Effects of Soil, Light, and Temperature on Freshwater Tannin Concentrations

Tannins are plant secondary compounds that leach into soil and water. Tannin concentrations can be higher in lentic freshwater than in other aquatic ecosystems, which can result in toxicity to freshwater organisms. While the amount of plant material and the plant tissue concentrations affect aqueous...

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Main Authors: Julia E. Earl, Joseph F. Aubert, Emma O. Michael, Daniel J. Edwards
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Hydrobiology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9917/4/1/2
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author Julia E. Earl
Joseph F. Aubert
Emma O. Michael
Daniel J. Edwards
author_facet Julia E. Earl
Joseph F. Aubert
Emma O. Michael
Daniel J. Edwards
author_sort Julia E. Earl
collection DOAJ
description Tannins are plant secondary compounds that leach into soil and water. Tannin concentrations can be higher in lentic freshwater than in other aquatic ecosystems, which can result in toxicity to freshwater organisms. While the amount of plant material and the plant tissue concentrations affect aqueous tannin concentrations, little is known about which environmental conditions alter the removal and breakdown of tannins in freshwater, altering the exposure of freshwater organisms. We investigated the effects of soil, light, and temperature on aqueous tannin concentrations. Tannins degraded faster in the presence of and/or sorbed to wetland soils, silt, and clay but not sand. It is unclear whether finer soil particles or the chemical makeup of soils facilitated sorption and/or degradation. Contrary to previous work, we found no effect of ambient light over a 14-day period or sunlight over a 7-day period on tannin degradation, but tannins degraded faster in warmer water. Warmer freshwater ecosystems with greater silt or clay sediments are likely to have lower aqueous tannin concentrations with lower toxicity to aquatic organisms. This research used tannic acid, which contains gallotannins. Further research is needed to determine if similar patterns are found with other tannin types and the complex mixtures of different tannins found in most plants.
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spelling doaj-art-eb967116134941b3a710d1935560da602025-08-20T02:11:26ZengMDPI AGHydrobiology2673-99172025-01-0141210.3390/hydrobiology4010002Effects of Soil, Light, and Temperature on Freshwater Tannin ConcentrationsJulia E. Earl0Joseph F. Aubert1Emma O. Michael2Daniel J. Edwards3School of Biological Sciences, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71272, USASchool of Biological Sciences, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71272, USASchool of Biological Sciences, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71272, USASchool of Biological Sciences, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71272, USATannins are plant secondary compounds that leach into soil and water. Tannin concentrations can be higher in lentic freshwater than in other aquatic ecosystems, which can result in toxicity to freshwater organisms. While the amount of plant material and the plant tissue concentrations affect aqueous tannin concentrations, little is known about which environmental conditions alter the removal and breakdown of tannins in freshwater, altering the exposure of freshwater organisms. We investigated the effects of soil, light, and temperature on aqueous tannin concentrations. Tannins degraded faster in the presence of and/or sorbed to wetland soils, silt, and clay but not sand. It is unclear whether finer soil particles or the chemical makeup of soils facilitated sorption and/or degradation. Contrary to previous work, we found no effect of ambient light over a 14-day period or sunlight over a 7-day period on tannin degradation, but tannins degraded faster in warmer water. Warmer freshwater ecosystems with greater silt or clay sediments are likely to have lower aqueous tannin concentrations with lower toxicity to aquatic organisms. This research used tannic acid, which contains gallotannins. Further research is needed to determine if similar patterns are found with other tannin types and the complex mixtures of different tannins found in most plants.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9917/4/1/2tannic acidwetlandswater chemistrysoilphotodegradation
spellingShingle Julia E. Earl
Joseph F. Aubert
Emma O. Michael
Daniel J. Edwards
Effects of Soil, Light, and Temperature on Freshwater Tannin Concentrations
Hydrobiology
tannic acid
wetlands
water chemistry
soil
photodegradation
title Effects of Soil, Light, and Temperature on Freshwater Tannin Concentrations
title_full Effects of Soil, Light, and Temperature on Freshwater Tannin Concentrations
title_fullStr Effects of Soil, Light, and Temperature on Freshwater Tannin Concentrations
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Soil, Light, and Temperature on Freshwater Tannin Concentrations
title_short Effects of Soil, Light, and Temperature on Freshwater Tannin Concentrations
title_sort effects of soil light and temperature on freshwater tannin concentrations
topic tannic acid
wetlands
water chemistry
soil
photodegradation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9917/4/1/2
work_keys_str_mv AT juliaeearl effectsofsoillightandtemperatureonfreshwatertanninconcentrations
AT josephfaubert effectsofsoillightandtemperatureonfreshwatertanninconcentrations
AT emmaomichael effectsofsoillightandtemperatureonfreshwatertanninconcentrations
AT danieljedwards effectsofsoillightandtemperatureonfreshwatertanninconcentrations