Data from: Global patterns and drivers of ecosystem functioning in rivers and riparian zones

River ecosystems receive and process vast quantities of terrestrial organic carbon, the fate of which depends strongly on microbial activity. Variation in and controls of processing rates, however, are poorly characterized at the global scale. In response, we used a peer-sourced research network and a highly standardized carbon processing assay to conduct a global-scale field experiment in greater than 1000 river and riparian sites. We found that Earth’s biomes have distinct carbon processing signatures. Slow processing is evident across latitudes, whereas rapid rates are restricted to lower latitudes. Both the mean rate and variability decline with latitude, suggesting temperature constraints toward the poles and greater roles for other environmental drivers (e.g., nutrient loading) toward the equator. These results and data set the stage for unprecedented “next-generation biomonitoring” by establishing baselines to help quantify environmental impacts to the functioning of ecosystems at a global scale.

河流生态系统接收并处理大量陆地有机碳（terrestrial organic carbon），其归宿在很大程度上取决于微生物活动（microbial activity）。然而，全球尺度下碳处理速率的变异特征及其调控机制仍未得到充分表征。为此，我们依托同行参与式研究网络，采用高度标准化的碳处理测定实验（carbon processing assay），在全球1000余个河流与河岸生境样点开展了野外原位实验。
研究发现，地球各生物群系具有独特的碳处理特征。跨纬度区域均存在缓慢的碳处理过程，而快速碳处理速率仅局限于低纬度地带。碳处理的平均速率及其变异程度均随纬度升高而降低，这表明极地地区的碳处理过程受温度约束更强，而赤道地区则受到更多其他环境因子（如营养盐负荷）的调控作用更为显著。
本研究的结果与数据集为开展前所未有的‘下一代生物监测（next-generation biomonitoring）’奠定了基础：通过建立全球尺度的生态系统功能基线，可为量化人类活动对生态系统功能的环境影响提供重要支撑。