Allocation of nitrogen and carbon in an estuarine salt marsh in Portugal

Above and below-ground biomass and nitrogen and carbon composition ofSpartina maritima, Halimione portulacoides andArthrocnemum perenne, dominating species in plant communities of the lower, middle and higher salt marsh, respectively, were compared in an estuarine salt marsh in Portugal. Plant and soil nitrogen and carbon pools were estimated. For all three species root biomass was significantly higher (70–92% of total biomass) than above-ground biomass. The percentage of root biomass was related to the location of the plants in the marsh: higher values were found in plants growing in the lower salt marsh where the sediment was more unstable and subject to tidal action, which stresses the role of the roots as an anchor. For all three species nitrogen concentrations were highest in leaves, reflecting the photosynthetic role of the tissue. For carbon higher concentrations were found in the stems, with the exception ofS. maritima. In general, lower nitrogen concentrations were found in summer, which can be explained by dilution processes due to plant growth. For both nitrogen and carbon, higher concentrations were found in the soil surface layers. Higher soil nitrogen and carbon levels were associated with higher organic matter contents. Most of the nitrogen in the salt marsh occurred in the sediments (0–40 cm) and only ca. 5.7–13.3% of the total was found in the plants. The greater portion (76.5%–86%) of carbon was found in the sediment.     

Respiration and excretion by the ctenophore Mnepiopsis leidyi

Respiration (dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide) and excretion (dissolved organic carbon, inorganic and organic nitrogen and phosphorus) rates were measured for a variety of sizes of Mnemiopsis leidyi over a temperature range of 10.3° to 24.5°C. Both respiration and excretion rates were a direct linear function of animal weight and very temperature sensitive (Q₁₀4). Oxygen uptake ranged from 155 to 489 g at O/(g dry weight) day^-1 and carbon dioxide release from 43 to 166 M. Organic carbon made up about 38% of the total carbon released. Inorganic nitrogen excretion, exclusively in the form of ammonium, comprised 54% of the total nitrogen release and ranged from 10 to 36 M NH₄/(g dry weight) day^-1. Average release of dissolved primary amines (expressed as glycine equivalents) equaled 43% of the organic nitrogen fraction. Inorganic phosphorus release ranged from 2.0 to 4.9 M/(g dry weight) day^-1 and made up about 72% of the total phosphorus loss. The turnover of elements in the body was calculated as 5 to 19% per day for carbon and nitrogen, depending on the temperature, and an even higher 20 to 48% per day for phosphorus. These values are comparable to rates observed for small, active zooplankton.     

Flax Pond ecosystem study: Exchanges of phosphorus between a salt marsh and the coastal waters of Long Island Sound

The exchanges of phosphorus between the Flax Pond, a tidal Spartina alterniflora marsh on the north shore of Long Island (USA) and Long Island Sound were measured over 18 months. Phosphate was exported from the marsh from May through December and imported during the remainder of the year. Organic phosphorus appears to be accumulated in all seasons, but the yearly phosphorus budget of the marsh is approximately balanced despite the accumulation of about 6 mm of sediment annually.     

Processes Influencing Dissolved Organic Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulphur in Soils

The influence of different plant and soil processes on the concentrations of soluble organic forms of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur in soil and drainage waters is reviewed. Current knowledge about soluble organic matter is restricted mainly to dissolved organic carbon. Comparable information about soluble organic nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur in processes such as eutrophication, plant uptake and decomposition is limited. Data are presented to highlight the potential sources of soluble organic components together with a discussion of their likely fate within the soil profile. the implications of changes in land use and management practices on dissolved organic matter are discussed.     

Non-point source-driven carbon and nutrient loading to Ganga River (India)

This study was designed to test whether the atmospheric deposition (AD) significantly influences gross primary productivity (GPP) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) build-up in the Ganga River. We collected data for three consecutive years (2012–2014) along with 37 km river stretch with respect to AD-input of carbon, nutrients, and surface runoff chemistry to relate changes in the river water. We found strong linkages among carbon and nutrients in AD, surface runoff and in the river. The concentration of DOC in the river was highest in the rainy season while those of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and dissolved reactive phosphorus were highest in winter. Spatio-temporal changes in DOC indicated dependence on point- and non-point sources and within-system DOC build-up. The GPP in the river increased consistently over time and significantly correlated with AD-N (R^2?=?0.96, p?<?.001) and AD-P (R^2?=?0.97, p?<?.001). Basin level extrapolation showed that the Ganga River Basin receives 1.81?Tg organic-C, 2.77 Tg reactive-N, and 130?Gg reactive-P annually through atmospheric deposition. Non-point source contributions of carbon and nutrients to the river were substantially higher than those of point sources. The study has relevance for regional scale carbon and nutrient budgeting and action plans for integrated river basin management.     

Spatial distribution of phosphorus forms in sediments with different distances to the estuary of the Dianchi Lake,China

Effects of human activity on the distribution of phosphorus (P) forms were investigated for the sediments and porewaters in Daqinghe Estuary of Dianchi Lake, China. The concentrations of total P (TP), inorganic-P (I-P),and organic-P (Org-P), and the ratio of iron-bound P (Fe-P)/calcium-bound P (Ca-P) in the sediments decreased with the increasing distance from the sampling site to the estuary. This is probably due to the flocculant materials, e.g., ferric and aluminous salts, usually being added in the wastewater treatment processes. The concentration of ammonia in the sediment porewaters significantly decreased with the increasing distance from the sampling site to the estuary. Both concentrations of total nitrogen and nitrogen in the sediment porewaters decreased to some content with the increasing distance from the sampling site to the estuary. However, the concentrations of nitrate, dissolved total P (DTP), and TP did not have strong relationship with the distances from the sampling sites to the estuary. Pollution load and water quantity also had an important influence on the concentrations of P in sediments and its interstitial water in estuary sedimentary area.     

Nitrogen accumulation and plant species replacement in three salt marsh systems in the Wadden Sea

Salt marsh development on the coastal barrier island of Schiermonnikoog (The Netherlands) was compared with two other salt marsh systems in the Wadden Sea. Accretion rate, nitrogen accumulation and changes in plant species composition were investigated using chronosequences. The age of the marsh was estimated from aerial photographs and old maps. In 7230 plots, the elevation of the marsh surface, the thickness of the sediment layer (clay) and the presence of plant species was recorded. In addition, the nitrogen pool was measured at each successional stage. Accretion rates were similar in the three salt marshes. Higher accretion rates were found at younger marshes. A strong linear relationship between nitrogen pool size and thickness of the clay layer was found for the three marshes. The accumulation rate of nitrogen is therefore strongly related to the accretion rate. Thus, more nitrogen is present in the sediment of later successional stages where more clay has accumulated. On the high salt marsh (55 cm+MHT),Ameria maritima disappeared andArtemisia maritima, Juncus gerardi andElymus athericus established at sites with a thicker clay layer. On the low salt marsh (25 cm+MHT),Plantago maritima, Puccinellia maritima andLimonium vulgare disappeared andAtriplex (Halimione) portulacoides established. Apparently, with the accumulation of clay and therefore of nitrogen, tall growing species take over in salt marshes not grazed by livestock.     

高原深水湖泊程海氮磷形态分布特征及其与叶绿素a的相关性

湖泊水体氮、磷形态分布特征及其与藻类生长的关系是湖泊富营养化研究的重要方面。采用GPS定位,在程海湖设置了3个断面9个采样点,研究了氮、磷形态分布特征,并分析了各形态氮磷与叶绿素a的相关性。结果表明：总氮（TN）质量浓度为0.773 mg.L-1,总磷（TP）质量浓度为0.046 mg.L-1,叶绿素a质量浓度为0.024 mg.L-1。氮素的赋存形态特征是以溶解态总氮（DTN）占大部分,DTN中又以溶解态有机氮（DON）占绝大部分;磷素的存在特点是溶解态无机磷（DIP）含量比重较大。各形态氮、磷都有明显的季节性波动但区域性差异不明显,叶绿素a则有明显的季节节律和时空差异。叶绿素a很好地响应了总氮（TN）、总磷（TP）、溶解态总氮（DTN）、溶解态总磷（DTP）、颗粒态总氮（PTN）、颗粒态总磷（PTP）的变化。程海富营养化受氮和磷共同限制,控制富营养化必须同时削减氮和磷。     

Seasonal variations of organic-carbon and nutrient transport through a tropical estuary (Tsengwen) in southwestern Taiwan

This paper reports the fluvial fluxes and estuarine transport of organic carbon and nutrients from a tropical river (Tsengwen River), southwestern Taiwan. Riverine fluxes of organic carbon and nutrients were highly variable temporally, due primarily to temporal variations in river discharge and suspended load. The sediment yield of the drainage basin during the study period (1995–1996, 616 tonne km^–2 year^–1) was ca. 15 times lower than that of the long-term (1960–1998) average (9379 tonne km² year^–1), resulting mainly from the damming effect and historically low record of river water discharge (5.02 m³ s^–1) in 1995. The flushing time of river water in the estuary varied from 5 months in the dry season to >4.5 days in the wet season and about 1 day in the flood period. Consequently, distributions of nutrients, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) were of highly seasonal variability in the estuary. Nutrients and POC behaved nonconservatively but DOC behaved conservatively in the estuary. DOC fluxes were generally greater than POC fluxes with the exception that POC fluxes considerably exceeded DOC fluxes during the flood period. Degradation of DOC and POC within the span of flushing time was insignificant and may contribute little amount of CO₂ to the estuary during the wet season and flood period. Net estuarine fluxes of nutrients were determined by riverine fluxes and estuarine removals (or additions) of nutrients. The magnitude of estuarine removal or addition for a nutrient was also seasonally variable, and these processes must be considered for net flux estimates from the river to the sea. As a result, nonconservative fluxes of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) from the estuary are –0.002, –0.09 and –0.59 mmol m^–2 day^–1, respectively, for dry season, wet season and flood period, indicating internal sinks of DIP during all seasons. Due to high turbidity and short flushing time of estuarine water, DIP in the flood period may be derived largely from geochemical processes rather than biological removal, and this DIP should not be included in an annual estimate of carbon budget. The internal sink of phosphorus corresponds to a net organic carbon production (photosynthesis–respiration, p–r) during dry (0.21 mmol m^–2 day^–1) and wet (9.5 mmol m^–2 day^–1) seasons. The magnitude of net production (p–r) is 1.5 mol m^–2 year^–1, indicating that the estuary is autotrophic in 1995. However, there is a net nitrogen loss (nitrogen fixation–denitrification < 0) in 1995, but the magnitude is small (–0.17 mol m^–2 year^–1).     

Metabolism and body composition of two euphausiids (Euphausia superba and E. crystallorophias) collected from under the pack-ice off Enderby Land,Antarctica

Oxygen consumption, ammonia excretion and phosphate excretion rates were measured for Euphausia superba and E. crystallorophias captured under the pack-ice off Enderby Land, Antarctica, during November 1985. Water, ash, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus composition were also determined. Compared with summer data, body composition of E. superba at this time of year was characterized by low carbon (40.2 to 40.7% of total dry wt), high nitrogen (11.8 to 12.0%), high phosphorus (1.2%) and high water (80.6 to 81.7% of total wet wt) content. Metabolic rates, expressed as percentage daily losses of body carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus were 1.3 to 1.6%, 0.38 to 0.42% and 1.9 to 2.2%, respectively; these fall within the ranges of summer data. E. superba fed on algae growing on the bottom of the ice, but body compositional features of this species suggest limited contribution of ice-algae to nutrition. Compared to E. superba, E. crystallorophias displayed greater metabolic rates and much higher body carbon content (40.9 to 45.0%), implying that feeding conditions under the ice were better suited to the requirements of E. crystallorophias. The only gravid females found belonged to E. crystallorophias.     

On-line controlling system for nitrogen and phosphorus removal of municipal wastewater in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR)

The objectives of this study were to establish an on-line controlling system for nitrogen and phosphorus removal synchronously of municipal wastewater in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The SBR for municipal wastewater treatment was operated in sequences: filling, anaerobic, oxic, anoxic, oxic, settling and discharge. The reactor was equipped with on-line monitoring sensors for dissolved oxygen (DO), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and pH. The variation of DO, ORP and pH is relevant to each phase of biological process for nitrogen and phosphorus removal in this SBR. The characteristic points of DO, ORP and pH can be used to judge and control the stages of process that include: phosphate release by the turning points of ORP and pH; nitrification by the ammonia valley of pH and ammonia elbows of DO and ORP; denitrification by the nitrate knee of ORP and nitrate apex of pH; phosphate uptake by the turning point of pH; and residual organic carbon oxidation by the carbon elbows of DO and ORP. The controlling system can operate automatically for nitrogen and phosphorus efficiently removal.     

Nutrients of the Cochin Backwater in relation to environmental characteristics

The nutrient distribution of the Cochin Backwater was studied at 6 stations throughout the year. The depth profiles of phosphorus (inorganic and organic), nitrogen (nitrate and nitrite) and silicon, showed a marked seasonal rhythm, induced by the local precipitation and land runoff. Changes in other environmental features such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH and alkalinity were small during the premonsoon period when the system remains marine-dominated, and large during the monsoon period when the estuary becomes freshwater-dominated. Seasonal changes in the hydrographical conditions of the adjoining coastal waters of the Arabian Sea which influence the backwater system have been discussed.     

The significance of microbial carbon in the nutrition of the deposit feeding polychaete Nereis succinea

A partial carbon budget was calculated for a population of the deposit feeding polychaete Nereis succinea (Frey and Leuckart) for a North Carolina, USA salt marsh in order to determine if the ingestion and assimilation of microbial carbon was sufficient to meet the carbon requirement. Carbon required by the population was estimated by calculating annual production, 2.1 g C m^-2, and respiration, 9.4 g. There was no net release of dissolved organic carbon. Annual consumption of microbial carbon (as determined by ATP) was estimated to be 5.2 g m^-2. Assimilation efficiency of heterotrophic, detrital microbes was estimated to be 57%. If this value is used for all the microbial carbon, then total assimilation was 3.0 g C m^-2, or about one-fourth the carbon requirement. N. succinea was able to assimilate carbon from sterile plant detritus which suggests that some of the carbon needed to balance the budget may come from direct uptake of the plant substrate. Other possible additional sources of carbon include consumption of meiofauna and uptake of dissolved organic matter.     

三峡水库香溪河库湾氮磷分布状况及沉积物污染评价

为了解三峡大坝蓄水完成之后香溪河库湾水体及沉积物中氮、磷的分布状况以及沉积物污染水平,2013年4月对三峡水库香溪河库湾进行调查采样,测定表层水及沉积物中氮磷含量和形态组成。结果表明,香溪河库湾表层水总磷(TP)含量范围为0.20~0.51 mg·L~(-1),总氮(TN)含量范围为0.54~2.25 mg·L~(-1),TP主要由磷酸盐(PO_4~(3-))组成,TN主要由硝酸盐(NO_3~-)以及氨氮(NH_4~+)组成,TP在空间上呈现从河口向库尾逐渐升高的分布格局,TN分布从河口向库尾逐渐降低。香溪河库湾沉积物中TP含量变化范围为642~1 189 mg·kg~(-1),TN含量变化范围为867~1 718 mg·kg~(-1),沉积物TP含量分布呈现上游高下游低,沉积物TN分布趋势呈现中间高,两头低。沉积物中TP主要由无机磷(IP)组成,有机磷(OP)所占比例较小,其中IP由钙磷(Ca-P)、铁铝磷(Fe/Al-P)组成,三者含量:Ca-POPFe/Al-P,且沉积物TP含量空间变化受到三者影响(P0.05)。采用单一因子标准指数法对香溪河库湾沉积物中TN、TP污染水平进行评价,结果表明,表层沉积物中TN、TP最低级别污染指数平均值为2.0和1.6,表层沉积物中TN、TP污染指数均超过最低污染水平,且TP的严重级别污染指数达到0.5以上。三峡水库三期蓄水完成以后,香溪河库湾表层水体中氮磷含量较初期蓄水有所升高,各样点沉积物中氮磷含量表现出相同的趋势,沉积物中不稳定磷释放对水体富营养化具有影响,香溪河库湾的表层沉积物已经受到一定的污染,磷污染水平较高。     

Detritus as food for estuarine copepods

A variety of detrital foods derived from marsh plants were fed to the copepods Eurycemora affinis and Scottolana canadensis. The copepods did not survive well or produce eggs when feeding on detritus with smaller amounts of microbiota, but did well when a rich and abundant microbiota was present. Ciliated protozoans appear to be particularly important in the transfer of detrital energy to copepods.Contribution No. 703, Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies, University of Maryland.     

Light-mediated thresholds in stream-water nutrient composition in a river network

The elemental composition of solutes transported by rivers reflects combined influences of surrounding watersheds and transformations within stream networks, yet comparatively little is known about downstream changes in effects of watershed loading vs. in-channel processes. In the forested watershed of a river under a mediterranean hydrologic regime, we examined the influence of longitudinal changes in environmental conditions on water-column nutrient composition during summer base flow across a network of sites ranging from strongly heterotrophic headwater streams to larger, more autotrophic sites downstream. Small streams (0.1-10 km2 watershed area) had longitudinally similar nutrient concentration and composition with low (approximately 2) dissolved nitrogen (N) to phosphorus (P) ratios. Abrupt deviations from this pattern were observed in larger streams with watershed areas > 100 km2 where insolation and algal abundance and production rapidly increased. Downstream, phosphorus and silica concentrations decreased by > 50% compared to headwater streams, and dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen increased by approximately 3-6 times. Decreasing dissolved P and increasing dissolved N raised stream-water N:P to 46 at the most downstream sites, suggesting a transition from N limitation in headwaters to potential P limitation in larger channels. We hypothesize that these changes were mediated by increasing algal photosynthesis and N fixation by benthic algal assemblages, which, in response to increasing light availability, strongly altered stream-water nutrient concentration and stoichiometry in larger streams and rivers.     

Carbon requirements of a population of the estuarine copepod Eurytemora affinis

The production of algae in the Patuxent River estuary (Maryland, USA) was much less than the carbon requirements of a population of the calanoid copepod Eurytemora affinis. Detrital carbon was present in quantities that suggest turnover times of 8 to 83 days for this pool, assuming that all algal production was consumed by E. affinis. We hypothesize that E. affinis must consume detritus to meet a part of its requirements for energy.     

Fluxes and Transport of Organic Carbon and Trace Metals in the Tropical Tsengwen Estuary,Southwestern Taiwan

Distributions of organic carbon and trace metals were investigated in the tropical Tsengwen river end-member and in the estuary to better understand thoroughly the riverine fluxes and estuarine transports of constituents into the sea. Experimental results indicated that riverine fluxes of organic carbon and trace metals possessed a highly temporal variability, attributed primarily to temporal variation in river water discharge and suspended load. More than 70% of annual fluxes of dissolved constituents and >90% of particulate constituents arose from river floods caused by summer typhoons. the flushing time of fresh water in the estuary varied from a half month in the dry season to a half day in the flood period. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nutrienttype metals (Cd, Cu, Zn) were conservatively transported through the estuary. Dissolved particle-reactive metals (Mn, Pb), however, were apparently transported non-conservatively through the estuary. Particulate organic carbon (POC) and trace metals (PTM) were transported non-conservatively by following the transport mode of total suspended matter (TSM) in the estuary. DOC slightly dominates the transport of organic carbon while particle-reactive PTM predominates the transport of trace metals through the estuary. Total organic carbon (TOC) in estuarine sediment was progressively enriched with ¹³C downstream, as derived by mixing the overlying TSM between terrestrial and marine end-members. Distributions of trace metals in sediment were subsequently controlled by sedimentary TOC and particle size. Based on results presented here, we believe that enrichments of trace metals in the estuary are attributed primarily to the natural processes of transport and sedimentation of fluvial TSM     

Metabolism and elemental composition of a giant chaetognath Sagitta gazellae from the Southern Ocean

Oxygen consumption, ammonia excretion and phosphate excretion rates were measured on Sagitta gazellae Ritter-Zahony, in conjunction with body composition analyses (water, ash, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and phosphorus). Both water content (94.7% of wet weight) and ash content (53.0% of dry weight) recorded on S. gazellae were the highest and the lowest, respectively, among the chaetognath data being reported. Contents of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen of S. gazellae were the lowest among published values of chaetognaths. Metabolic comparison with other chaetognaths living in similar subzero water temperature revealed reduced rates in S. gazellae, while no appreciable differences were seen in the metabolic quotients (O:N, N:P and O:P ratios). The O:N atomic ratios were 10.5 to 15.9 indicating protein oriented metabolism. Reduced metabolic activity of S. gazellae is not due to their body composition as calculated daily metabolic losses of body carbon (0.50%), body nitrogen (0.38) and body phosphorus (1.6%) were also found to be lower than respective values reported on other congeners and even those of other zooplankton living in the Antarctic waters.     

Nutrient balance in the ecosystem of the North Western Adriatic Sea

The effects of biological processes on dissolved inorganic nutrients, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and phosphorus (DOP) are considered in the north western Adriatic Sea. The budgets of these nutrients, which represent the sum of production and consumption processes in comparison to advection, are discussed with regard to dissolved inorganic nitrogen ( 15 N labelled) uptake, which basically indicates the biological demand of this fraction of nitrogen by phytoplankton community. The presented data show that, although important, the continental input of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), mainly nitrate, is utilised and recycled within the coastal marine environment (budget of m 15 r µmol-N·dm m 3 ). In fact, during four cruises (June, 1996; February, 1997; June, 1997; February, 1998), phytoplankton production was mainly driven by regenerated nutrients ( f h 0.4). Regarding dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), the negative budgets observed in most cases (down to m 0.4 r µmol-P·dm m 3 ) confirm, above all, its scarce availability in this basin. Recycling processes rather than continental inputs regulate the availability of this nutrient. In addition, the comparison between DIN and DIP budgets indicates that, in this ecosystem, dissolved inorganic phosphorus is recycled faster than nitrogen through the living particulate and dissolved organic pools. As a consequence of biological activities, a strong production of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) can occur in summer (up to +22 r µmol-N·dm m 3 ) while DOP shows a more independent behaviour both with respect to its accumulation in the environment and to the observed nitrogen variations.