Diatoms modify the relationship between dissolved silicon and bicarbonate in impounded rivers

Abstract

In order to investigate the relationship between dissolved silicon (DSi) and bicarbonate (HCO3-), we analysed water samples from the main Changjiang channel and its main tributaries in August 2006 and, during 2007-2009, the contrasting tributaries Wujiang (WJ) - mainly dominated by carbonate weathering, and Ganjiang - mainly dominated by silicate weathering. The DSi:HCO3- ratio ranged from 0 to 0.67, which is in agreement with mixing between the weathering of carbonate or silicate. A negative correlation between DSi and HCO3- was observed and interpreted as the imprint of regional geology on water chemistry. This relationship and the DSi:HCO3- ratios illustrate the predominant role of carbonate weathering on the riverine HCO3-, even for catchments where silicate rocks are dominant. In contrast, a cascade of dams in WJ tributary influenced the concentrations of DSi and HCO3- and resulted in a positive correlation between DSi and HCO3-. This is because reservoirs allowed populations of diatoms to develop and diatoms stoichiometrically sequestered DSi and HCO3- causing a negative feedback regulation on the DSi:HCO3- ratio. Our study demonstrates that the relationship between DSi and HCO3- can reflect not only their geological background but also the influence of algal activity (diatom uptake) within rivers.