A2 Review article, Literature review, Systematic review
Ecology and extent of freshwater browning : what we know and what should be studied next in the context of global change (2022)

Blanchet, C. C., Arzel, C., Davranche, A., Kahilainen, K. K., Secondi, J., Taipale, S., Lindberg, H., Loehr, J., Manninen-Johansen, S., Sundell, J., Maanan, M., & Nummi, P. (2022). Ecology and extent of freshwater browning : what we know and what should be studied next in the context of global change. Science of the Total Environment, 812, Article 152420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152420

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Blanchet, Clarisse C.; Arzel, Céline; Davranche, Aurélie; Kahilainen, Kimmo K.; Secondi, Jean; Taipale, Sami; Lindberg, Henrik; Loehr, John; Manninen-Johansen, Sanni; Sundell, Janne; et al.

Journal or series: Science of the Total Environment

ISSN: 0048-9697

eISSN: 1879-1026

Publication year: 2022

Volume: 812

Article number: 152420

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152420

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/79258

Abstract

Water browning or brownification refers to increasing water color, often related to increasing dissolved organic matter (DOM) and carbon (DOC) content in freshwaters. Browning has been recognized as a significant physicochemical phenomenon altering boreal lakes, but our understanding of its ecological consequences in different freshwater habitats and regions is limited. Here, we review the consequences of browning on different freshwater habitats, food webs and aquatic-terrestrial habitat coupling. We examine global trends of browning and DOM/DOC, and the use of remote sensing as a tool to investigate browning from local to global scales. Studies have focused on lakes and rivers while seldom addressing effects at the catchment scale. Other freshwater habitats such as small and temporary waterbodies have been overlooked, making the study of the entire network of the catchment incomplete. While past research investigated the response of primary producers, aquatic invertebrates and fishes, the effects of browning on macrophytes, invasive species, and food webs have been understudied. Research has focused on freshwater habitats without considering the fluxes between aquatic and terrestrial habitats. We highlight the importance of understanding how the changes in one habitat may cascade to another. Browning is a broader phenomenon than the heretofore concentration on the boreal region. Overall, we propose that future studies improve the ecological understanding of browning through the following research actions: 1) increasing our knowledge of ecological processes of browning in other wetland types than lakes and rivers, 2) assessing the impact of browning on aquatic food webs at multiple scales, 3) examining the effects of browning on aquatic-terrestrial habitat coupling, 4) expanding our knowledge of browning from the local to global scale, and 5) using remote sensing to examine browning and its ecological consequences.

Keywords: state of waters; colour of water; dissolved organic carbon; food webs; remote sensing; wetlands

Free keywords: aquatic-terrestrial coupling; dissolved organic carbon; food webs; global browning; remote sensing; wetland network

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 2