Oral Presentation Society for Freshwater Science 2026 Annual Meeting

Emergent concentration-discharge (C-Q) relationship across nested subcatchments in a coastal plain watershed. (135878)

Andrew A Ali 1 , Arial J Shogren 1
  1. Department of Biology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States

Watersheds are dynamic systems in which carbon and nutrient exports vary with hydrologic conditions and subcatchment characteristics, reflecting shifting connectivity between terrestrial sources and stream networks. Concentration-discharge (C-Q) relationships are widely used to examine these dynamics across spatial and temporal scales and infer whether solute export is controlled by transport/source limitation or hydrologic mixing. However, most C-Q frameworks are derived from event-focused studies, leaving uncertainty about how seasonal hydroclimate and landscape position regulate solute behaviour, particularly in low-gradient, subtropical Coastal Plain watersheds. Here, we examined seasonal and spatial variability in C-Q relationships for dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and phosphate (PO³-) across three nested subcatchments in the South Sandy watershed (~125 km²), in central Alabama, USA. We collected biweekly water samples paired with concurrent discharge measurements (June 2024-July 2025). We then fitted log-log C-Q regressions by site and seasonality to quantify slope magnitude and direction, enabling comparison across subcatchments and seasons. We found that DOC consistently enriched at high flows (positive C-Q slope), particularly during wet periods in spring, indicating transport-limited mobilization from organic-rich soil. In contrast, TDN and PO43- showed chemostatic (near-zero slopes) to negative values, reflecting source-limited behavior in higher flows. Differences among site pairs reflected landscape position, with headwater subcatchments showing stronger seasonal responses than the outlet, where hydrologic mixing neutralized C-Q signals. Results from our study will provide insight into solute source dynamics in low-relief Coastal Plain watersheds.