浓度的最高值出现在丰水期的7月,枯水期明显低于丰水期,营养盐主要来源于外源．而星湖主要受内源循环的控制,总氮和总磷浓度的最高值出现在丰水期刚开始的4月,7月总氮、总磷浓度有所下降,在分层现象消失的10月,总磷浓度明显升高。公平水库水滞留时间短,水位波动较大。不利于蓝藻形成优势,其浮游植物的群落结构类型表现为硅藻-绿藻-蓝藻型,星湖水滞留时间长,水体相对稳定,为蓝藻占优势提供了条件,浮游植物群落结构类型表现为蓝藻-绿藻-硅藻型。     

Retention of Sediments and Nutrients in the Iron Gate I Reservoir on the Danube River

This work addresses an intensively debated question in biogeochemical research: “Are large dams affecting global nutrient cycles?” It has been postulated that the largest impoundments on the Lower Danube River, the Iron Gates Reservoirs, act as a major sink for silica (Si) in the form of settling diatoms, for phosphorus (P) and to a lesser extent for nitrogen (N). This retention of P and N in the reservoir would represent a positive contribution to the nutrient reduction in the Danube River. Based on a 9-month monitoring scheme in 2001, we quantified the nutrient and the sediment retention capacity of the Iron Gate I Reservoir. The sediment accumulation corresponded to 5% TN (total nitrogen), 12% TP (total phosphorus) and 55% TSS (total suspended solids) of the incoming loading. A mass balance revealed that more N and P are leaving the reservoir than entering via the inflow. Based on these current results, the reservoir was temporarily acting as a small nutrient source. The nutrient accumulation in the sediments of the Iron Gate I Reservoir represents only 1% of the “missing” load of 10⁶ t N and 1.3 × 10⁵ t P defined as the difference between the estimated nutrient export from the Danube Basin and the measured flux entering the Black Sea. This result disproves the hypothesis that the largest impoundment on the Danube River, the Iron Gates Reservoir, plays a major role in N and P elimination.     

Turnover of Extracellular DNA in Eutrophic and Oligotrophic Freshwater Environments of Southwest Florida

The turnover of extracellular DNA was investigated in oligotrophic springs of the Crystal River and the eutrophic Medard Reservoir of southwest Florida. The Medard Reservoir possessed large populations of bacterioplankton and phytoplankton (6.8 × 10⁹ cells per liter and 28.6 μg of chlorophyll a per liter, respectively), while the Crystal River springs only contained a fraction of the microbial biomass found in the Medard Reservoir. Although dissolved DNA values were greater in the Medard Reservoir, higher rates of DNA removal resulted in similar extracellular DNA turnover times in both environments (9.62 ± 3.6 h in the Crystal River and 10.5 ± 2.1 h in the Medard Reservoir). These results indicate that regardless of trophic status or microbial standing stock, extracellular DNA turns over rapidly in subtropical planktonic freshwater environments. Therefore, recombinant DNA sequences from released genetically engineered microorganisms might not be expected to survive for long periods of time in freshwater planktonic environments.     

Phosphorus retention in streams draining pine and hardwood catchments in the southern Appalachian Mountains

SUMMARY. 1. This study was designed to determine how catchment use affects stream phosphorus retention by comparing retention in streams draining three mixed hardwood catchments and three catchments that were planted in white pine in the 1950s.
2. Catchments of similar area and stream discharge were chosen and phosphorus uptake was measured monthly in each catchment along with temperature, discharge, velocity, coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM), fine particulate organic matter (FPOM), and microbial respiration associated with FPOM.
3. On an annual basis, average phosphorus retention was not different between streams draining pine and hardwood catchments nor were there significant differences between physical (temperature, velocity and discharge) or biological (CPOM, FPOM and respiration) parameters based on catchment type. However, discharge was more variable in streams draining pine catchments.
4. Because phosphorus uptake was correlated with discharge, phosphorus retention was also more variable in streams draining pine catchments. Storms caused a greater increar.e in discharge and loss of phosphorus in pine streams than in mixed hardwood streams, but discharge returned to baseline more quickly in pine streams.
5. We suggest that discharge regimes and phosphorus dynamics of streams draining pine catchments are less resistant to change but more resilient than streams draining mixed hardwood forests.     

Permafrost conditions in peatlands regulate magnitude,timing, and chemical composition of catchment dissolved organic carbon export

Permafrost thaw in peatlands has the potential to alter catchment export of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and thus influence downstream aquatic C cycling. Subarctic peatlands are often mosaics of different peatland types, where permafrost conditions regulate the hydrological setting of each type. We show that hydrological setting is key to observed differences in magnitude, timing, and chemical composition of DOC export between permafrost and nonpermafrost peatland types, and that these differences influence the export of DOC of larger catchments even when peatlands are minor catchment components. In many aspects, DOC export from a studied peatland permafrost plateau was similar to that of a forested upland catchment. Similarities included low annual export (2–3 g C m^?2) dominated by the snow melt period (~70%), and how substantial DOC export following storms required wet antecedent conditions. Conversely, nonpermafrost fens had higher DOC export (7 g C m^?2), resulting from sustained hydrological connectivity during summer. Chemical composition of catchment DOC export arose from the mixing of highly aromatic DOC from organic soils from permafrost plateau soil water and upland forest surface horizons with nonaromatic DOC from mineral soil groundwater, but was further modulated by fens. Increasing aromaticity from fen inflow to outlet was substantial and depended on both water residence time and water temperature. The role of fens as catchment biogeochemical hotspots was further emphasized by their capacity for sulfate retention. As a result of fen characteristics, a 4% fen cover in a mixed catchment was responsible for 34% higher DOC export, 50% higher DOC concentrations and ~10% higher DOC aromaticity at the catchment outlet during summer compared to a nonpeatland upland catchment. Expansion of fens due to thaw thus has potential to influence landscape C cycling by increasing fen capacity to act as biogeochemical hotspots, amplifying aquatic C cycling, and increasing catchment DOC export.