Responses of Estuarine Bacterioplankton,Phytoplankton and Zooplankton to Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and Inorganic Nutrient Additions

The response of planktonic bacteria and phytoplankton to various additions of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) as glucose, with and without inorganic nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), was tested in the upper to mid Hunter Estuary, Australia. In situ microcosms (1.25 L) were performed at two sites with varying salinities over three seasons. Analysis of variance showed a significant difference among control and treatments for all seasons for the bacterial, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a responses (P < 0.05). A significant interaction between treatment and site was found in autumn for dissolved oxygen, autumn and spring for bacterial and spring for chlorophyll a responses. At both sites for each season, and on nearly all occasions, bacterial surface area was enhanced by DOC addition as indicated by both increased bacterial abundance and dissolved oxygen utilisation. DOC in combination with inorganic nutrients sometimes further enhanced the bacterial response compared to DOC alone. Inorganic nutrients alone did not enhance growth of the heterotrophic bacterioplankton. Addition of DOC alone led to decreased chlorophyll a relative to the control, probably due to competition for limited inorganic nutrients with the bacterioplankton DOC non-limiting conditions. Results suggest that the heterotrophic community was limited by DOC at both sites and across seasons. An experiment with a larger volume (70 L), performed over a longer time, compared a control with DOC addition. Increased bacterial biomass as a result of DOC addition occurred at day 2. Chlorophyll a did not significantly differ between treatments. An increase in zooplankton density was recorded in the DOC treatment relative to the control at day 10. This study supports the contention that increased DOC delivery with river inflows through environmental flow allocations will stimulate heterotrophic bacterioplankton production in the upper Hunter Estuary.     

Properties of fluorescent dissolved organic matter in the Gironde Estuary

The isolation, characterization and study of the properties of aquatic dissolved organic matter (DOM) still represent a challenge because of the heterogeneity, complexity and low concentration of organic material in natural waters. Based on its ability to interact with contaminants and thus to modify their transport and bioavailability, DOM is of interest for environmental purposes. The objective of this work was to better characterize DOM in the Gironde Estuary (southwestern France). The estuary represents an exchange zone between the continent and the Atlantic Ocean and conditions the transfer of organic and inorganic substances from the continental to the oceanic environment. Several samples were collected along the estuary during three cruises in 2002 and 2006. They were analysed using excitation–emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy, a sensitive technique that allows direct analysis of water samples. Fluorescent DOM and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) did not behave conservatively in this estuarine system, i.e. the organic material did not undergo simple dilution from the upstream to the downstream part of the estuary. A seasonal variability in DOC content was pointed out, whereas few seasonal variations in DOM fluorescence were observed. DOM sources and processing in the estuary were further evaluated by determining two fluorescence indices – the humification index (HIX) and the index of recent autochthonous contribution (BIX). By applying these indices, the relative degree of humification (HIX) and autotrophic productivity (BIX) could be assessed. Based on the fluorescence and DOC results, the estuary was divided into three zones depending on salinity (S) and characterized by specific DOM: (i) A turbid zone of low salinity (S < 5) and high suspended particulate matter concentration with increase in the intensities of the α′ and α fluorophores, characteristic of humic-like compounds. (ii) A mid-estuarine zone (5 < S < 25) characterized by low autotrophic productivity and containing strongly degraded organic material, as shown by the low values of BIX and high values of HIX. (iii) A higher salinity area (S > 25) characterized by increased autotrophic productivity and a marked marine influence, and associated with high and low values of BIX and HIX, respectively. The HIX and BIX indices were shown as useful tools for readily defining and classifying DOM characteristics in estuarine waters.     

Fluxes of dissolved combined neutral sugars (polysaccharides) in the Delaware estuary

This project examined concentrations, composition and turnover neutral sugars in the Delaware estuary to gain insights into dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) use by heterotrophic bacteria and into the lability and diagenetic state of dissolved organic material (DOM) during passage through the estuary. Dissolved free monosaccharides were not measurable (<5 nM) in the estuary whereas concentrations of dissolved combined neutral sugars (DCNS) were high, much higher than observed in oceanic waters. DCNS made up a similar fraction of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) as in the oceanic waters examined to date, and the monosaccharide composition of the DCNS pool was similar to that of oceanic waters. The composition did not vary substantially within the estuary or seasonally, but it did vary among three size fractions of the organic matter pool. Glucose was enriched in the low molecular weight fraction of DOC and in particulate material, whereas the high molecular weight DOC fraction was slightly depleted in glucose. Depletion experiments indicated that DCNS is not used extensively on the day time scale in the Delaware estuary, although freshly-produced polysaccharides may still be important carbon sources for heterotrophic bacteria. The very low concentrations of free monosaccharides in the Delaware estuary help to explain why DIN use by heterotrophic bacteria is relatively low in this estuary. Although DOC-DIN interactions in the Delaware apparently differ from oceanic waters, the portion of DOM traced by DCNS, which is thought to be the labile fraction, appears to be similar to that of oceanic DOM, suggesting that organic material in the estuary is degraded extensively before being exported to the coastal ocean.     

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) export to a temperate estuary: seasonal variations and implications of land use

Inputs of dissolved carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus were assessed for an estuary and its catchment (Horsens, Denmark). Seasonal patterns in the concentrations of DOM in the freshwater supply to the estuary differed depending on the soil and drainage characteristics of the area. In streams draining more natural areas the, patterns observed were largely driven by seasonal temperature fluctuations. The material exported from agricultural areas was more variable and largely controlled by precipitation events. Positive exponential relationships were found between the nitrogen and phosphorus loading, and the percentage of catchment area used for agriculture. Colored DOM (CDOM) loading measurements were found to be a good predictor of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) loading across the different subcatchments, offering a rapid and inexpensive alternative of operationally monitoring DOC export. For all the dissolved nutrient inputs to the estuary, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved organic phosphorus dominated the loadings. Although 81% of the nitrogen annually supplied to the estuary was DIN, 83% of the nitrogen exported from the estuary was dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). Results show that increasing the area of the catchment covered by forest and natural pastures would have a positive effect on the trophic status of the estuary, leading to a considerable decrease in the phosphorus loading and a shift in the nitrogen loading from DIN to DON. Such a change in land use would also increase the export of DOC and CDOM to the estuary having the potential to increase oxygen consumption and reduce the photic depth.     

Effects of sugar cane monocultures on origin and characteristics of dissolved organic matter in the Manguaba lagoon in northeast Brazil

Brazil has extensive sugar cane monocultures, which significantly alter hydrogeochemical material fluxes. We studied dissolved organic matter (OM) fluxes in the Manguaba lagoon-estuary system, which drains a sugar cane monoculture-dominated hinterland and discharges into the Atlantic coastal ocean. The OM fluxes into the lagoon originate from baseflow, field runoff and sugar cane factory effluents. In the study, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration, δ¹³C DOC and UV absorbance were analysed along a freshwater-seawater salinity gradient that encompasses river (DOC 9-11 mg l⁻¹, δ¹³C −22.2‰ to −25.5‰); lagoon (4-11 mg l⁻¹, −20.5‰ to −24.8‰); estuary (3-9 mg l⁻¹, −22.6‰ to −25.3‰) and coastal waters (1.64 mg l⁻¹, −21‰) with different intra-seasonal runoff conditions. We used the carbon isotope data to quantify the sugar cane derived DOC. Where river water meets brackish lagoon water, substantial loss of DOC occurs during rainy conditions, when suspended sediment from eroded fields in the river is very high. During dry weather, at much lower suspension levels, DOC increases, however, presumably from addition of photolysed resuspended sedimentary OM. In the estuary, mixing of DOC is strictly conservative. Ca. 1/3 of riverine DOM discharged into the lagoon has a sugar cane source. Within the lagoon on avg. 20% of the bulk DOM is comprised of sugar cane DOM, whereas during heavy rainfall the amount increases to 31%, due to intensified drainage flow and soil erosion. In the estuary, 14-26% is of sugar cane origin. The sugar cane-derived component follows the mixing patterns of bulk DOM.     

Integrating Multiple Natural Tags to Link Migration Patterns and Resource Partitioning Across a Subtropical Estuarine Gradient

Establishing links between migration patterns and trophic dynamics is paramount to ecological studies investigating the functional role habitats provide to resident and transient species. Natural tags in fishes, such as otolith chemistry and tissue stable isotopes, can help reconstruct previous environmental and dietary histories, although these approaches are rarely combined. A novel multiproxy natural tag approach was developed to estimate immigration patterns of juvenile Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus, across contrasting salinity gradients in three subtropical estuaries of the western Gulf of Mexico. Juvenile young-of-year Atlantic croaker were collected along a latitudinal gradient that included positive, neutral, and negative estuaries, based on physicochemical (temperature, salinity, dissolved element) and isotopic (δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C) parameters. Otolith elemental chronologies of Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca were used to classify migratory types within each estuary, while tissue-specific isotope ratios revealed time since recent (liver~weeks) and longer term (muscle~months) diet shifts. Nitrogen isotopes in both liver and muscle tissues were highly correlated, suggesting tissue equilibrium and estuarine residence of at least 3 months, with geographic δ¹⁵N gradients reflecting the magnitude of anthropogenic nutrient enrichment within each estuary. Differences in isotopic equilibrium of muscle-liver δ¹³C values and variation in marginal edge otolith Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca suggested recent shifts in carbon source and habitat utilization, reflecting individualized movement across seascapes and connectivity of habitat mosaics. The multiproxy approach presented here identified diverse migration patterns and linked feeding and movement on regional (inter-estuary), local (intra-estuary), and individual scales to improve our understanding of habitat function across estuarine gradients.     

Dissolved and particulate organic carbon in Chesapeake Bay

We measured dissolved and particulate organic carbon (DOC and POC) in samples collected along 13 transects of the salinity gradient of Chesapeake Bay. Riverine DOC and POC end-members averaged 232±19 μM and 151±53 μM, respectively, and coastal DOC and POC end-members averaged 172±19 μM and 43±6 μM, respectively. Within the chlorophyll maximum, POC accumulated to concentrations 50–150 μM above those expected from conservative mixing and it was significantly correlated with chlorophylla, indicating phytoplankton origin. POC accumulated primarily in bottom waters in spring, and primarily in surface waters in summer. Net DOC accumulation (60–120 μM) was observed within and downstream of the chlorophyll maximum, primarily during spring and summer in both surface and bottom waters, and it also appeared to be derived from phytoplankton. In the turbidity maximum, there were also net decreases in chlorophylla (?3 μg l^?1 to ?22 μg l^?1) and POC concentrations (?2 μM to ?89 μM) and transient DOC increases (9–88 μM), primarily in summer. These occurred as freshwater plankton blooms mixed with turbid, low salinity seawater, and we attribute the observed POC and DOC changes to lysis and sedimentation of freshwater plankton. DOC accumulation in both regions of Chesapeake Bay was estimated to be greater than atmospheric or terrestrial organic carbon inputs and was equivalent to ≈10% of estuarine primary production.     

Organic matter compositions and DOM release from the sediments of the shallow lakes in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River region, China

The contents of different organic matter components and dissolved organic matter (DOM) release kinetics of the sediments from the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River region were investigated, and their relationships discussed. The results show that organic C (OC) ranged from 8.14 to 43.65 g kg⁻¹, dissolved organic C (DOC) from 0.38 to 1.38 g kg⁻¹, active organic C (AOC) from 1.12 to 4.45 g kg⁻¹, heavy fraction organic C (HFOC) from 6.86 to 39.08 g kg⁻¹, accounting for 2.42-9.34%, 8.66-29.72% and 84.29-93.18% of OC, respectively. With increasing of OC content the ratios of DOC to OC and AOC to OC decreased. The contents of AOC, DOC, light fraction organic C (LFOC) and their contribution ratios to OC in studied sediments were higher than those reported in soils. The DOM release process of the studied sediments includes rapid and slow stages, and the rapid release occurred within 30 min, mainly in 5 min. The DOM release kinetic data in this investigation can be best fitted by the Power Function model. The correlations between total N (TN), total P (TP), OC, DOC, AOC, LFOC, HFOC and the DOM release kinetic parameters (k, c, a, b, rate₃₀) of the sediments were significant. There were also significant correlations between TN, TP, OC, DOC, LFOC and HFOC in sediments. So the DOM release from sediment was not only related to the OC content, but also related to the organic matter composition characteristics, especially the contents of DOC, AOC and LFOC.     

The behaviour of dissolved organic material,iron and manganese in estuarine mixing

Fractionation by ultra-filtration of the dissolved organic material (DOM) in the River Beaulieu, with typical concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) of 7–8 mg C/l, showed it to be mainly in the nominal molecular weight range of 10³–10⁵, with 16–23% of the total DOC in the fraction > 10⁵. The molecular weight distribution of DOM in the more alkaline River Test (average DOC, 2 mg C/l) was similar. In the River Beaulieu water, containing 136–314 βg Fe/l in ‘dissolved’ forms, 90% or more of this Fe was in the nominal molecular weight fraction > 10⁵. Experiments showed that DOM of nominal molecular weight <10⁵ could stabilize Fe(III) in ‘dissolved’ forms. The concentrations of ‘dissolved’ Fe in the river water probably reflect the presence of colloidal Fe stabilized by organic material and this process may influence the apparent molecular weight of the DOM. Dissolved. Mn (100–136 βg/l) in the River Beaulieu was mainly in true solution, probably as Mn(II), with some 30% in forms of molecular weight greater than ca 10⁴.During mi xing in the Beaulieu Estuary, DOC and dissolved Mn behave essentially conservatively. This contrasts with the removal of a large fraction of the dissolved Fe (Holliday and LISS, 1976, Est. Coastal Mar. Sci. 4, 349–353). Concentrations of lattice-held Fe and Mn in suspended particulate material were essentially uniform in the estuary, at 3.2 and 0.012%, respectively, whereas the non-lattice held fractions decreased markedly with increase in salinity. For Mn the decrease was linear and could be most simply accounted for by the physical mixing of riverborne and marine participates, although the possibility that some desorption occurs is not excluded. The non-linear decrease in the concentration of non-lattice held Fe in particulates reflected the more complex situation in which physical mixing is accompanied by removal of material from the ‘dissolved’ fraction.     

Anthropogenic Nutrient Sources Supplied to a Chesapeake Bay Tributary Support Algal Growth: A Bioassay and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Approach

Three anthropogenic sources (urban, soil, and industrial runoff) were characterized for bulk nutrient and dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition using wet chemistry and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Each source was unique based on its chemical composition. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen (N) comprised 91, 60, and 20 % of the total N pool in the soil, urban, and industrial sources, respectively. The DOM composition was dominated by terrestrial compounds in the soil, condensed hydrocarbons, lipids and proteins in the urban, and lipid-like compounds in the industrial source. A York River (VA) phytoplankton assemblage, dominated by Cochlodinium polykrikoides, was amended with the sources during a 7-day bioassay. There was a doubling of chlorophyll a and/or cell concentrations within 2 days, in the +Urban and +Soil treatments. The + Industrial treatment supported algal growth, but increases in cell abundances were only statistically significant at the end of the experiment (days 5–7), suggesting that this material was less labile to the original York River community than the other anthropogenic nutrient sources, on the relatively short timescale of the study.     

An instrument system for high-speed mapping of chlorophyll a and physico-chemical variables in surface waters

A device incorporating microprocessor control and flow-through sampling permits high-speed measurements of chlorophyll a, and physical and chemical variables in aquatic systems. Continuous sampling of chlorophyll a, conductivity, temperature, salinity, incident photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), underwater PAR, and pH facilitates multiple correlations and mapping of variables at both small and large spatial scales. The instrument is portable and can be installed in a small boat for “rapid response” sampling of large areas. The low-voltage DC power requirement and shallow draft make the device especially suitable for work in shallow coastal areas, tidal creeks, bayous, and physically complex aquatic landscapes where larger vessels cannot be operated. Examples of applications of the instrument are discussed. In Fourleague Bay, Louisiana, a shallow estuary on the Gulf of Mexico, we were able to detect horizontal chlorophyll a structure and transient fronts map spatial variations on the scale of a few meters to several kilometers, and follow movements of chlorophyll features through the estuary. These patterns were often not apparent when sampled at discrete stations.     

The pathway of mercury in contaminated waters determined by association with organic carbon (Tagus Estuary,Portugal)

Reactive dissolved Hg (Hg_R), non-reactive dissolved Hg (Hg_NR), particulate Hg (Hg_P), dissolved organic C (DOC), particulate organic C (POC), salinity and other interpretative parameters were determined in water samples collected in the North Channel and in adjacent areas of the Tagus estuary (Portugal). Higher concentrations of both dissolved and particulate Hg in the North Channel indicate a pollution source and raise the possibility of Hg escaping to adjacent areas by tidal action. This transport was confirmed by the increase of Hg_R with salinity and Hg_NR with DOC, along a longitudinal axis paralleling the North Channel. Apparently, Hg leaving this channel is progressively complexed by inorganic and organic ligands. Near the mouth of the estuary, values decreased reflecting dilution with seawater. Moreover the Hg_P:POC ratio also increased seaward, suggesting mixing with Hg enriched particles that escaped the North Channel, or incorporation of dissolved Hg species in river-derived particles. These results suggest that the pathway of anthropogenic Hg in contaminated waters may be identified by their enrichment in organic matter, both in the dissolved and particulate fraction.     

Carbon cycling in a shallow turbid estuary of southeast Texas: The use of plant pigment biomarkers and water quality parameters

Particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and plant pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) were measured approximately bimonthly from March 1992 to October 1993 in the Sabine-Neches estuary (Sabine Lake region), located on the Texas-Louisiana border. High freshwater inflow into this shallow turbid estuary results in the shortest hydraulic residence time (ca. 7 d) of all Texas estuaries (Baskaran et al. in press). Annual averages of chlorophyll-a (3.0 μg l^?1) and particulate organic carbon (1.1 mg l^?1) in the water column were extremely low in comparison to other shallow estuaries. The highest chlorophyll-a concentrations were observed in October 1993, in the mid and lower regions of the estuary, during the lowest river discharge. Zeaxanthin and fucoxanthin concentrations suggested that much of the chlorophyll-a during this low flow period was represented by cyanobacteria and diatoms that entered from the Gulf of Mexico. The range of DOC concentrations was generally high (4.4–20.9 mg l^?1) and were significantly correlated with POC, but not with chlorophyll-a concentrations. When total suspended particulate (TSP) concentrations were below 20 to 30 mg l^?1, there were significant increases in %POC and %PON of the TSP. The unusually high POC: chlorophyll-a ratios (highest value of 1423) suggested that much of the POC contained low concentrations of chlorophyll-a that had degraded during transport from wetlands in the Sabine and Neches rivers. Based on these data, this estuary can be characterized as a predominantly heterotrophic system, with low light penetrance, short particle-residence times, high DOC, and low inputs from autochthonous carbon sources.     

Metabolic Responses of Estuarine Microbial Communities to Discharge of Surface Runoff and Groundwater from Contrasting Landscapes

Groundwater discharge is increasingly recognized as a significant source of nutrient input to coastal waters, relative to surface water inputs. There remains limited information, however, on the extent to which nutrients and organic matter from each of these two flowpaths influence the functional responses of coastal microbial communities. As such, this study determined dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nutrient concentrations of surface water runoff and groundwater from both an urbanized and a relatively pristine forested drainage basin near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and quantified the changes in production rates and biomass of phytoplankton and bacterioplankton in response to these inputs during two microcosm incubation experiments (August and October, 2011). Rainwater in the urbanized basin that would otherwise enter the groundwater appeared to be largely rerouted into the surface flowpath by impervious surfaces, bypassing ecosystem buffers and filtration mechanisms. Surface runoff from the developed basin was most enriched in nutrients and DOC and yielded the highest production rates of the various source waters upon addition to coastal waters. The metabolic responses of phytoplankton and bacterioplankton were generally well predicted as a function of initial chemical composition of the various source waters, though more so with bacterial production. Primary and bacterial productivities often correlated at reciprocal time points (24-h measurement of one with the 72-h measurement of the other). These results suggest human modification of coastal watersheds enhances the magnitude of dissolved constituents delivered to coastal waters as well as alters their distributions between surface and groundwater flowpaths, with significant implications for microbial community structure and function in coastal receiving waters.     

Temporal variability in sources of dissolved organic carbon in the lower Mississippi river

Here we report on the temporal changes in the composition of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) collected in the tidal freshwater region of the lower Mississippi River. Lignin-phenols, bulk stable carbon isotopes, compound-specific isotope analyses (CSIA) and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry were used to examine the composition of high molecular weight dissolved organic matter (HMW DOM) at one station in the lower river over 6 different flow regimes in 1998 and 1999. It was estimated that the annual input of DOC delivered to the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River was of 3.1 × 10⁻³ Pg, which represents 1.2% of the total global input of DOC from rivers to the ocean. Average DOC and HMW DOC were 489 ±163 and 115 ± 47 μM, respectively. ¹³C-NMR spectra revealed considerably more aliphatic structures than aromatic carbons in HMW DOC. Lignin phenols were significantly ¹³C-depleted with respect to bulk HMW DOM indicating that C₄ grass inputs to the HMW DOM were not significant. It is speculated that C₄ organic matter in the river is not being converted (via microbial decay) to HMW DOM as readily as C₃ organic matter is, because of the association of C₄ organic matter with finer sediments. The predominantly aliphatic ¹³C NMR signature of HMW DOM suggests that autochthonous production in the river may be more important as a source of DOC than previously thought. Increases in nutrient loading and decreases in the suspended load (because of dams) in the Mississippi River, as well as other large rivers around the world, has resulted in significant changes in the sources and overall cycling of riverine DOC.     

Nutrient-Replete Benthic Microalgae as a Source of Dissolved Organic Carbon to Coastal Waters

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) flux dynamics were examined in the context of other biogeochemical cycles in intertidal sediments inhabited by benthic microalgae. In August 2003, gross oxygenic photosynthetic (GOP) rates, oxygen penetration depths, and benthic flux rates were quantified at seven sites along the Duplin River, GA, USA. Sediments contained abundant benthic microalgal (BMA) biomass with a maximum chlorophyll a concentration of 201 mg chl a m^?2. Oxygen microelectrodes were used to determine GOP rates and O₂ penetration depth, which were tightly correlated with light intensity. Baseline and ¹⁵N-nitrate amended benthic flux core incubations were employed to quantify benthic fluxes and to investigate the impact of BMA on sediment water exchange under nitrogen (N)-limited and N-replete conditions. Unamended sediments exhibited tight coupling between GOP and respiration and served as a sink for water column dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and a source of silicate and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). The BMA response to the N addition indicated sequential nutrient limitation, with N limitation followed by silicate limitation. In diel (light–dark) incubations, biological assimilation accounted for 83% to 150% of the nitrate uptake, while denitrification (DNF) and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) accounted for <7%; in contrast, under dark conditions, DNF and DNRA accounted for >40% of the NO₃ ^? uptake. The N addition shifted the metabolic status of the sediments from a balance of autotrophy and heterotrophy to net autotrophy under diel conditions, and the sediments served as a sink for water column DIN, silicate, and DIC but became a source of DOC, suggesting that the increased BMA production was decoupled from sediment bacterial consumption of DOC.     

Seasonal distributions of suspended particulate material and dissolved nutrients in a coastal plain estuary

The temporal and spatial distributions of salinity, dissolved oxygen, suspended particulate material (SPM), and dissolved nutrients were determined during 1983 in the Choptank River, an estuarine tributary of Chesapeake Bay. During winter and spring freshets, the middle estuary was strongly stratified with changes in salinity of up to 5‰ occurring over 1 m depth intervals. Periodically, the lower estuary was stratified due to the intrusion of higher salinity water from the main channel of Chesapeake Bay. During summer this intrusion caused minimum oxygen and maximum NH₄ ⁺ concentrations at the mouth of the Choptank River estuary. Highest concentrations of SPM, particulate carbon (PC), particulate nitrogen (PN), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorous (TP) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) occurred in the upper estuary during the early spring freshet. In contrast, minimum soluble reactive phosphate (SRP) concentrations were highest in the upper estuary in summer when freshwater discharge was low. In spring, PC:PN ratios were >13, indicating a strong influence by allochthonous plant detritus on PC and PN concentrations. However, high concentrations of PC and PN in fall coincided with maximum chlorophyll a concentrations and PC:PN ratios were <8, indicating in situ productivity controlled PC and PN levels. During late spring and summer, DIN concentrations decreased from >100 to <10 μg-at l^?1, resulting mainly from the nonconservative behavior of NO₃ ^?, which dominated the DIN pool. Atomic ratios of both the inorganic and total forms of N and P exceeded 100 in spring, but by summer, ratios decreased to <5 and <15, respectively. The seasonal and spatial changes in both absolute concentrations and ratios of N and P reflect the strong influence of allochthonous inputs on nutrient distributions in spring, followed by the effects of internal processes in summer and fall.     

Relationships between DOC concentration,molecular size and fluorescence properties of DOM in a stream

The patterns of dissolved organic matter (DOM) fluorescence properties were examined in a Precambrian shield stream over a seven-month field study. Unique spatial and temporal patterns of simultaneous changes were observed in dissolved organic carbon concentration (DOC), humic-like fluorescence intensity, maximum excitation and emission wavelengths and fluorescence index (the ratio of the emission intensity at a wavelength of 450 nm to that at 500 nm at an excitation wavelength of 370 nm). The spatial change indicates the alteration of DOM along the length of the stream, and temporal change corresponded to a drought event in August. In contrast to humic-like fluorescence, the protein-like fluorescence shows considerable variability, suggesting its ephemeral nature. There were strong relationships between humic-like fluorescence intensity, fluorescence index, maximum Ex/Em wavelengths, DOC concentration and molecular size of DOM. This study has significant implications to the understanding of the nature and biogeochemical cycling of DOM.     

Dissolved Trace Metal–Organic Complexes in the Lot–Garonne River System Determined Using the C18 Sep-Pak System

An 11-month observation of dissolved and particulate organic matter, chlorophyll a(Chl a), C18 Sep-Pak extractable hydrophobic dissolved organic matter (hDOM) fraction and associated dissolved trace metals (Cd, Cu, V, Co, Ni, Mo, U) was performed in the Lot–Garonne River system. This system includes the Riou Mort, the Lot River and the downstream reaches of the Garonne River and represents the fluvial transport path of trace metals between the major point source of polymetallic pollution, located in the Riou Mort watershed and the Gironde estuary. Spatial and temporal variations of dissolved and particulate organic carbon and Chl areflect the presence of different types of organic matter and their relation with the hDOM fraction. Maximum Chl a/POC ratios (up to 0.03), indicate intense phytoplankton production from March to May. In the Lot River (Temple), DOC and POC concentrations were clearly higher and mean Chl a concentration (2.8 mg g⁻¹) was about three times higher than those of the other sites. High Chl a/POC ratios suggest high phytoplankton activity with maxima in spring and late summer. In the Riou Mort River, very high POC concentrations of up to 40 (mean: 20) occurred, whereas Chl a concentrations were relatively low indicating low phytoplankton activity. High, strongly variable DOC and POC concentrations suggest important natural (Carboniferous soils, forests) or anthropogenic (e.g., former coal mines, waste areas, agriculture, sewage) carbon sources within the small Riou Mort watershed. Despite high DOC concentrations in the Riou Mort River, hDOM metal fractions were generally lower than those at the other sites. The general order of decreasing binding strength between metals and the organic hydrophobic phase (Cu, U > Co, Ni > V, Mo > Cd) at all four sites was in good agreement with the Irving–William series of transition element affinity towards organic ligands. Accordingly, the role of the hydrophobic phase in dissolved Cd transport appeared to be negligible, whereas the hDOM–Cu fraction strongly contributed to dissolved Cu transport.     

Formation and seasonal evolution of Atlantic menhaden juvenile nurseries in coastal estuaries

A hypothesis on the formation and seasonal evolution of Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) juvenile nurseries in coastal estuaries is described. A series of cruises were undertaken to capture postmetamorphic juvenile menhaden and to characterize several biological and physical parameters along estuarine gradients. The two study systems, the Neuse and Pamlico rivers in North Carolina, contain important menhaden nursery grounds. Juvenile menhaden abundance was found to be associated with gradients of phytoplankton biomass as evidenced by chlorophylla levels in the upper water column. Fish abundances were only secondarily associated with salinity gradients as salinity was a factor that moderated primary production in the estuary. The persistence of spatial and temporal trends in the distribution of phytoplankton in the Neuse and Pamlico estuaries was reviewed. The review suggested that postmetamorphic juvenile menhaden modify their distribution patterns to match those created by phytoplankton biomass, which in turn makes them most abundant in the phytoplankton maxima of estuaries. Because the location of these maxima varies with the mixing and nutrient dynamics of different estuaries, so will the location of the nursery.