Hydrologic, biogeochemical, microbial, and macroinvertebrate responses to network expansion, contraction, and disconnection across headwater stream networks with distinct physiography in Alabama, USA

Authors

• Stephen Plont, University of AlabamaFollow
• Delaney M. Peterson, University of Alabama
• Chelsea R. Smith, University of Alabama
• Charles T. Bond, University of Southern MississippiFollow
• Andrielle Larissa Kemajou Tchamba, University of Mississippi
• Michelle A. Wolford, University of Alabama
• Kaci Zarek, University of Alabama
• Shannon L. Speir, University of Arkansas
• C. Nathan Jones, University of Alabama
• Jonathan P. Benstead, University of Alabama
• Michelle H. Busch, Kansas Geological Survey
• Rebecca L. Hale, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
• Connor L. Brown, Kansas Geological Survey
• Erin C. Seybold, Kansas Geological Survey
• Arial J. Shogren, University of Alabama
• Kevin A. Kuehn, University of Southern MississippiFollow
• Yaqi You, State University of New York
• Colin R. Jackson, University of MississippiFollow
• Amy J. Burgin, Iowa State University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-15-2026

School

Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences

Abstract

Here we present a comprehensive dataset of hydrologic, biogeochemical, microbial, and macroinvertebrate community measurements from a set of multi-year, co-occurring, watershed studies in non-perennial stream networks that dynamically expand and contract over space and time. The data were collected over the three consecutive water years (Autumn 2021-Autumn 2024) across three stream networks draining watersheds with a similar humid, subtropical climate but distinct physiographies (i.e., Piedmont, Appalachian Plateau, Coastal Plain) in Alabama, USA. Our goal was to characterize the spatiotemporal patterns and drivers of how non-perennial stream networks expand and contract, as well as the biogeochemical, microbial, and macroinvertebrate dynamics associated with changes in network connectivity and water availability. We used a combination of spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal sampling and sensor-based monitoring approaches to capture hydrologic, biogeochemical, and ecological responses to network expansion and contraction in each watershed. This manuscript describes the overall study design, monitoring network and sampling approaches, data and sample collection and analysis, and specific datasets generated. All data products are publicly available through the "Aquatic Intermittency effects on Microbiomes in Streams"(AIMS) Hydroshare data repository for hydrologic, biogeochemical, and macroinvertebrate data (AIMS region code Combining double low line "SE"; https://www.hydroshare.org/group/247, Plont et al., 2026t) and through the NCBI data repository for microbial data. All data product-specific DOIs and repository-specific unique IDs are cited in Appendix A (Tables A1, A3).

Publication Title

Earth System Science Data

Volume

18

Issue

7

First Page

4885

Last Page

4914

Recommended Citation

Plont, S., Peterson, D., Smith, C., Bond, C., Tchamba, A., Wolford, M., Zarek, K., Speir, S., Jones, C., Benstead, J., Busch, M., Hale, R., Brown, C., Seybold, E., Shogren, A., Kuehn, K., You, Y., Jackson, C., Burgin, A. (2026). Hydrologic, biogeochemical, microbial, and macroinvertebrate responses to network expansion, contraction, and disconnection across headwater stream networks with distinct physiography in Alabama, USA. Earth System Science Data, 18(7), 4885-4914.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/22180