Cumulative effects of pulp mill and municipal effluents on epilithic biomass and nutrient limitation in a large northern river ecosystem

2000 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 1342-1354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry J Scrimgeour ◽  
Patricia A Chambers
Keyword(s):  
Point Source ◽  
Nutrient Limitation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Soluble Reactive Phosphorus ◽  
Pulp Mill ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Reactive Phosphorus

Large-scale patterns in epilithic biomass and nutrient status were evaluated at 33 sites located upstream and downstream of point-source anthropogenic effluents in the Athabasca and Wapiti-Smoky rivers in Alberta, Canada. Multiple regression showed that epilithic chlorophyll a was significantly (p < 0.0001) related to concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and marginally (p = 0.06) significantly related to soluble reactive phosphorus. Epilithic biomass was up to 50 times higher immediately downstream of point-source inputs compared with sites upstream and those 20-150 km downstream. Data from nutrient diffusing substrata showed that the epilithon at 18 of the 33 sites was nutrient limited, while 14 sites showed no nutrient limitation; interpretation of the remaining site was inconclusive. Of the 18 nutrient-limited sites, six were nitrogen limited, five were phosphorus limited, and seven were co-limited. Multiple discriminant function analysis showed that the combined concentration of soluble reactive phosphorus and dissolved inorganic nitrogen was a significant discriminator between deplete and replete sites.

Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen Composition, Transformation, Retention, and Transport in Naturally Phosphate-Rich and Phosphate-Poor Tropical Streams

1993 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 665-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank J. Triska ◽  
Catherine M. Pringle ◽  
Gary W. Zellweger ◽  
John H. Duff ◽  
Ronald J. Avanzino
Keyword(s):  
Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Soluble Reactive Phosphorus ◽  
Ammonium Concentration ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Exchange Reactions ◽  
Lowland Streams ◽  
Sediment Types ◽  
Sediment Slurry ◽  
Conservative Tracer ◽  
Reactive Phosphorus

The composition, transformation, and transport of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) was compared in waters associated with two lowland streams in Costa Rica. The Salto River is enriched by geothermal-based soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), which raises the concentration up to 200 μg/L whereas Pantano Creek, an unimpacted tributary, has an SRP concentration <10 μg/L. Ammonium concentration in springs adjacent to the Salto and Pantano was typically greater than channel water (13 of 22 locations) whereas nitrate concentration was less (20 of 22 locations). Ground waters were typically high in ammonium relative to nitrate whereas channel waters were high in nitrate relative to ammonium. Sediment slurry studies indicated nitrification potential in two sediment types, firm clay (3.34 μg N∙cm−3∙d−1) and uncompacted organic-rich sediment (1.76 μg N∙cm−3∙d−1). Ammonium and nitrate amendments to each stream separately resulted in nitrate concentrations in excess of that expected after correction for dilution using a conservative tracer. SRP concentration was not affected by DIN amendment to either stream. SRP concentration in the Pantano appeared to be regulated by abiotic sediment exchange reactions whereas DIN composition and concentration were regulated by a combination of biotic and abiotic processes.

Characteristics of Non-Point Source N Export via Surface Runoff from Sloping Croplands in Northeast China

2011 ◽  
Vol 347-353 ◽  
pp. 2302-2307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Xiang Wang ◽  
Yi Shi ◽  
Jian Ma ◽  
Cai Yan Lu ◽  
Xin Chen
Keyword(s):  
Point Source ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Rainfall Intensity ◽  
Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Rainfall Amount ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Slope Gradient ◽  
N Loss ◽  
Total N

A field experiment was conducted to study the characteristics of non-point source nitrogen (N) in the surface runoff from sloping croplands and the influences of rainfall and cropland slope gradient. The results showed that dissolved total N (DTN) was the major form of N in the runoff, and the proportion occupied by dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) ranged from 45% to 85%. The level of NH4+-N was generally higher than the level of NO3--N, and averaged at 2.50 mg·L-1and 1.07 mg·L-1respectively. DIN was positively correlated with DTN (R2=0.962). Dissolved organic N (DON) presented a moderate seasonal change and averaged at 1.40 mg·L-1. Rainfall amount and rainfall intensity significantly affected the components of DTN in the runoff. With the increase of rainfall amount and rainfall intensity, the concentrations of DTN, NH4+-N and NO3--N presented a decreased trend, while the concentration of DON showed an increased trend. N loss went up with an increase in the gradient of sloping cropland, and was less when the duration was longer from the time of N fertilization.fertilization.

scholarly journals Phytoplankton responses to an extreme drought season: A case study at two reservoirs from a semiarid region, Northeastern Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Y. B. Oliveira ◽  
Cicero D. L. Oliveira ◽  
Ayanne J. G. Almeida ◽  
Alfredo O. Gálvez ◽  
Danielli M. Dantas
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Phytoplankton Biomass ◽  
Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Soluble Reactive Phosphorus ◽  
Extreme Drought ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Drought Period ◽  
Reactive Phosphorus

The temporal phytoplankton biomass variation at two Neotropical reservoirs during an extreme drought season were analyzed. Here we sought to evaluate the main abiotic factors involved in dynamics of phytoplankton during this drought period. The main difference between the reservoirs was the intensive fish and shrimp farming in one of the reservoirs. For quantitative analysis, sampling with bottles were carried out at an average depth of 0.5m. Water temperature, pH and electrical conductivity parameters were measured in situ and water samples were collected for dissolved inorganic nitrogen and soluble reactive phosphorus analyses. Aquaculture was probably one among the causes for the reservoirs were so different in the physical and chemical variables, as shown by the principal components analysis. The results showed specific groups dominance in both reservoirs. In the Cachoeira II reservoir, an invasive dinoflagellate, Ceratium furcoides, was present in all analyzed months, while, in the Saco I reservoir, cyanobacteria group represented more than 50% of phytoplankton biomass, mainly Microcystis aeruginosa and Dolichospermum sp. In two reservoirs precipitation, soluble reactive phosphorus and electrical conductivity were positively related with phytoplankton. Phytoplankton biomass was considerably larger in the Cachoeira II reservoir, due to the greater size and biovolume of the dominant dinoflagellate. These findings suggest that species dominance in extreme drought events may be favored.

scholarly journals The significance of organic carbon and nutrient export from peatland-dominated landscapes subject to disturbance, a stoichiometric perspective

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Waldron ◽  
H. Flowers ◽  
C. Arlaud ◽  
C. Bryant ◽  
S. McFarlane
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soluble Reactive Phosphorus ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Co2 Efflux ◽  
Nutrient Export ◽  
Terrestrial Carbon ◽  
Carbon Export ◽  
Aquatic Respiration ◽  
Linear Relationships ◽  
Reactive Phosphorus

Abstract. The terrestrial-aquatic interface is a crucial environment in which to consider the fate of exported terrestrial carbon in the aquatic system. Here the fate of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) may be controlled by nutrient availability. However, peat-dominated headwater catchments are normally of low nutrient status and thus there is little data on how DOC and nutrient export co-varies. We present nutrient and DOC data for two UK catchments dominated by peat headwaters. One, Whitelee, is undergoing development for Europe's largest windfarm. Glen Dye by comparison is relatively undisturbed. At both sites there are significant linear relationships between DOC and soluble reactive phosphorus and nitrate concentrations in the drainage waters. However, inter-catchment differences exist. Changes in the pattern of nutrient and carbon export at Whitelee reveal that landscape disturbance associated with windfarm development impacts the receiving waters, and that nutrient export does not increase in a stoichiometric manner that will promote increase in microbial biomass but rather supports aquatic respiration. In turn greater CO2 efflux may prevail. Hence disturbance of terrestrial carbon stores may impact the both the aquatic and gaseous carbon cycle. We suggest estimates of aquatic carbon export should inform the decision-making process prior to development in ecosystems and catchments with high terrestrial carbon storage.

scholarly journals Nutrient criteria to achieve New Zealand’s riverine macroinvertebrate targets

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam D Canning ◽  
Michael Joy ◽  
Russell G Death
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Intensive Agriculture ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Nutrient Criteria ◽  
Global Trend ◽  
Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus ◽  
Nitrogen Concentrations ◽  
Reactive Phosphorus ◽  
Environmental Goals

Waterways worldwide are experiencing nutrient enrichment from population growth and intensive agriculture, and New Zealand is part of this global trend. Increasing fertilizer in New Zealand and intensive agriculture have driven substantial water quality declines over recent decades. A recent national directive has set environmental managers a range of riverine ecological targets, including three macroinvertebrate indicators, and requires nutrient criteria be set to support their achievement. To support these national aspirations, we use the minimization-of-mismatch analysis to derive potential nutrient criteria. Given that nutrient and macroinvertebrate monitoring often does not occur at the same sites, we compared nutrient criteria derived at sites where macroinvertebrates and nutrients are monitored concurrently with nutrient criteria derived at all macroinvertebrate monitoring sites and using modelled nutrients. To support all three macroinvertebrate targets, we suggest that suitable nutrient criteria would set median dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations at ~0.6 mg/L and median dissolved reactive phosphorus concentrations at ~0.02 mg/L. We recognize that deriving site-specific nutrient criteria requires the balancing of multiple values and consideration of multiple targets, and anticipate that criteria derived here will help and support these environmental goals.

scholarly journals Nutrient criteria to achieve New Zealand’s riverine macroinvertebrate targets

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam D Canning ◽  
Michael Joy ◽  
Russell G Death
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Intensive Agriculture ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Nutrient Criteria ◽  
Global Trend ◽  
Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus ◽  
Nitrogen Concentrations ◽  
Reactive Phosphorus ◽  
Environmental Goals

Waterways worldwide are experiencing nutrient enrichment from population growth and intensive agriculture, and New Zealand is part of this global trend. Increasing fertilizer in New Zealand and intensive agriculture have driven substantial water quality declines over recent decades. A recent national directive has set environmental managers a range of riverine ecological targets, including three macroinvertebrate indicators, and requires nutrient criteria be set to support their achievement. To support these national aspirations, we use the minimization-of-mismatch analysis to derive potential nutrient criteria. Given that nutrient and macroinvertebrate monitoring often does not occur at the same sites, we compared nutrient criteria derived at sites where macroinvertebrates and nutrients are monitored concurrently with nutrient criteria derived at all macroinvertebrate monitoring sites and using modelled nutrients. To support all three macroinvertebrate targets, we suggest that suitable nutrient criteria would set median dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations at ~0.6 mg/L and median dissolved reactive phosphorus concentrations at ~0.02 mg/L. We recognize that deriving site-specific nutrient criteria requires the balancing of multiple values and consideration of multiple targets, and anticipate that criteria derived here will help and support these environmental goals.

Cascading Effects of Decreased Salinity on the Plankton Chemistry, and Physics of the Great Salt Lake (Utah)

1990 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh ◽  
Therese Smith Berry
Keyword(s):  
Salt Lake ◽  
Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Great Salt Lake ◽  
Soluble Reactive Phosphorus ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Algal Community ◽  
Purple Sulfur Bacteria ◽  
Cascading Effects ◽  
Biological Variables ◽  
Reactive Phosphorus

Physical, chemical and biological variables were measured in the Great Salt Lake during 1985–87, when salinity in the mixolimnion was near 50 g/L, much lower than the 250 g/L maxima recorded in 1963. Decreased salinity has been accompanied by a change in macrozooplankton from one species (Artemia franciscana), to an assemblage with one rotifer, two copepods, Artemia, and the corixid Trichocorixa verticalis. Predation by the corixid may now limit Artemia to low densities (<100∙m−3). The low biomass of Artemia and other zooplankton has reduced grazing pressure on the algal community so that high chlorophyll levels (5-44 mg∙m−3) and low Secchi depths (0.8–2.7 m) are now present throughout the year. The algae presently reduce soluble reactive phosphorus and inorganic nitrogen in the mixolimnion to below 5 and 50 μg∙L−1, respectively. Shading in the 7-m thick mixolimnion by algae, and by purple-sulfur bacteria in the chemocline, decreases light penetration so that the monimolimnion now maintains a nearly constant temperature (9–11 °C) throughout the year. The data support the hypothesis that the effects of corixid predation have cascaded through the Great Salt Lake, affecting herbivores, nutrients and thermal stratification.

scholarly journals Nutrient concentrations and fluxes for podzolic and gley soils at Plynlimon, mid-Wales: implications for modelling inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus in upland UK environments

2002 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 403-420
Author(s):  
C. Neal
Keyword(s):  
Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Soluble Reactive Phosphorus ◽  
Sitka Spruce ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Podzolic Soils ◽  
Forestry Management ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Reactive Phosphorus ◽  
Stream Nitrate

Abstract. The effect of felling on stream nitrate, ammonium and soluble reactive phosphate (SRP) concentrations is examined for acidic and acid sensitive Sitka Spruce afforested catchments with podzolic and gley soils in mid-Wales. For the streams draining the felled podzolic areas, the concentrations of nitrate can be up to an order of magnitude higher than pre-fell values and post-fell concentrations can even be lower than the pre-fell values. Felling for the podzolic soils barely leads to any changes in ammonium or SRP concentration. For the gley soils, felling results in an order of magnitude increase in nitrate, ammonium and SRP for a small drainage ditch, but the pulse is much reduced before it reaches the main Nant Tanllwyth channel. Rather, within-catchment and within-stream processes not only imbibe nitrate, ammonium and SRP fluxes generated, but in the case of nitrate, concentrations with- and post-felling are lower than pre-felling concentrations. The flux changes involved are described in terms of (a) input-output relationships and (b) "felling disruption" and "felling recovery responses". The findings are linked to issues of hydrobiological controls and forestry management. Keywords: Plynlimon, Hafren, Hore, streams, nitrate, ammonium, SRP, phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus, phosphate, orthophosphate, Sitka spruce, forestry, felling, podzol, gley

scholarly journals Carbon and nutrient export regimes from headwater catchments to downstream reaches

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rémi Dupas ◽  
Andreas Musolff ◽  
James W. Jawitz ◽  
P. Suresh C. Rao ◽  
Christoph G. Jäger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Point Source ◽  
Soluble Reactive Phosphorus ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
River Continuum ◽  
Headwater Catchments ◽  
Freshwater Bodies ◽  
Source Signal ◽  
Reactive Phosphorus ◽  
Stream Transport

Abstract. Excessive amounts of nutrients and dissolved organic matter in freshwater bodies affect aquatic ecosystems. In this study, the spatial and temporal variability in nitrate (NO3), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) was analyzed in the Selke (Germany) river continuum from headwaters draining 1–3 km2 catchments to downstream reaches representing spatially integrated signals from 184–456 km2 catchments. Three headwater catchments were selected as archetypes of the main landscape units (land use x lithology) present in the Selke catchment. Export regimes in headwater catchments were interpreted in terms of NO3, DOC and SRP land-to-stream transfer processes. Headwater signals were subtracted from downstream signals, with the differences interpreted in terms of in-stream processes and contribution of point-source emissions. The seasonal dynamics for NO3 were opposite those of DOC and SRP in all three headwater catchments, and spatial differences also showed NO3 contrasting with DOC and SRP. These dynamics were interpreted as the result of the interplay of hydrological and biogeochemical processes, for which riparian zones were hypothesized to play a determining role. In the two downstream reaches, NO3 was transported almost conservatively, whereas DOC was consumed and produced in the upper and lower river sections, respectively. The natural export regime of SRP in the three headwater catchments mimicked a point-source signal (high SRP during summer low flow), which may lead to overestimation of domestic contributions in the downstream reaches. Monitoring the river continuum from headwaters to downstream reaches proved effective to investigate jointly land-to-stream and in-stream transport and transformation processes.

scholarly journals Changes of the nutrient loads of the Odra River during the last century - their causes and consequences

2008 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Horst Behrendt ◽  
Dieter Opitz ◽  
Agnieszka Kolanek ◽  
Rafalina Korol ◽  
Marzenna Strońska
Keyword(s):  
Point Source ◽  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Nutrient Loads ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Total N ◽  
Odra River ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Total P ◽  
Point Source Discharges

Changes of the nutrient loads of the Odra River during the last century - their causes and consequencesNutrient emissions by point and diffuse sources and their loads were estimated for the Odra catchment over the time period of the last 50 years by means of the model MONERIS. For nitrogen a change of the total emissions from 38 kt·a−1N in the mid of 1950s a maximum of 105 kt·a−1N in the early 1980s and a recent value of about 84 kt·a−1N were estimated for the total Odra Basin. The share of the point source discharges on the total N emissions varied between 24% (1955) and 35% (1995). The emissions from groundwater and tile drained areas represent the dominant pathway (37-56% of total N emissions) during all investigated time periods. Emissions from tile drained areas increased from the mid of 1950s to end of 1980s by a factor of 20 and reached in this period the same amount as emissions by groundwater. For phosphorus the emissions changed from 4 kt·a−1P in 1955 to 14 kt·a−1P in 1990 and a recent level of 7 kt·a−1P. Point source discharges caused between 36 to 66% of total P emissions and represent the dominant pathway for all investigated time periods. Erosion and discharges from paved urban areas and sewer systems was the dominant diffuse pathway of the total P emissions into the river system. The comparison of calculated and observed nutrient loads for the main monitoring stations along the Odra River shows that the average deviation is 12% for total phosphorus (1980-2000) and 15% for dissolved inorganic nitrogen (1960-2000). From the analysis it can be concluded that the present load of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and total nitrogen (TN) of the Odra into the Baltic Sea is about 2.3 times higher than in the mid of 1960s. The maximum DIN load (1980s) was more than 3 times higher than in the 1960s. The change of the total phosphorus (TP) load is characterized by an increase from the 1955s to 1980 from 2 to 7 kt·a−1P (factor 2.6). Around 2000 the TP load was 4 kt·a−1which is only the double of the level of the 1955s.

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