Particulate Organic Matter Export from Three Headwater Streams: Discrete versus Continuous Measurements

Abstract

Particulate organic matter (POM) export from three small headwater streams of the southern Appalachian Mountains was estimated using continuous and discrete (grab) measurement methods for 2 yr. Total annual POM export estimated from continuous measurements was always greater (28–68 kg ash-free dry mass (AFDM)) than estimates (8–44 kg AFDM) made from discrete measurements (i.e. POM concentration × total discharge). Continuous export samples were collected using a weir and gaging flume connected to a Coshocton proportional sampler designed to deliver 0.6% of discharge into a series of three settling barrels. The settling barrels removed a consistent proportion of POM (85–87%). The proportion of stream flow sampled by the Coshocton samplers was constant for each of the samplers (range 0.53–0.6%). The constant extraction efficiencies and proportional sampling of discharge allowed for the calculation of total export independent of discharge measurements (i.e. total export = amount in barrels ÷ extraction efficiency ÷ Coshocton percentage). The inability of the discrete method to adequately sample storm and bedload transport accounts for the underestimates of total annual export. This underestimation has important implications for studies which use discrete measurements to estimate POM export.