Coastal ecosystems are sensitive to changes in the quantity and lability of terrigenous dissolved organic matter (DOM) delivered by rivers. The lability of DOM is thought to decrease with age, but this view stems from work in watersheds where terrestrial plant and soil sources dominate streamwater DOM. Here, glaciated watersheds on the Gulf of Alaska are shown to be a source of old but labile dissolved organic matter, suggesting that glacial runoff is an important source of labile reduced carbon to marine ecosystems.
- Eran Hood
- Jason Fellman
- Durelle Scott
