Nitrogen dynamics in low-arctic streams are linked to terrestrial vegetation cover
The Arctic is experiencing rapid climatic changes, leading to landscape shifts, including increased vegetation cover (greening) and altered nutrient dynamics. This study examines the relationship between catchment vegetation cover, measured by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and d...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Canadian Science Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Arctic Science |
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| Online Access: | https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2025-0005 |
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| _version_ | 1849744686214807552 |
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| author | Jakob Breinholt Kjær Katrine Raundrup Kirsty Langley Tenna Riis |
| author_facet | Jakob Breinholt Kjær Katrine Raundrup Kirsty Langley Tenna Riis |
| author_sort | Jakob Breinholt Kjær |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Arctic is experiencing rapid climatic changes, leading to landscape shifts, including increased vegetation cover (greening) and altered nutrient dynamics. This study examines the relationship between catchment vegetation cover, measured by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen and dissolved organic nitrogen concentrations in streams in Kobbefjord region in low-Arctic West Greenland. Water samples from streams were collected weekly across three catchments with varying vegetation cover during summer 2023. Our results showed a significant negative relationship between catchment NDVI and stream nitrate (NO3 −) concentrations. The results support what has previously been found in high-Arctic streams in Northeast Greenland and thus expand the generality of this pattern in a broader Arctic context. The results suggest that greening in low-Arctic areas could reduce the annual N export from terrestrial to aquatic systems. However, the variation in export during the summer season is driven by discharge. Thus, the future projected greening and increased summer precipitation will most likely alter nutrient availability and primary production in the coastal ecosystems of the Arctic Ocean. Such changes may have significant ecological consequences not only for the coastal ecosystems but also for the Arctic communities that rely on these ecosystems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6ed97f7cc74542f1a5fa382bf506aa1c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2368-7460 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Canadian Science Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Arctic Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-6ed97f7cc74542f1a5fa382bf506aa1c2025-08-20T03:10:13ZengCanadian Science PublishingArctic Science2368-74602025-01-011111010.1139/as-2025-0005Nitrogen dynamics in low-arctic streams are linked to terrestrial vegetation coverJakob Breinholt Kjær0Katrine Raundrup1Kirsty Langley2Tenna Riis3Department of Biology, Arctic Research Center, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Alle 1, 8000 Aarhus C, DenmarkGreenland Institute of Natural Resources, Pinngortitaleriffik, Nuuk 3900, GreenlandDepartment of Hydrology and Climate, Asiaq Greenland Survey, Nuuk 3900, GreenlandDepartment of Biology, Arctic Research Center, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Alle 1, 8000 Aarhus C, DenmarkThe Arctic is experiencing rapid climatic changes, leading to landscape shifts, including increased vegetation cover (greening) and altered nutrient dynamics. This study examines the relationship between catchment vegetation cover, measured by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen and dissolved organic nitrogen concentrations in streams in Kobbefjord region in low-Arctic West Greenland. Water samples from streams were collected weekly across three catchments with varying vegetation cover during summer 2023. Our results showed a significant negative relationship between catchment NDVI and stream nitrate (NO3 −) concentrations. The results support what has previously been found in high-Arctic streams in Northeast Greenland and thus expand the generality of this pattern in a broader Arctic context. The results suggest that greening in low-Arctic areas could reduce the annual N export from terrestrial to aquatic systems. However, the variation in export during the summer season is driven by discharge. Thus, the future projected greening and increased summer precipitation will most likely alter nutrient availability and primary production in the coastal ecosystems of the Arctic Ocean. Such changes may have significant ecological consequences not only for the coastal ecosystems but also for the Arctic communities that rely on these ecosystems.https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2025-0005nutrientsfluvialriverNDVIbiogeochemistrynutrient export |
| spellingShingle | Jakob Breinholt Kjær Katrine Raundrup Kirsty Langley Tenna Riis Nitrogen dynamics in low-arctic streams are linked to terrestrial vegetation cover Arctic Science nutrients fluvial river NDVI biogeochemistry nutrient export |
| title | Nitrogen dynamics in low-arctic streams are linked to terrestrial vegetation cover |
| title_full | Nitrogen dynamics in low-arctic streams are linked to terrestrial vegetation cover |
| title_fullStr | Nitrogen dynamics in low-arctic streams are linked to terrestrial vegetation cover |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nitrogen dynamics in low-arctic streams are linked to terrestrial vegetation cover |
| title_short | Nitrogen dynamics in low-arctic streams are linked to terrestrial vegetation cover |
| title_sort | nitrogen dynamics in low arctic streams are linked to terrestrial vegetation cover |
| topic | nutrients fluvial river NDVI biogeochemistry nutrient export |
| url | https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2025-0005 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jakobbreinholtkjær nitrogendynamicsinlowarcticstreamsarelinkedtoterrestrialvegetationcover AT katrineraundrup nitrogendynamicsinlowarcticstreamsarelinkedtoterrestrialvegetationcover AT kirstylangley nitrogendynamicsinlowarcticstreamsarelinkedtoterrestrialvegetationcover AT tennariis nitrogendynamicsinlowarcticstreamsarelinkedtoterrestrialvegetationcover |