Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Biogeochemically diverse organic matter in Alpine glaciers and its downstream fate

Nature Geoscience volume 5, pages 710–714 (2012)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Besides their role in the hydrological cycle1, glaciers could play an important role in the carbon cycle2,3,4,5,6. They store and transform organic carbon5,6, which on release could support downstream microbial life3. Yet the origin and composition of glacial organic carbon, and its implications for the carbon cycle, remain unclear. Here, we examine the molecular composition, radiocarbon age and bioavailability of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in 26 glaciers in the European Alps, using ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry, fluorescence spectroscopy and incubation experiments. We also measure carbon dioxide partial pressures in glacier-fed streams. We show that the glacier organic matter is highly diverse, and that a significant fraction of this material is bioavailable. Phenolic compounds derived from vascular plants or soil dominate, together with peptides and lipids, potentially derived from in situ microbial communities. Combustion products, in contrast, seem to contribute only marginally to the DOM sampled. We further show that organic matter bioavailability is positively correlated with in-stream carbon dioxide concentrations. We suggest that glacier-derived DOM contributes to downstream carbon cycling in glacier-fed streams. Our findings highlight the relevance of mountain glaciers for carbon cycling—a role that may change as glaciers recede.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: The percentage of BDOC increases with Δ14C DOC, indicating higher bioavailability of older DOC.
Figure 2: Van Krevelen diagrams of molecular formulae in ice-locked DOM from the 26 Alpine glaciers.
Figure 3: Biogeochemical groups of glacier DOM.
Figure 4: E p CO 2 in the glacier-fed streams increased with glacier DOC bioavailability.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Jacob, T., Wahr, J., Pfeffer, W. T. & Swenson, S. Recent contributions of glaciers and ice caps to sea level rise. Nature 482, 514–518 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Hodson, A. et al. Glacial ecosystems. Ecol. Monogr. 78, 41–67 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hood, E. et al. Glaciers as a source of ancient and labile organic matter to the marine environment. Nature 462, 1044–1047 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Stubbins, A. et al. Anthropogenic aerosols as a source of ancient dissolved organic matter in glaciers. Nature Geosci. 5, 198–201 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Anesio, A. M. & Laybourn-Parry, J. Glaciers and ice sheets as a biome. Trends Ecol. Evol. 27, 219–225 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Anesio, A. M., Hodson, A. J., Fritz, A, Psenner, R. & Sattler, B. High microbial activity on glaciers: Importance to the global carbon cycle. Glob. Change Biol. 15, 955–960 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Haeberli, W., Paul, F. & Zemp, M. Vanishing glaciers in the European Alps. Pontific. Acad. Sci., Scr. Varia 118 (in the press).

  8. Milner, A. M, Brown, L. E & Hannah, D. M. Hydroecological response of river systems to shrinking glaciers. Hydrol. Process. 23, 62–77 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Preunkert, S. et al. Quantification of dissolved organic carbon at very low levels in natural ice samples by a UV-induced oxidation method. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45, 673–678 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Hansell, D. A., Carlson, C. A., Repeta, D. J. & Schlitzer, R. Dissolved organic carbon in the ocean. Oceanography 4, 202–211 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Volk, C. J., Volk, C. B. & Kaplan, L. A. Chemical composition of biodegradable dissolved organic matter in streamwater. Limnol. Oceanogr. 42, 39–44 (1997).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Anderson, M. J. & Willis, T. J. Canonical analysis of principal coordinates: A useful method of constrained ordination for ecology. Ecology 84, 511–525 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Koch, B. P., Witt, M., Engbrodt, R., Dittmar, T. & Kattner, G. Molecular formulae of marine and terrigenous dissolved organic matter detected by electrospray ionisation Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 69, 3299–3308 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Sleighter, R. L. & Hatcher, P. G. Molecular characterization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) along a river to ocean transect of the lower Chesapeake Bay by ultrahigh resolution electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Mar. Chem. 110, 140–152 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Bhatia, M. P., Das, S. B., Longnecker, K., Charette, M. A. & Kujawinski, E. B. Molecular characterization of dissolved organic matter associated with the Greenland ice sheet. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 74, 3768–3784 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Hernes, P. J. et al. Tannin diagenesis in mangrove leaves from a tropical estuary: A novel molecular approach. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 65, 3109–3122 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Davis, B. A. S., Brewer, S., Stevenson, A. C. & Guiot, J. The temperature of Europe during the Holocene reconstructed from pollen data. Quat. Sci. Rev. 22, 1701–1716 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Thevenon, F., Anselmetti, F. S., Bernasconi, S. M. & Schwikowski, M. Mineral dust and elemental black carbon records from an Alpine ice core (Colle Gnifetti glacier) over the last millennium. J. Geophys. Res. 114, D17102 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Bardgett, R. D. et al. Heterotrophic microbial communities use ancient carbon following glacial retreat. Biol. Lett. 3, 487–490 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Grannas, A. M., Hockaday, W. C., Hatcher, P. G., Thompson, L. G. & Mosley-Thompson, E. New revelations on the nature of organic matter in ice cores. J. Geophys. Res. 111, D04304 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Wang, D-Z., Dong, H-P., Xie, Z-X., Dai, M-H. & Hong, H-S. Metaproteomic characterization of dissolved organic matter in the water column of the South China Sea. Limnol. Oceanogr. 56, 1641–1652 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Dittmar, T. The molecular level determination of black carbon in marine dissolved organic matter. Org. Geochem. 39, 396–407 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Battin, T. J. et al. The boundless carbon cycle. Nature Geosci. 2, 598–600 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Butman, D. & Raymond, P. A. Significant efflux of carbon dioxide from streams and rivers in the United States. Nature Geosci. 4, 839–842 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Mulholland, P. J. Dissolved organic matter concentration and flux in streams. J. N. Am. Benthol. Soc. 16, 131–141 (1997).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Del Giorgio, P. A & Cole, J. J. Bacterial growth efficiency in natural aquatic systems. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 29, 503–541 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Cole, J., Caraco, N. F., Kling, G. W. & Kratz, T. K. Carbon dioxide supersaturation in the surface waters of Lake Jonathan. Science 265, 1568–1570 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Stedmon, C. A. & Bro, R. Characterizing dissolved organic matter fluorescence with parallel factor analysis: A tutorial. Limnol. Oceanogr. Methods 6, 572–579 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Koch, B. P., Dittmar, T., Witt, M. & Kattner, G. Fundamentals of molecular formula assignment to ultrahigh resolution mass data of natural organic matter. Anal. Chem. 79, 1758–1763 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. WGMS Glacier Mass Balance Bulletin No. 10 (2006–2007) Haeberli, W., Gärtner-Roer, I., Hoelzle, M., Paul, F. & Zemp, M. (eds), ICSU (WDS)/IUGG (IACS)/UNEP/UNESCO/WMO, World Glacier Monitoring Service (2009).

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are most grateful to C. Preiler, G. Steniczka, C. Müllegger, B. Pree, A. Teufl, K. Keiblinger and I. Ulber for laboratory assistance. C. Preiler, L. Hartmann, J. Liebl, B. Eichelberger, B. Preiler, I. Hödl, B. Behounek and A. Loeckher assisted in the field or laboratory. M. Zemp and A. Fischer provided mass loss data. The manuscript benefited from comments by H. Peter and N. Burns. Financial support came from the Austrian Science Fund (START Y420-B17) to T.J.B.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Gabriel A. Singer and Christina Fasching: These authors contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Limnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstraße, 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria

    Gabriel A. Singer, Christina Fasching, Linda Wilhelm & Tom J. Battin

  2. Max Planck Research Group for Marine Geochemistry, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, D-26129 Oldenburg, Germany

    Jutta Niggemann & Thorsten Dittmar

  3. Faculty of Physics, VERA Laboratory, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria

    Peter Steier

  4. WasserCluster Lunz, Dr. Carl Kupelwieser Promenade 5, A-3223 Lunz am See, Austria

    Tom J. Battin

Authors
  1. Gabriel A. Singer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Christina Fasching
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Linda Wilhelm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jutta Niggemann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Peter Steier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Thorsten Dittmar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Tom J. Battin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

G.A.S., C.F. and T.J.B. conceived and designed the research. G.A.S. and L.W. organized and coordinated fieldwork. C.F. conducted all bioassays, fluorescence spectrometry, and radiocarbon dating assisted by P.S. G.A.S. ran all FT-ICR-MS analyses guided by T.D. and J.N. J.N. performed BPCA analyses. G.A.S. performed all statistical analyses assisted by C.F. T.J.B. wrote the manuscript with significant assistance from G.A.S. and C.F. All authors commented on the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tom J. Battin.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Information

Supplementary Information (PDF 3115 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Singer, G., Fasching, C., Wilhelm, L. et al. Biogeochemically diverse organic matter in Alpine glaciers and its downstream fate. Nature Geosci 5, 710–714 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1581

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1581

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing Microbiology

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Microbiology newsletter — what matters in microbiology research, free to your inbox weekly.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Microbiology