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Wastewater influences nitrogen dynamics in a coastal catchment during a prolonged drought
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2017
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Source: imnol Oceanogr. 2017 Nov; 62(Suppl Suppl 1): S239–S257.
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Journal Title:Limnology and Oceanography
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Description:Ecosystem function measurements can enhance our understanding of nitrogen (N) delivery in coastal catchments across river and estuary ecosystems. Here, we contrast patterns of N cycling and export in two rivers, one heavily influenced by wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), in a coastal catchment of south Texas. We measured N export from both rivers to the estuary over 2 yr that encompass a severe drought, along with detailed mechanisms of N cycling in river, tidal river, and two estuary sites during prolonged drought. WWTP nutrient inputs stimulated uptake of N, but denitrification resulting in permanent N removal accounted for only a small proportion of total uptake. During drought periods, WWTP N was the primary source of exported N to the estuary, minimizing the influence of episodic storm‐derived nutrients from the WWTP‐influenced river to the estuary. In the site without WWTP influence, the river exported very little N during drought, so storm‐derived nutrient pulses were important for delivering N loads to the estuary. Overall, N is processed from river to estuary, but sustained WWTP‐N loads and periodic floods alter the timing of N delivery and N processing. Research that incorporates empirical measurements of N fluxes from river to estuary can inform management needs in the face of multiple anthropogenic stressors such as demand for freshwater and eutrophication.
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Source:imnol Oceanogr. 2017 Nov; 62(Suppl Suppl 1): S239–S257.
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DOI:
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Pubmed ID:29263559
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC5726386
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Document Type:
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Rights Information:CC BY-NC
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Compliance:PMC
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