Microorganisms, as members of complex communities, play a critical role in environmental biogeochemical transformations within the sediments of the riparian ecotone. Particulate and dissolved organic matter, supplied by riparian vegetation, is generally well retained in this zone, driving the microbiological processes that are closely linked to geochemical reactions. Further, the quality of subsurface hydrologic exchange is heavily influence by the anaerobic microbial activities within the bed sediments and can have a tremendous impact on stream ecosystem functioning. In order to further investigate these relationships within the freshwater sediments of a boreal mixedwood watershed, surface water, pore water and 10cm sediment cores where sampled monthly during the shoulder and active growing seasons (May to October, 2004) from one second order and two first order streams that together formed the boundaries of a rich fen in northeastern Ontario. Microbial and bacterial biomass, hydrolytic activity, anaerobic functional community enumeration, and physical/chemical characteristics were monitored on all field moist sediments, while physical/chemical characteristics were evaluated on all pore water and surface water samples. The relationship between DOC quality, microbial activity, and anaerobic community composition is presented.
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