From Headwaters to Coast: Influence of Human Activities on Water Quality of the Potomac River Estuary

The natural aging process of Chesapeake Bay and its tributary estuaries has been accelerated by human activities around the shoreline and within the watershed, increasing sediment and nutrient loads delivered to the bay. Riverine nutrients cause algal growth in the bay leading to reductions in light penetration with consequent declines in sea grass growth, smothering of bottom-dwelling organisms, and decreases in bottom-water dissolved oxygen as algal blooms decay. Historically, bay waters were filtered by oysters, but declines in oyster populations from overfishing and disease have led to higher concentrations of fine-sediment particles and phytoplankton in the water column. Assessments of water and biological resource quality in Chesapeake Bay and tributaries, such as the Potomac River, show a continual degraded state. In this paper, we pay tribute to Owen Bricker’s comprehensive, holistic scientific perspective using an approach that examines the connection between watershed and estuary. We evaluated nitrogen inputs from Potomac River headwaters, nutrient-related conditions within the estuary, and considered the use of shellfish aquaculture as an in-the-water nutrient management measure. Data from headwaters, nontidal, and estuarine portions of the Potomac River watershed and estuary were analyzed to examine the contribution from different parts of the watershed to total nitrogen loads to the estuary. An eutrophication model was applied to these data to evaluate eutrophication status and changes since the early 1990s and for comparison to regional and national conditions. A farm-scale aquaculture model was applied and results scaled to the estuary to determine the potential for shellfish (oyster) aquaculture to mediate eutrophication impacts. Results showed that (1) the contribution to nitrogen loads from headwater streams is small (about 2 %) of total inputs to the Potomac River Estuary; (2) eutrophic conditions in the Potomac River Estuary have improved in the upper estuary since the early 1990s, but have worsened in the lower estuary. The overall system-wide eutrophication impact is high, despite a decrease in nitrogen loads from the upper basin and declining surface water nitrate nitrogen concentrations over that period; (3) eutrophic conditions in the Potomac River Estuary are representative of Chesapeake Bay region and other US estuaries; moderate to high levels of nutrient-related degradation occur in about 65 % of US estuaries, particularly river-dominated low-flow systems such as the Potomac River Estuary; and (4) shellfish (oyster) aquaculture could remove eutrophication impacts directly from the estuary through harvest but should be considered a complement—not a substitute—for land-based measures. The total nitrogen load could be removed if 40 % of the Potomac River Estuary bottom was in shellfish cultivation; a combination of aquaculture and restoration of oyster reefs may provide larger benefits.     

Trophic Assessment in Chinese coastal systems-review of methods and application to the Changjiang (Yangtze) Estuary and Jiaozhou Bay

Coastal eutrophication has become one of the main threats to Chinese coastal areas during the last two decades. High nutrient loads from human activities have modified the natural background water quality in coastal water bodies, resulting in a range of undesirable effects. There is a need to assess the eutrophic level in coastal systems and to identify the extent of this impact to guide development of appropriate management efforts. Traditional Chinese assessment methods are discussed and compared with other currently-used methods, such as the Oslo-Paris Convention for the Protection of the North Sea (OSPAR) Comprehensive Procedure and Assessment of Estuarine Trophic Status (ASSETS). The ASSETS method and two Chinese methods were tested on two Chinese systems: the Changjiang (Yangtze) Estuary and Jiaozhou Bay. ASSETS is process based, and uses a pressure-state-response model based on three main indices: Influencing Factors, Overall Eutrophic Condition, and Future Outlook. The traditional methods are based on a nutrient index. ASSETS was successfully applied to both systems, classifying the Changjiang Estuary as Bad (high eutrophication) and Jiaozhou Bay as High (low eutrophication). The traditional methods led to ambiguous results, particularly for Jiaozhou Bay, due to the high spatial variability of data and a failure to assess the role of shellfish aquaculture in nutrient control. An overview of the Chinese coastal zone identifies 50 estuaries and bays that should form part of a national assessment. A comparison of methods and results suggests that ASSETS is a promising tool for evaluating the eutrophication status of these systems.     

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Benthic Oxygen Demand and Nutrient Regeneration in an Anthropogenically Impacted New England Estuary

Strong benthic–pelagic coupling is an important characteristic of shallow coastal marine ecosystems. Building upon a rich history of benthic metabolism data, we measured oxygen uptake and nutrient fluxes across the sediment–water interface along a gradient of water column primary production in Narragansett Bay, RI (USA). Despite the strong gradients seen in water column production, sediment oxygen demand (SOD) and benthic nutrient fluxes did not exhibit a clear spatial pattern. Some of our sites had been studied in the 1970s and 1980s and thus allowed historical comparison. At these sites, we found that SOD and benthic fluxes have not changed uniformly throughout Narragansett Bay. In the uppermost portion of the bay, the Providence River Estuary, we observed a significant decrease in dissolved inorganic phosphorus fluxes which we attribute to management interventions. At another upper bay site, we observed significant declines in SOD and dissolved inorganic nitrogen fluxes which may be linked to climate-induced decreases in water column primary production and shifts in bloom phenology. In the 1970s, benthic nutrient regeneration supplied 50% to over 200% of the N and P needed to support primary production by phytoplankton. Summer nutrient regeneration in the Providence River Estuary and Upper bay now may only supply some 5–30% of the N and 3–20% of the P phytoplankton demand.     

Coupling Between the Coastal Ocean and Yaquina Bay,Oregon: Importance of Oceanic Inputs Relative to Other Nitrogen Sources

Understanding of the role of oceanic input in nutrient loadings is important for understanding nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics in estuaries adjacent to coastal upwelling regions as well as determining the natural background conditions. We examined the nitrogen sources to Yaquina Estuary (Oregon, USA) as well as the relationships between physical forcing and gross oceanic input of nutrients and phytoplankton. The ocean is the dominant source of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphate to the lower portion of Yaquina Bay during the dry season (May through October). During this time interval, high levels of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (primarily in the form of nitrate) and phosphate entering the estuary lag upwelling favorable winds by 2 days. The nitrate and phosphate levels entering the bay associated with coastal upwelling are correlated with the wind stress integrated over times scales of 4–6 days. In addition, there is a significant import of chlorophyll a to the bay from the coastal ocean region, particularly during July and August. Variations in flood-tide chlorophyll a lag upwelling favorable winds by 6 days, suggesting that it takes this amount of time for phytoplankton to utilize the recently upwelled nitrogen and be transported across the shelf into the estuary. Variations in water properties determined by ocean conditions propagate approximately 11–13 km into the estuary. Comparison of nitrogen sources to Yaquina Bay shows that the ocean is the dominant source during the dry season (May to October) and the river is the dominant source during the wet season with watershed nitrogen inputs primarily associated with nitrogen fixation on forest lands.     

Concentrations and possible sources of PAHs in sediments from Bohai Bay and adjacent shelf

Concentrations, spatial distribution and sources of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) listed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as priority pollutants were investigated in surface sediments of Bohai Bay, North China. Total concentrations of PAHs were in the range of 140.6–300.7 ng/g (dry wt), with an average of 188.0 ng/g. The three predominant PAHs were phenanthrene, acenaphthene and naphthalene. Sedimentary PAH concentrations of the north and central Bohai Bay were higher than those of the southern side of this bay. PAHs source analysis suggested that PAHs in most of the sediments were mainly from grass, wood and coal incomplete combustion. At other stations near the estuaries (Luanhe River Estuary and Chaohe River Estuary) or the oil drilling platform, both petrogenic and pyrogenic inputs were significant. The pyrogenic PAHs close to the oil drilling platform were mainly from petroleum combustion.     

A Biogeochemical View of Estuarine Eutrophication: Seasonal and Spatial Trends and Correlations in the Delaware Estuary

The Delaware River and Bay Estuary is one of the major urbanized estuaries of the world. The 100-km long tidal river portion of the estuary suffered from major summer hypoxia in the past due to municipal and industrial inputs in the urban region; the estuary has seen remarkable water quality improvements from recent municipal sewage treatment upgrades. However, the estuary still has extremely high nutrient loading, which appears to not have much adverse impact. Since the biogeochemistry of the estuary has been relatively similar for the past two decades, our multiple year research database is used in this review paper to address broad spatial and seasonal patterns of conditions in the tidal river and 120 km long saline bay. Dissolved oxygen concentrations show impact from allochthonous urban inputs and meteorological forcing as well as biological influences. Nutrient concentrations, although high, do not stimulate excessive algal biomass due to light and multiple nutrient element limitations. Since the bay does not have strong persistent summer stratification, there is little potential for bottom water hypoxia. Elevated chlorophyll concentrations do not exert much influence on light attenuation since resuspended bottom inorganic sediments dominate the turbidity. Dissolved inorganic carbon and dissolved and particulate organic carbon distributions show significant variability from watershed inputs and lesser impact from urban inputs and biological processes. Ratios of dissolved and particulate carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus help to understand watershed and urban inputs as well as autochthonous biological influences. Owing to the relatively simple geometry of the system and localized anthropogenic inputs as well as a broad spatial and seasonal database, it is possible to develop these biogeochemical trends and correlations for the Delaware Estuary. We suggest that this biogeochemical perspective allows a revised evaluation of estuarine eutrophication that should have generic value for understanding other estuarine and coastal waters.     

Temporal and spatial evolution of surface sediments characteristics in the Dagu River estuary and their dynamic response mechanism

Based on the 39 surface sediment samples collected in the flood season and the dry season in 2012 respectively and the measured hydrological data in October 2012, the sediment grain size characteristics has been analyzed and the response mechanism of surface sediments to estuarine hydrodynamics was revealed by calculating the range of waves and tidal currents. The results show that: (1) The grain size of the surface sediment samples decreased gradually from land to sea in the flood season. The fine sediment was redistributed under marine hydrodynamics in the dry season and the sediments showed coarser tendency ingeneral; (2) tidal current stirring sediment was very obvious in Dagu River estuary area, and wave stirring sediments mainly occurred in the tidal flat area and estuary sand bar area; (3) in the flood season, surface sediment sat the estuary were transported towards south and southeast. In the dry season, surface sediments were transported towards southwest at the north area of Jiaozhou Bay Bridge, and sediments were transported towards northeast area at the south of Jiaozhou Bay Bridge.     

Responses of upper Chesapeake Bay to variations in discharge of the Susquehanna River

Upper Chesapeake Bay can be defined as the segment of the bay extending from its head seaward to the mouth of the Potomac Estuary. The Susquehanna River Estuary provides approximately 87% of the total freshwater input to this reach of the bay. With infrequent exceptions, resulting from summer and early fall hurricanes, the Susquehanna River has a well-defined seasonal flow pattern typical of mid-latitude rivers: high discharge in late winter and early spring, followed by low-to-moderate discharge throughout the summer and autumn. Within this general seasonal framework, there are large year-to-year variations in the magnitude of the early spring freshet and of the summer-fall period of low flow. The large seasonal variations in river flow produce significant responses to this fluctuating signal which are manifested in variations in the milieu of upper Chesapeake Bay. Stratification, circulation, sedimentation, nutrient levels, dissolved oxygen levels, and a number of other important and characteristic properties and processes of the upper bay all are closely coupled to variations in discharge of the Susquehanna River. Effects are not limited to the bay proper. Renewal of the tributary estuaries of the upper bay is controlled by variations in flow of the Susquehanna River.     

河口湾水动力环境对滩涂利用的累积响应——以珠江口伶仃洋为例

为揭示河口湾水动力环境对滩涂利用的累积响应过程,以珠江口伶仃洋河口湾为例,基于潮波数学模型和潮流数学模型,研究了1981年以来湾内进出潮量、分潮振幅和潮流流速的累积变化。结果表明:相对于1981年,2018年岸线条件下伶仃洋湾口断面涨落潮量累积减少4.9%~6.0%、内伶仃断面涨落潮量累积减少9.0%~12.8%、深圳湾断面涨落潮量累积减少17.8%、南沙断面涨落潮量累积减少5.0%~6.3%;伶仃洋M₂分潮振幅呈增加趋势,振幅增幅由南向北增加,潮波由南向北变形进一步加剧;伶仃洋最大可能潮差变化与M₂分潮振幅变化趋势一致,潮汐性质没有发生变化;伶仃洋潮流流速总体减小,西岸流速减幅高于东岸,湾顶附近流速略有增加。     

Suspension-feeding bivalves and the fate of primary production: An estuarine model applied to Chesapeake Bay

A probabilistic mathematical model of bivalve suspension-feeding in estuaries is based on bivalve abundance, filtering capacities, and water mixing parameters. We applied the model to five regions of the upper Chesapeake Bay, ranging from shallow tidal fresh habitats to deep mesohaline habitats, for the years 1985 to 1987. Model results indicated that existing suspension-feeding bivalves could consume more than 50% of annual primary production in shallow freshwater and oligohaline reaches of the upper Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River. In deep mesohaline portions of the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River, suspension-feeding bivalves could consume only 10% of primary production. Independent estimates of benthic carbon demand based on benthic production supported the model predictions. Hydrodynamics of large estuaries restrict the potential of benthic suspension-feeders to crop phytoplankton production because the width and depth of these estuaries limit transport of pelagic waters to the littoral flanks of the estuaries where benthic suspension-feeders can be abundant. Benthic suspension-feeders are dominant consumers in shallow segments of the Chesapeake Bay system, but are suppressed in deeper segments. The suppression is below that set by hydrodynamic limits, and may be due to periodic hypoxia or other factors. Our results suggest that the proposed use of suspension-feeding bivalves to improve water quality of large estuaries will be limited by the depth and width of the estuary, unless the bivalves are suspended in the water column by artificial means.     

The sedimentary record of recent (last 500 years) environmental changes in the Seixal Bay marsh,Tagus estuary,Portugal

The inner Tagus estuary is essentially a sedimentation basin that receives cohesive sediment from terrestrial, marine, biological and anthropogenic sources. Three short cores from one site in a marsh area of this estuary (Seixal Bay) were analysed for sedimentary, geochemical and micropalaeontological contents (benthic foraminifera and nannoplankton). The length of the cores represents about half a millennium of sedimentation. Textural analysis suggests a highly uniform mud sedimentation for most of the cores but geochemical, mineralogical and micropaleontological results indicate climatic and environmental changes and anthropogenic disturbance. Three Foraminifera zones were identified. The lower part of the lower zone indicates sedimentation in an open channel or a lower domain of an exposed high-energy sandflat. Sediments of the upper part of the lower zone and of the middle zone were deposited in a lower-energy environment, probably associated with a sheltered, vertically aggrading mudflat located within the Seixal Bay. Biological and mineralogical indicators suggest that periods of total or partial closure of this bay occurred. Clay minerals indicate that drier and colder conditions prevailed in the lower half of this zone evolving gradually to a wetter and warmer environment towards the top. The upper zone indicates persistence of low-energy sedimentation and evolution towards the present salt-marsh conditions. Anthropogenic pollution is clear in geochemical proxies at the top of the sedimentary column and was used for dating purposes.     

Heavy metals in the benthic foraminifera from the coastal lagoons,Red Sea,Egypt: indicators of anthropogenic impact on environment (case study)

Concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Cd were measured in several species and genera of Recent benthic foraminifera from three coastal lagoons, namely Abu-Shaar, Umm al-Huwaytat, and Marsa Shuni lagoons located along the Egyptian Red Sea coast. Spatially significant differences in the metal concentrations of benthic foraminifera were recorded among different sites. However, some foraminiferal species display deformation in their coiling, general shape of chambers and the apertures. Abu-Shaar and Umm al-Huwaytat lagoons are virtually influenced by anthropogenic activities while Marsa Shuni lagoon is affected by natural inputs. Benthic foraminifer shows high concentrations of Fe and Mn, especially in Umm al-Huwaytat lagoon. Foraminiferal black tests support this result and reflect selectivity for iron absorption. Among the metals analyzed, Cd, Pb, and Cu showed significant high concentrations in benthic foraminifera at the study areas. The anthropogenic activities and natural inputs are responsible for the abnormalities in benthic foraminifera. Therefore, benthic foraminifera can be used as a good indicator of the environmental changes.     

胶州湾滨海湿地的景观格局变化及环境效应

在湿地景观类型分类基础上,利用RS及GIS技术提取了1986、1995和2010年胶州湾滨海湿地的Landsat卫星假彩色合成影像的空间属性数据,利用斑块动态度、斑块密度指数、景观多样性指数、斑块破碎化指数研究了胶州湾滨海湿地的景观格局变化及累积环境效应。结果表明,1986～2010年胶州湾滨海湿地总面积减少,河流与河口湿地面积稍有增大,潮间带滩涂和潮上带湿地面积和斑块数减小;养殖池面积增大、斑块数增多,盐田面积减小、斑块数基本未变,增加了湿地公园这种新的人工湿地景观类型。期间,湿地的景观斑块密度指数、多样性指数和景观斑块破碎化指数增大了。上述湿地面积和景观格局变化是由围垦、城市化、港口和道路建设、河流径流量和输沙量减少、海岸侵蚀、海水入侵、全球变暖、海面上升等因素引起的,并导致湿地生物多样化水平下降、有害植物入侵、环境净化功能降低、污染和赤潮灾害加重、植被退化演替、渔业资源衰退和湿地生态系统服务价值降低等累积环境效应。为减轻这些不利的累积环境效应,应采取建设湿地自然保护区、控制养殖池和盐田规模、发展工业循环经济和生态农业等措施保护胶州湾滨海湿地。     

Diel oxygen dynamics and anoxic events in an eutrophic estuary of Waquoit Bay,Massachusetts

As a result of nutrient loading from septic systems, a thick canopy of macroalgae covers the bottom of Waquoit Bay, an embayment on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Using automated conductivity-temperature-oxygen recorders and manual profiles, we measured diel water column O₂ changes during summer in the Childs River, the estuary of the bay with the highest housing density. At dawn in midsummer, bottom waters in the Childs River are chronically hypoxic due to high rates of benthic respiration. On sunny days benthic photosynthesis drives bottom water O₂ to 10–15 mg l^?1 by afternoon. The extent of the daily O₂ excursion is directly proportional to daily irradiance. Large diel O₂ excursions in bottom water are due to limited mixing of surface and bottom water. Density stratification exceeded two sigma-t units 85% of the time during midsummer in the Childs River. Because of stratification, hypoxia and even anoxia occur in this estuary. The first of several anoxic events was observed in Waquoit Bay in 1988, and we have attempted to evaluate factors that trigger anoxia. High rates of benthic respiration result in anoxia when replenishment of O₂ during the day is limited by insufficient light. Our analysis of meteorological records during two recent anoxic events shows that anoxia develops overnight in midsummer during periods of peak summertime temperatures after several days of cloudy, moderately calm weather. Similarly critical conditions existed most summers since 1975, yet anoxic events in the bay have not been reported historically. If climatic warming occurs, anoxic events in the bay may occur more frequently even if algal stocks remain unchanged. Eutrophication of Waquoit Bay is similar to many other embayments in populated coastal areas, and anoxic events may indicate a chronic growing problem in these important ecosystems. However, in shallow, stratified embayments, anoxia may be transient and easily missed without frequent monitoring.     

Nutrient biogeochemistry in an upwelling-influenced estuary of the Pacific northwest (Tillamook Bay,Oregon, USA)

Tillamook Bay, Oregon, is a drowned river estuary that receives freshwater input from 5 rivers and exchanges ocean water through a single channel. Similar to other western United States estuaries, the bay exhibits a strong seasonal change in river discharge in which there is a pronounced winter maximum and summer minimum in precipitation and runoff. The behavior of major inorganic nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen, and silica) within the watershed is examined over seasonal cycles and under a range of river discharge conditions for October 1997–December 1999. Monthly and seasonal sampling stations include transects extending from the mouth of each river to the mouth of the estuary as well as 6–10 sites upstream along each of the 5 major rivers. Few studies have examined nutrient cycling in Pacific Northwest estuaries. This study evaluates the distributions of inorganic nutrients to understand the net processes occurring within this estuary. Based upon this approach, we hypothesize that nutrient behavior in the Tillamook Bay estuary can be explained by two dominant factors: freshwater flushing time and biological uptake and regeneration. Superimposed on these two processes is seasonal variability in nutrient concentrations of coastal waters via upwelling. Freshwater flushing time determines the amount of time for the uptake of nutrients by phytoplankton, for exchange with suspended particles, and for interaction with the sediments. Seasonal coastal upwelling controls the timing and extent of oceanic delivery of nutrients to the estuary. We suggest that benthic regeneration of nutrients is also an important process within the estuary occurring seasonally according to the flushing characteristics of the estuary. Silicic acid, nitrate, and NH₄ ⁺ supply to the bay appears to be dominated by riverine input. PO₄ ⁻³ supply is dominated by river input during periods of high river flow (winter months) with oceanic input via upwelling and tidal exchange important during other times (spring, summer, and fall months). Departures from conservative mixing indicate that internal estuarine sources of dissolved inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen are also significant over an annual cycle.     

Influence of a Drought Event on Hydrological Characteristics of a Small Estuary on the Amazon Mangrove Coast

The effects of atypical climatic conditions, such as those of a drought event, are remarkably accentuated in minor estuaries filled with sediments and with reduced or sporadic freshwater input, where the salinity intrusion is pronounced. To understand these effects, hydrological and hydrodynamic parameters were evaluated during a drought period in a small estuary located on the eastern Amazon coast in northern Brazil. Five campaigns were conducted between June 2012 and June 2013. Samples were collected from the surface and bottom layer every 3 h over a 25-h period at three stations of the Taperaçu Estuary. To compare drought and post-drought periods, in terms of salinity and chlorophyll-a, data was recorded until June 2015. Taperaçu is a relatively shallow estuary of the Amazon coastal zone, which is characterized by the absence of any direct fluvial discharge, although it does receive freshwater input from adjacent wetlands, as well as less saline waters from the Caeté Estuary through the Taici Creek. Hydrological variables were controlled by rainfall levels and the tidal range, and the water became more saline and more oxygenated, with reduced dissolved nutrient and chlorophyll-a concentrations when precipitation decreased. A significant variation was found between the months of June 2012 (most intense drought) and 2013 (less intense drought). The connection to the neighboring Caeté Estuary and adjacent mangroves and wetlands contributed to the influx of nutrient-enriched waters. Overall, then, it is hoped that the results of this study can contribute to the understanding of the effects of drought events in other minor estuaries on the highly indented Amazon coast, as well as in other areas of the equatorial zone with similar environmental characteristics.     

Trace element cycling in a subterranean estuary: Part 2. Geochemistry of the pore water

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is an important source of dissolved elements to the ocean, yet little is known regarding the chemical reactions that control their flux from sandy coastal aquifers. The net flux of elements from SGD to the coastal ocean is dependent on biogeochemical reactions in the groundwater-seawater mixing zone, recently termed the “subterranean estuary.” This paper is the second in a two part series on the biogeochemistry of the Waquoit Bay coastal aquifer/subterranean estuary. The first paper addressed the biogeochemistry of Fe, Mn, P, Ba, U, and Th from the perspective of the sediment composition of cores Charette et al. [Charette, M.A., Sholkovitz, E.R., Hansell, C.M., 2005. Trace element cycling in a subterranean estuary: Part 1. Geochemistry of the permeable sediments. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 69, 2095-2109]. This paper uses pore water data from the subterranean estuary, along with Bay surface water data, to establish a more detailed view into the estuarine chemistry and the chemical diagenesis of Fe, Mn, U, Ba and Sr in coastal aquifers. Nine high-resolution pore water (groundwater) profiles were collected from the head of the Bay during July 2002. There were non-conservative additions of both Ba and Sr in the salinity transition zone of the subterranean estuary. However, the extent of Sr release was significantly less than that of its alkaline earth neighbor Ba. Pore water Ba concentrations approached 3000 nM compared with 25-50 nM in the surface waters of the Bay; the pore water Sr-salinity distribution suggests a 26% elevation in the amount of Sr added to the subterranean estuary. The release of dissolved Ba to the mixing zone of surface estuaries is frequently attributed to an ion-exchange process whereby seawater cations react with Ba from river suspended clay mineral particles at low to intermediate salinity. Results presented here suggest that reductive dissolution of Mn oxides, in conjunction with changes in salinity, may also be an important process in maintaining high concentrations of Ba in the pore water of subterranean estuaries. In contrast, pore water U was significantly depleted in the subterranean estuary, a result of SGD-driven circulation of seawater through reducing permeable sediments. This finding is supported by surface water concentrations of U in the Bay, which were significantly depleted in U compared with adjacent coastal waters. Using a global estimate of SGD, we calculate U removal in subterranean estuaries at 20 × 10⁶ mol U y⁻¹, which is the same order of magnitude as the other major U sinks for the ocean. Our results suggest a need to revisit and reevaluate the oceanic budgets for elements that are likely influenced by SGD-associated processes.     

南黄海辐射沙脊群表层沉积物中底栖有孔虫埋葬群分布特征及其环境意义

对南黄海辐射沙脊群海域123个表层沉积物样品中的有孔虫埋葬群进行了分析,发现其中浮游有孔虫含量低,平均不到7%,其分布与外海潮流有关,底栖有孔虫以浅水广盐性属种为主。通过对研究区至少在3个样品中含量大于2%的59个底栖有孔虫属种的Q型因子分析,提取了3个底栖有孔虫组合,结合沉积物粒度特征、现代海洋环境要素,将研究区划分成3个环境分区:(1)辐射沙脊群主干沙脊及大型潮流通道区,对应Ammonia beccarii vars.-Nonion akitaense-Cribrononion frigidum组合。该区可再分为两个亚区:辐射沙脊群主干沙脊及大型潮流通道北部亚区,代表受低温沿岸流和潮流影响的强水动力近岸砂质沉积环境;辐射沙脊群南部长江口偏北部亚区,反映强潮流的河口、低盐缺氧环境,兼受外海悬浮泥沙的影响。(2)海州湾及废黄河口区,对应Ammonia compressiuscula-Spiroloculina laevigata-Elphidium advenum组合,代表粉砂、黏土质底质,和水深50 m以浅的浅海环境。(3)辐射沙脊南部近岸浅水区,对应Nonion anomalinoidea-Ammonia maruhasii-Ammonia pauciloculata组合,反映了粉砂及砂质底质的近岸浅水、低盐潮间带和潮下带环境。总之,辐射沙脊群海域底栖有孔虫种群的分布,不仅受海水温盐、水深影响显著,还与此区独特的水动力条件,即外海潮波与内陆河流的共同作用有关。     

Transport of Crustacean Larvae Between a Low-Inflow Estuary and Coastal Waters

The effectiveness of larval behavior in regulating transport between well-mixed, low-inflow estuaries and coastal waters in seasonally arid climates is poorly known. We determined the flux of an assemblage of benthic crustacean larvae relative to physical conditions between a shallow estuary and coastal waters on the upwelling coast of northern California (38°18′N, 123°03′W) from 29 to 31 March 2006. We detected larval behaviors that regulate transport in adjacent coastal waters and other estuaries for only two taxa in the low-inflow estuary, but they were apparent for taxa outside the estuary. Vertical mixing in the shallow estuary may have overwhelmed larvae of some species, or salinity fluctuations may have been too slight to cue tidal vertical migrations. Nevertheless, all larval stages of species that complete development in nearshore coastal waters were present in the estuary, because they remained low in the water column reducing seaward advection or they were readily exchanged between the estuary and open coast by tidal flows. Weak tidal flows and gravitational circulation at the head of the estuary reduced seaward transport during development for species that completed development nearshore, whereas larval release during nocturnal ebb tides enhanced seaward transport for species that develop offshore. Thus, nonselective tidal processes dominated larval transport for most species back and forth between the low-inflow estuary and open coastal waters, whereas in adjacent open coastal waters, larval behavior in the presence of wind-induced shear was more important in regulating migrations between adult and larval habitats along this upwelling coast.     

Recent sedimentary development of Tampa Bay, Florida: A microtidal estuary incised into tertiary platform carbonates

Tampa Bay, a large, microtidal, clastic-filled estuary incised into Tertiary carbonate strata, is the largest estuary on Florida’s west coast. A total of 250 surface sediment samples and 17 cores were collected in Tampa Bay in order to determine the patterns and controlling factors governing the recent infilling and modern sediment distribution, and to examine the results in terms of current models of estuarine sedimentation and development. Surficial sediments in Tampa Bay consist of three facies types, each occurring in a distinct zone: modern terrigenous clastic muds occurring in the upper bay and around the bay periphery; relict, reworked-fluvial, quartz-rich sands occupying the open portion of the middle bay; and modern carbonate-rich, marine-derived sands and gravels occupying the lower bay. Factors controlling sediment distribution include: sediment source and supply rate; bathymetry, which is a function of the antecedent topography; and the winnowing effect of wind-generated waves that prohibits modern accumulation in the shallow middle bay. These factors also play a major role in the recent infilling history of Tampa Bay, which has progressed in four stages during the Holocene sea-level rise. Recently developed models of estuarine sedimentation are based primarily on mesotidal to macrotidal estuaries in terrigenous clastic settings in which sedimentation patterns and infilling history are a result of the relative contribution of marine and fluvial processes. Tampa Bay differs in that it was originally incised into carbonate strata, and neither fluvial or marine processes are interpreted to be major contributors to modern sediment distribution. Tampa Bay, therefore, provides an example of an unusual estuary type, which should be considered in future modeling efforts. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY083 00004