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  • Effect of nutrient loading on biogeochemical processes in tropical tidal creeks

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    Author(s)
    Smith, Jodie
    Burford, Michele A
    Revill, Andrew T
    Haese, Ralf R
    Fortune, Julia
    Griffith University Author(s)
    Burford, Michele A.
    Year published
    2012
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    Abstract
    The effect of increased nutrient loads on biogeochemical processes in macrotidal, mangrove-lined creeks was studied in tropical Darwin Harbour, Australia. This study uses an integrative approach involving multiple benthic and pelagic processes as measures of ecosystem function, and provides a comparison of these processes in three tidal creeks receiving different loads of treated sewage effluent. There were significant differences in process rates between Buffalo Creek (BC) (hypereutrophic), which receives the largest sewage loads; Myrmidon Creek (MC) (oligotrophic-mesotrophic) which receives smaller sewage inputs; and ...
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    The effect of increased nutrient loads on biogeochemical processes in macrotidal, mangrove-lined creeks was studied in tropical Darwin Harbour, Australia. This study uses an integrative approach involving multiple benthic and pelagic processes as measures of ecosystem function, and provides a comparison of these processes in three tidal creeks receiving different loads of treated sewage effluent. There were significant differences in process rates between Buffalo Creek (BC) (hypereutrophic), which receives the largest sewage loads; Myrmidon Creek (MC) (oligotrophic-mesotrophic) which receives smaller sewage inputs; and Reference Creek (RC) (oligotrophic) which is comparatively pristine. Benthic nutrient fluxes and denitrification were more than an order of magnitude higher and lower, respectively, in BC and denitrification efficiency (DE) was <10%. Pelagic primary production rates were also much higher in BC but respiration exceeded primary production resulting in severe drawdown of O 2 concentrations at night. Hypoxic conditions released oxide-bound phosphorus and inhibited coupled nitrification-denitrification, enhancing benthic nitrogen and phosphorus fluxes, leading to a build-up of excess nutrients in the water column. Poor water quality in BC was exacerbated by limited tidal flushing imposed by a narrow meandering channel and sandbar across the mouth. In contrast to BC, the effect of the sewage load in MC was confined to the water column, and the impact was temporary and highly localized. This is attributed to the effective flushing of the sewage plume with each tidal cycle. Denitrification rates in MC and RC were high (up to 6.83 mmol N m -2 day -1) and DE was approximately 90%. This study has identified denitrification, benthic nutrient fluxes and pelagic primary production as the biogeochemical processes most affected by nutrient loading in these tidal creek systems. Physical process play a key role and the combined influence of nutrient loading and poor tidal flushing can have serious consequences for ecosystem functioning
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    Journal Title
    Biogeochemistry
    Volume
    108
    Issue
    1-3
    DOI
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-011-9605-z
    Copyright Statement
    © 2012 Springer Netherlands. This is an electronic version of an article published in Biogeochemistry, 2012, Volume 108, Issue 1–3, pp 359–380. Biogeochemistry is available online at: http://link.springer.com/ with the open URL of your article.
    Subject
    Other chemical sciences
    Geochemistry
    Other environmental sciences not elsewhere classified
    Publication URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10072/48711
    Collection
    • Journal articles

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