Source: UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI submitted to NRP
FATE AND TRANSPORT OF NUTRIENTS THROUGH THE TERRESTRIAL-AQUATIC INTERFACE – TRANSDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE FOR THE PROVISION OF WATER QUALITY
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
MCINTIRE-STENNIS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1016163
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
May 10, 2018
Project End Date
May 6, 2023
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
(N/A)
COLUMBIA,MO 65211
Performing Department
School Of Natural Resources
Non Technical Summary
Half of the streams and rivers in the US are in bad condition because of an excess of nutrients. Those nutrients enter into the streams from the terrestrial landscape. The contact areas between the terrestrial landscape and the stream (e.g., riparian forest, stream sediments) are zones of disproportionate biogeochemical activity where nutrients can be transformed and retained at high rates, therefore enhancing water quality. The change in hydrologic regimes that we are experiencing is altering the distribution and size of these contact areas with unknown consequences for the transport and transformation of nutrients along the stream network.The research that I am proposing aims to study the factors that control the transport and transformation of nutrients and other solutes across the terrestrial-aquatic interfaces under different hydrological scenarios. The final goal is to improve the capacity of prediction of water quality models and to help design techniques for reducing nutrients in aquatic ecosystems.
Animal Health Component
40%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
40%
Applied
40%
Developmental
20%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1020399107020%
1110399119010%
1120399107010%
1220399205010%
1330210119020%
1360399107010%
7230210107010%
9030210107010%
Knowledge Area
133 - Pollution Prevention and Mitigation; 102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 136 - Conservation of Biological Diversity; 112 - Watershed Protection and Management; 111 - Conservation and Efficient Use of Water; 122 - Management and Control of Forest and Range Fires; 903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery; 723 - Hazards to Human Health and Safety;

Subject Of Investigation
0210 - Water resources; 0399 - Watersheds and river basins, general;

Field Of Science
2050 - Hydrology; 1070 - Ecology; 1190 - Limnology;
Goals / Objectives
Objective 1 - Improve current understanding of the landscape-wide impacts of terrestrial-aquatic interfaces on water quantity and quality.Objective 1 will be aimed to answer two questions:1a) What are the factors that control the fate of terrestrially originated carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus once they enter the stream network?Hypothesis: The fate of these nutrients, which includes downstream export, evasion to the atmosphere, biological uptake and sorption to the sediments, will be controlled by:streamflowform in which are they entering (organic vs. inorganic, particulate vs. dissolved)timing (seasonality)stoichiometry1b) What are the impacts of terrestrial-aquatic interfaces on the biogeochemical dynamics at a landscape scale?Hypothesis: The impacts of terrestrial-aquatic interfaces on the biogeochemical dynamics at a landscape scale will be determined by the geomorphology and the hydrology of the system, as well as the magnitude and type of nutrient inputs.Objective 2 - Creation of a new generation of scientistsEnsuring water resources quantity and quality is one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. The complexity of the problem requires supra-disciplinary, highly skilled professionals who are qualified to solve problems across ecosystems and disciplinary boundaries. The graduate students involved with Objective 1 will be trained, in addition to common stream ecology and hydrology methods, with state-of-the-art techniques including:Smart tracing techniques for quantifying metabolic activity (carbon and nitrogen dynamics) at stream riparian interfaces: they will receive training on isotopic, biological and smart tracer approaches for identifying specific pathways of water and energy flow and solute uptake and turnover across the terrestrial-aquatic interfaces.High-resolution fluorescence absorption spectrophotometry -non-destructive techniques for measuring optical properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM).Principles of bioengineering technologies, implementation methods and hands-on learning possibilities for the efficiency assessment of bioengineered interface structures.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques designed for the detection and quantification of emerging pollutants.In addition to scientific training, the students will also learn key skills for conducting and managing research such as management of collaborative teams, management of data, and science communication. The training will happen at the School of Natural Resources and the MU Limnology Lab which is equipped with the necessary personnel and equipment.Objective 3 - Outreach program - Educate citizens on water quality issues and increase data-literacy among K-12 students.Water resources is a consistent topic of concern among citizens (Stoutenborough & Vedlitz, 2014). Although we have the science needed to prevent water misuse, we, citizens, not always take environmental action, partly because there is a mistrust in science and a poor understanding of uncertainty (Johnson & Scicchitano, 2000). Objective 3 aims to educate the general public on water quality and quantity issues and, in parallel, to increase data literacy among K-12 students.
Project Methods
Objective 1 - Improve current understanding of the landscape-wide impacts of terrestrial-aquatic interfaces on water quantity and quality.Objective 1 will be accomplished by a combination of field observations, laboratory experiments, and modeling.Field observations:To identify the factors that control the fate of terrestrially originated nutrients once they enter the stream network, we will monitor water chemistry in three compartments -the stream channel, the riparian area, and the hyporheic zone- at three selected study sites. The study sites will span a range of land uses and nutrient conditions. The samplings will span a minimum of two years and will consist in the collection of water chemistry samples, physical characterization of the stream and the riparian area, streamflow quantification, hydraulic characterization of the reach and measurement of dissolved gases in the different compartments (Table 1). During certain times of the year (i.e. during baseflow conditions, and quarterly; table 2), we will expand the regular samplings to a more time-intensive and comprehensive effort. These intensive samplings will consist in collecting multiple measurements and water chemistry samples during a time span of 72 hours with the help of autosamplers and sensors with data-logging capacity. Additionally, we will perform smart tracer injections in the stream channel and the wells to detect and quantify metabolic activity in situ.Laboratory experiments:We will examine the controls of biogeochemical transformations at the terrestrial-aquatic interface at a fine temporal and spatial scale by using flow-through column experiments equipped with microsensors. We will fill low-pressure glass chromatography columns attached to a water circulating pump, with sediments from different origin. The columns will then be treated with different nutrient amendments and replicated at different flow rates. To measure the biogeochemical response of the system, we will collect water samples for chemical and biological analysis from the inlet and the outlet of the column across time. We will also measure dissolved oxygen and CO2 at different points along the column using microsensors installed within the column.Data analysis and modeling:We will use a statistical approach to select the factors important in nutrient transport and transformation across terrestrial-aquatic interfaces using part of the data collected during field observations and laboratory experiments. This information will be used to construct a mechanistic model of reactive transport. The rest of the data not used in the creation of the model will be used for data validation.Table 1. Parameters to collect during the different sampling campaigns.Regular samplingIntensive samplingSample typeGrabMultiple grabs within 72-hStreamflowXXMorphological stream measurementsXXWater samples (surface, riparian, and hyporheic) for the analysis of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus compounds.XXDissolved gas concentrations (O2, CO2)XXHydraulic characteristics using conservative tracersXMetabolic characteristics using smart tracersXTable 2. Tentative sampling calendarJFMAMJJASONDRegular samplingXXXXXXXIntensive samplingXXXXXObjective 2 - Creation of a new generation of scientistsObjective 2 will be accomplished by the creation of new curriculum at undergraduate and graduate level for the students of the School of Natural Resources at University of Missouri and by the individual training of the graduate students by the MU Limnology lab staff and collaborators.New classesSpecifically, I will develop and teach three undergraduate level classes - "Stream Ecology and Hydrology", "Watershed Management", and "Methods in Aquatic Ecology" - which will be offered annually. These classes will train a new generation of professionals on the basic theory of hydrology and aquatic ecology, as well as on standard field and laboratory techniques. They will also be offered at a graduate level for those graduate students that have not had the opportunity to take them at the undergraduate level. Additionally, I will develop and teach one new graduate class titled "Global Biogeochemical Cycles" that will provide biogeochemistry theory to MS and PhD students.TrainingGraduate students and undergraduate researchers will be trained in standard water quality analysis, common stream ecology and hydrology methods, and in state-of-the -art techniques by the MU Limnology Lab staff and researchers. The training will consist of small group classes with hands-on-experience.In addition to scientific training, the students will also learn key skills for conducting and managing research such as management of collaborative teams, management of data, and science communication during the MU Lab biweekly meetings, where MU Limnology Lab PIs and staff regularly deliver a presentation on these topics.Finally, students will be encouraged and expected to present their results at the MU Limnology Lab meetings and the School of Natural Resources Day, which showcases research by students. Graduate students will be expected to attend and present at local, regional, national and international conferences depending on which year of their graduate program are.Objective 3 - Educate citizens on water quality issues and increase data-literacy among K-12 students.Objective 3 will be accomplished by the active participation of the graduate and undergraduate students and the rest of the MU Limnology Lab in outreach activities and by seeking the collaboration and partnership with the College of Education at the University of Missouri.OutreachThe MU Limnology lab and the graduate and undergraduate students will generate 5 outreach activities that will be used during School of Natural Resources outreach events. Some of these events are the Natural Resources Career Academy -oriented to high school students interested in Natural Resources careers-, or the MU Youth Outreach Program, which brings students from underrepresented and economically challenged groups to campus.Data literacyData generated from this project will be used to create datasets to be used in the classroom by K-12 teachers with the objective to increase data literacy among students. The datasets will be made available through the Data Nuggets project (http://datanuggets.org/) according to their standards. We will seek the collaboration of the College of Education at the University of Missouri to appropriately document the data sets to maximize their usability at different grades.

Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:My efforts during this last year have been dedicated to reach academics, students, and state and local agencies dedicated to natural resources conservation. Changes/Problems:My research program depends on collecting water samples from waterbodies across Missouri, usually involving multi-day trips and laboratory work to process and analyze the water samples. Because of COVID-19, I closed my research lab on March 16, 2020. We reopened with minimum personnel a few weeks later, and we have been operating under exceptional measures since then. My priority during 2020 has been keeping technicians, graduate, and undergraduate researchers safe; therefore, the great majority of fieldwork involving multi-day travel trips has been canceled, and undergraduate and graduate researchers have had restricted access to the laboratory. As a consequence, we had to interrupt the year-round monthly sample collection associated to this USDA NIFA McIntire Stennis Project and postpone laboratory analysis. I anticipate recovering the delay in sample processing by the end of the next reporting period but unfortunately, the continuity of the dataset has been irreversibly compromised. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has provided training opportunities to 2 MS, 1 PhD, 3 undergraduate researchers, 8 undergraduate technicians, in addition to the students of EnvSci 4300/7300 Methods in Aquatic Ecology, AFNR 2190 - Belize: Protection and Management of Tropical Ecosystems, FOR 4390/7390 Watershed Management and Water Quality, and EnvSci 4001/7001 Stream Ecology. All students have been trained in water quality sampling, processing, data analysis, and science communication. Undergraduate and graduate researchers have been encouraged to present at local and regional conferences. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated in presentations in local, regional, or international conferences or seminar series. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will keep expanding the water quality and quantity dataset. Field sampling will continue to occur at the same time frequency but we are planning to expand it to include forested streams influenced by the legacy of past coal mining activities. We are going to perform column analysis and batch experiments to characterize the sorption capacity of different materials to remove heavy metal contamination in streamwater. Collaborate in outreach activities organized by the University and College, to engage high school students in Natural Resources and more specifically, Water resources. Hire a graduate student to characterize transport and transformation of carbon and nutrient compounds across the terrestrial-aquatic interface.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goal 1 Accomplishments: We have kept building the water chemistry dataset to identify hot spots and hot moments of nutrient and chloride fluxes within a watershed spanning an agricultural/forested/urban land-use gradient. Since the last project report, we have conducted four additional sampling campaigns across the Hinkson Creek stream network, the sampling events cover 45 sites across the watershed and occur in two hours to capture the spatial variability in water chemistry parameters during a window of stable flow. Results from these samplings have been presented in two occasions to during this reporting period: at the Great Plains Limnology Conference (A. Argerich and MU Limnology Lab. Changes in stream water quality across an agriculture-urban gradient. Great Plains Limnology Conference. October 18-19, 2019. Ames, Iowa, USA. Oral presentation) and at the Hinkson Creek Collaborative Management Team (A. Argerich. Changes in stream water quality across an agriculture-urban gradient. Hinkson Creek Collaborative Adaptive Management -Action Team Meeting. September 2, 2019. Oral presentation). To capture nutrient fluxes and how they change across time with environmental variables including flow and in-channel vegetation, we have deployed dissolved oxygen, water temperature, and pressure transducer sensors, conducted monthly conservative and reactive tracer injections, and collected hyporheic and surface water samples in an urban stream impacted by legacy mining activities. In relation to the legacy of mining, we have explored the use of biochar to remediate heavy metal contamination in streamwater. Results from these activities have been presented to a scientific audience in seven occasions during the reporting period (¥ denotes a graduate student and * an undergraduate student mentored by Argerich): J. Wilson¥ and A. Argerich. Water quality and seasonal macrophyte cover in a heavy metal contaminated urban stream. Missouri Natural Resources Conference. February 4-6, 2020. Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. Oral presentation J. Wilson¥ and A. Argerich. Physico-chemical characterization of an urban stream impacted by mine drainage. Great Plains Limnology Conference. October 18-19, 2019. Ames, Iowa. Oral presentation L. Jefferson* and A. Argerich. Estimating stream metabolism by use of RStudio®?. Virtual Poster Presentation, MU Summer 2020 Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum, July 2020. University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri. Poster presentation. S. Miller*, J. Wilson¥, and A. Argerich. The Influence of Heavy Metal contamination on Benthic Algae in an Urban stream. Missouri Natural Resources Conference. February 4-6, 2020. Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. Poster. T. Gatts*, J. Wilson¥, and A. Argerich. Habitat diversity and macroinvertebrate abundance within an urban, heavy-metal contaminated stream in Joplin, Missouri. Missouri Natural Resources Conference. February 4-6, 2020. Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. Poster. S. Miller*, J. Wilson¥, and A. Argerich. Variability of algal biomass and chlorophyll a in an urban stream affected by heavy metal contamination. Great Plains Limnology Conference. October 18-19, 2019. Ames, Iowa. Poster. T. Gatts*, J. Wilson¥, and A. Argerich. The abundance of macroinvertebrates is influenced by heavy metals and variations in stream flow. Great Plains Limnology Conference. October 18-19, 2019. Ames, Iowa. Poster. Finally, we submitted a paper on the use of macrophytes to remove streamwater nutrients in eutrophic systems (Nikolakopoulou¥, M., A. Argerich, S. Bernal, E. Gacia, M. Ribot, E. Martí, A. Sorolla, and F. Sabater. 2020. Effect of three emergent macrophytes species on nutrient retention in aquatic environments under excess nutrient loading. Environmental Science and Technology 54 (23): 15376-15384. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c03216) Goal 2 accomplishments: Developed and implemented online materials for the teaching of watershed management, methods in aquatic ecology, and stream ecology, including the development of educational units on Groundwater recharge and Streamflow measurement. Redesigned of Watershed Management -F2F section and Stream Ecology to be delivered 100% online due to COVID. The redesign included creating an online engagement plan, new assessment activities, and the redistribution of the grading weight in favor of continuous assessment activities in detriment to tests, which I changed to be open book. Redesigned EnvSci 4300/7300 Methods in Aquatic Ecology to be delivered in blended mode due to COVID. The redesign included creating an online engagement plan, new learning and assessment activities, and the redistribution of the grading weight in favor of continuous assessment activities. Redesigned AFNR 2190 - Belize: Protection and Management of Tropical Ecosystems, a study abroad course to include pre-trip readings and discussions of scientific papers on protection and management of natural resources. Designed new field trip activities related to the determination of water quality parameters. Goal 3 accomplishments: Supervised the creation of educational materials for Water Line, a newsletter posted online and circulated among the Lake of Missouri Volunteer Program citizen science volunteers. Was invited to talk about healthy streams to college students, professors and staff of the Uniminuto University, in Colombia, within a webinar series on Biodiversity and Sustainability. (A. Argerich. Healthy streams. (in Spanish: "Arroyos saludables"). Webinar of Biodiversity and sustainability. Uniminuto University. May 21, 2020. Campus San Juan Eudes. Colombia). Was invited to talk about the hyporheic zone to college students, professors and staff of the Missouri State University (A. Argerich. Stories from beneath -what happens under the stream surface?Seminar series. Missouri State University. October 25, 2019. Springfield, Missouri, USA.)

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Nikolakopoulou, M., A. Argerich, S. Bernal, E. Gacia, M. Ribot, E. Mart�, A. Sorolla, and F. Sabater. 2020. Effect of three emergent macrophytes species on nutrient retention in aquatic environments under excess nutrient loading. Environmental Science and Technology 54 (23): 15376-15384. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c03216
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Under Review Year Published: 2021 Citation: Argerich, A. and J. Ruegg (under review). Measurement of metabolic rates at the sediment-water interface using experimental ecosystems. In S. Krause, D. Hannah, and N. Grimm (Eds.), Ecohydrological Interfaces. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Under Review Year Published: 2021 Citation: Sorolla, A., E. Mart�, F. Sabater, M. Nikolakopoulou, and A. Argerich (under review). Restoration strategies and environmental engineering measures to improve ecohydrological interface functioning. In S. Krause, D. Hannah, and N. Grimm (Eds.), Ecohydrological Interfaces. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:My efforts during this last year have been dedicated to reach academics, students, and state and local agencies dedicated to natural resources conservation. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has provided training opportunities to 2 MS students, 5 undergraduate researchers, 8 undergraduate technicians, in addition to the students of Methods in Aquatic Ecology and Advanced Topics in Aquatic Ecology courses. All students have been trained in water quality sampling, processing, data analysis, and science communication. Undergraduate and graduate researchers have been encouraged to present at local and regional conferences. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated in 22 presentations in local, regional, or international conferences or seminar series. Invited academic presentations in seminars for non-natural resources majors: Argerich. Influence of aquatic vegetation on solute transport. Water and Environmental Technologists (WET) Seminar Series. March 11th, 2019. University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA. Argerich. Responses of aquatic ecosystems to forest logging. EcoLunch Seminar Series. February 19th, 2019. University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA. Extension: Argerich. Water quality and ecosystem services. 2018 Extension Summit. University of Missouri. October 23-25, 2018. Columbia, MO, USA. International conferences: Argerich. How to share or not to share, this is the question. 2019 Joint Meeting Ecological Society of America and United States Society for Ecological Economics. August 11-16, 2019. Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Argerich, L. Ashkenas, and S. Johnson. Influence of the riparian zone to stream function. H33F-02. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. December 10-14, 2018. Washington, D.C., USA. C. Meier, F. Jazaei, and A. Argerich. Using temperature for determining travel times of hyporheic flow under river bars with high 3-D spatial resolution. 2019 World Environmental & Water Resources Congress. May 19-23, 2019. Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Oral presentation. C. Meier, F. Jazaei, and A. Argerich. What Happens under a Gravel Bar, Really? Estimating Travel Times of Hyporheic Exchange Flow at Very-High Spatial Resolution. H22D-06. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. December 10-14, 2018. Washington, D.C., USA. Oral presentation. Regional conferences: A. Argerich. Stream breath and fish kills: oxygen and CO2 in streams and rivers. 2019 Missouri Natural Resources Conference. February 5-7, 2019. Osage Beach, MO, USA. Oral presentation. A. Argerich, L. Ashkenas, and S. Johnson. Benthic algal responses to forest harvest. 2018 Great Plains Limnology Conference. October 5-6, 2018. Kansas University Field Station. Lawrence, KS, USA. Oral presentation. T. Thorpe, D. Obrecht, E. Petty, A. Argerich, and R. North. Cylindrospermopsin in Missouri Reservoirs. 2018 Great Plains Limnology Conference. October 5-6, 2018. Kansas University Field Station. Lawrence, KS, USA. Oral presentation. J. Wilson, A. Argerich, S. Johnson, and L. Ashkenas. Clearcut and thinned stream buffers: do riparian zones influence stream function? Missouri Natural Resources Conference, February 5-7, 2019. Lake of the Ozarks, MO. Poster. P. Klenke and A. Argerich. Variability in streamwater chemistry across a multi-land-use watershed. Missouri Natural Resources Conference, February 5-7, 2019. Lake of the Ozarks, MO. Poster. J. Wilson, A. Argerich, S. Johnson, and L. Ashkenas. Riparian zones and stream function. 2018 Great Plains Limnology Conference. October 5-6, 2018. Kansas University Field Station. Lawrence, KS, USA. Poster. P. Klenke and A. Argerich. Longitudinal variability in streamwater chemistry in an urban stream network. 2018 Great Plains Limnology Conference. October 5-6, 2018. Kansas University Field Station. Lawrence, KS, USA. Poster. Local conferences: S. Miller, J. Wilson, and A. Argerich. Spatial and temporal variability of the benthic algal community in an urban stream affected by mine discharge. 17th Annual NGRREC Intern Symposium. Lewis and Clark Community College. July 29-30, 2019. Godfrey, IL. Poster. V. Morales, J. Gaskill, K. Knott, R. O'Hearn, D. Niswonger, A. Argerich, and R. North. Assessment of fish stress in an agricultural reservoir. Summer Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum. University of Missouri. July 25, 2019. Columbia, MO. Poster. M. Sauer and A. Argerich. Beneath the surface. School of Natural Resources Research Day, University of Missouri. May 10, 2019. Columbia, MO. Poster. P. Klenke, A. Argerich, and MU Limnology Lab. Spatial and temporal variability in streamwater chemistry in the Hinkson Creek. School of Natural Resources Research Day, University of Missouri. May 10, 2019. Columbia, MO. Poster. Z. Becker and A. Argerich. Inside the hyporheic zone: does residence time within a gravel bar improve water quality? CAFNR Undergraduate Research Forum, University of Missouri. April 23, 2019. Columbia, MO. Poster. Frandson, Brett Landwer, and A. Argerich. Gravel augmentation and macroinvertebrate communities in the East Fork Black River. School of Natural Resources Research Day, University of Missouri. May 10, 2019. Columbia, MO. Poster. J. Wilson, A. Argerich, S. Johnson, and L. Ashkenas. Do riparian zones influence water residence times and nutrient uptake in headwater streams? Center for Agroforestry Annual Symposium, January 30-31, 2019. Columbia, MO. Poster. A. Argerich and J. Wilson. Do riparian zones influence water residence times and nutrient uptake in headwater streams? Center for Agroforestry 2019 annual meeting, University of Missouri. February 1st, 2019. Columbia, MO, USA. Oral presentation. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will keep expanding the water quality and quantity dataset. Field sampling will continue to occur at the same time frequency but we are planning to expand it to include water quality in a watershed with a cave system. Explore the use of biochar to remediate heavy metal contamination in water. Hire a graduate student to synthesize and analyze the dataset collected. Collaborate in outreach activities organized by the University and College, to engage high school students in Natural Resources and more specifically, Water resources. Design and implement a Watershed Management course to be delivered online to professionals.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goal 1 Accomplishments: We have conducted five sampling campaigns across the Hinkson Creek stream network, the sampling events consist on the sampling of at least 36 sites across the watershed in a time window of two hours to capture the spatial variability in water chemistry parameters during a time window of stable flow. These samplings are meant to build a dataset of water chemistry under different flow conditions for a stream that flows across a forested-urban landscape. The ultimate goal is to identify hot spots and hot moments of nutrient and chloride fluxes within the watershed. In parallel to the watershed scale sampling, we have been conducting higher frequency samplings (biweekly during Summer, monthly samplings for the rest of the year) to an urban stream reach to capture nutrient fluxes and how they change with in-channel vegetation. Results from these activities have been presented in 17 occasions in local, regional and international conferences. Goal 2 accomplishments: Developed and delivered a class on Advanced Topics in Aquatic Ecology, the class was aimed to graduate students interested in Aquatic Ecology (and undergraduates with special permission) and it covered discussion of seminal papers in aquatic ecology, recent advances in the discipline, and science writing and oral communication. Developed a module on hyporheic ecology to implement at the Methods in Aquatic Ecology class. The module consists in 1 hour of lecture, 4 hours of field work, and 2 hours of data analysis and interpretation back in the lab. Goal 3 accomplishments: Supervised the creation of educational materials for Water Line, a newsletter circulated among the Lake of Missouri Volunteer Program volunteers and posted online. Gave a talk about water quality to Extensions specialists from the University of Missouri.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Nikolakopoulou, M., A. Argerich, J.D. Drummond, E. Gacia, E. Mart�, A. Sorolla, and F. Sabater. 2018. Emergent macrophyte root architecture controls subsurface solute transport. Water Resources Research, 54. https://doi.org/10.1029/2017WR022381.


Progress 05/10/18 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:During the reporting period, I have worked towards objective two of the proposal -"creation of a new generation of scientists" by preparing classes that will be delivered at undergraduate and graduate level. Specifically, I have developed "Watershed Management", "Stream Ecology", and "Methods in Aquatic Ecology" to be delivered to Environmental Sciences and Fisheries and Wildlife majors, as well as graduate students within the Water Resources Graduate Program at the University of Missouri. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two of the newly developed courses have been offered starting Fall 2018 (Watershed Management and Methods in Aquatic Ecology) and counted with an enrollment of 23 students. The third course will be offered Spring 2019. In addition to the formal courses, I offered a training weekend in the techniques of the study of the hyporheic zone for graduate and undregraduate students form UNiversity of Missouri and University of Memphis in collaboration with another professor form University of Memphis. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Announcements for the new courses have been distributed through the School of Natural Resources listserve, send to faculty across campus that have shown interest in the Water Resources Program, and posted on boards in the hallways of the School. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?I'm planning to recruit two new graduate students (one to start Fall 2018, and another to start Spring 2019), a part-time technician to support research, and a couple of undergraduate researchers. One of the new classes will be offered in Spring 2019, and I plan to develop a new section of one of the classes to be delivered online targeting water resources professionals. For objective 3 I'm planning to identify collaborators in the School of Education to partner on the K-12 outreach program.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During the reporting period, I have worked towards objective two of the proposal by developing three new courses: "Watershed Management", "Stream Ecology", and "Methods in Aquatic Ecology" to be delivered to Environmental Sciences and Fisheries and Wildlife majors, as well as graduate students within the Water Resources Graduate Program at the University of Missouri.

Publications