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Albert Brangarí - Svalbard

Albert Brangarí

Researcher

Albert Brangarí - Svalbard

Connecting bacterial colonization to physical and biochemical changes in a sand box infiltration experiment

Author

  • Simonetta Rubol
  • Anna Freixa
  • Albert C. Brangarí
  • Daniel Fernandez-Garcia
  • Anna M.Romani
  • Xavier Sanchez-Vila

Summary, in English

Infiltration through sediments is linked to complex biogeochemical processes occurring at small spatial scales, often leading to a progressive reduction in infiltration rates due to microbial growth and/or mechanical clogging. Unraveling the linkage between microbial dynamics and water infiltration in a heterogeneous medium is of concern in artificial recharge ponds and natural infiltration systems. We present an 84-day laboratory infiltration experiment that aims at studying the temporal variation of selected biogeochemical parameters at different depths along the infiltration path. The experimental setup consists of a 1.2 m high tank packed with a heterogeneous soil and instrumented with arrays of sensors as well as soil and liquid samplers. Results indicate that: (i) microbial processes are responsible for infiltration reduction, enhancing the spatially heterogeneous distribution of infiltration rates with time, (ii) bacteria and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are present at all monitored depths, indicating the potential for deep biological clogging, (iii) bacteria functioning and richness exhibit depth zonation after the system reaches a mature state and (iv) the retention curve changes towards highest saturation by the end of the experiment. The increase in water holding capacity is largest at depth, where the presence of EPS is noticeable. The reduction in time of the quantity of water infiltrating along the tank can only be accounted for with a truly interdisciplinary approach involving physical, chemical and biological processes.

Publishing year

2014-09-14

Language

English

Pages

317-327

Publication/Series

Journal of Hydrology

Volume

517

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Ecology

Keywords

  • Infiltration
  • Microbial growth
  • Clogging
  • Water retention curve
  • EPS
  • Preferential flow

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0022-1694