Understanding the influence of land use practices and canopy cover restoration on nutrient spiraling in tropical and temperate stream ecosystems

Abstract

This proposal is associated with a current research project funded by FAPESP (2016/14176-1). The main objective of this ongoing research is to estimate macronutrient retention in streams located in the Cerrado savanna (SP, Brazil) and correlate retention rates to ecosystem metabolic activity and other stream attributes. Specifically, we are estimating ammonium and phosphate transport and retention five streams that span gradients in specific environmental conditions. The goal of the SPRINT proposal is to improve our understanding of how human land use practices, including contemporary agriculture and canopy cover restoration, influences the structure and functioning of streams. This collaboration will improve our capacity to understand how such activities impact nutrient spiraling in SP, by extending the spatial and conceptual extent of the research funded by FAPESP, and through comparative experiments conducted in similar systems in Nebraska, USA We will address the main research questions: 1) How has agricultural activity impacted nitrogen and phosphorus cycling? 2) How strongly does riparian restoration affect nutrient retention and how does this effect change in time (i.e. with the age of vegetation)? 3) Is there a systematic difference in how retention metrics respond to agriculture impacts across different climate zones (tropical vs, temperate)? In addition to the technology advancement and internationalization issues, we expect peer-reviewed publications and the consolidation of collaboration between USP and UNL. (AU)