Dissolved silicate dynamics of the Rhode River watershed and estuary

We continuously measured dissolved silicate concentrations and fluxes discharged from various Rhode River subwatersheds for a period of 14 yr from 1984 to 1998 and for 15 mo in 1971–1972. We also measured dissolved silicate concentrations along a transect from the head of the tide in Rhode River estuary to Chesapeake Bay. The average concentration of dissolved silicate discharged from the Rhode River watershed was 10.8 mg Si l^?1. There were consistent and significant differences in silicate concentrations discharged over time and space among subwatersheds. Mean annual silicate flux from the watershed was 26.6 kg Si ha^?1 and 93% of this occurred during the winter and spring seasons. There were large interannual variations in silicate flux, due primarily to differences in precipitation and water discharge, rather than silicate concentration. Land use had little or no effect on silicate flux from various subwatersheds. Silicate concentrations discharged from a subset of subwatersheds in 1995–1996 were 25% to 35% lower than in a period with similar precipitation in 1971–1972. Mean annual concentrations of silicate discharged from nine subwatersheds have been declining about 1.5% yr^?1 or by 0.21–0.26 mg Si l^?1 yr^?1 over the last 25 yr. Despite high average silicate fluxes from the watershed, at times the Rhode River estuary developed low dissolved silicate concentrations, which could have been limiting to the growth of diatoms. Examples were in the spring after a winter with low watershed discharge (as low as 0.019 mg Si l^?1 in 1995) and after protracted drought (as low as 0.041 mg Si l^?1 in 1993).     

Prehistoric nutrient inputs and productivity in Narragansett Bay

Calculations by others of the preindustrial deposition of inorganic nitrogen from the atmosphere in the area of Narragansett Bay compared with recent measurements suggest that this flux has increased almost 15 times over natural background. On the basis of modern studies of the export of nitrogen and phosphorus from temperate forests, the prehistoric watershed also probably contributed very little reactive N or P to the bay. New information from undisturbed old-growth forests suggests that most of the N that was exported from the watershed was probably associated with refractory dissolved organic matter and thus contributed little to the fertility of the bay. The largest source of reactive dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphorus (DIP) for Narragansett Bay under prehistoric conditions was the coastal ocean water entrained in the bay in estuarine circulation. The total input of DIN to this estuary has increased about five-fold and the input of total DIP has approximately doubled as a result of human activities. Recent ecosystem-level experiments using large (13 m³, 5 m deep) mesocosms designed as living models of Narragansett Bay showed that the primary production of phytoplankton in the bay is limited by the supply of DIN and that annual phytoplankton production is strongly correlated with the rate of input of DIN. The relationship between DIN input and annual phytoplankton production in the mesocosms is consistent with observations published by others working in 10 different natural marine systems, and a functional regression of the field and experimental data provides a tool to calculate the rate of prehistoric phytoplankton production that would have been associated with the prehistoric DIN input estimates. The result of this calculation suggests that phytoplankton production in the bay has approximately doubled (from about 130 g C m^?2 yr^?1 to 290 g C m^?2 yr^?1 for a baywide average) since the time of European contact. It also seems likely that seagrasses and macroalgae once made a much larger contribution to total system production than they do today.     

Sediment-water oxygen and nutrient fluxes in a river-dominated estuary

Sediment oxygen uptake and net sediment-water fluxes of dissolved inorganic and organic nitrogen and phosphorus were measured at two sites in Fourleague Bay, Louisiana, from August 1981, through May 1982. This estuary is an extension of Atchafalaya Bay which receives high discharge and nutrient loading from the Atchafalaya River. Sediment O₂ uptake averaged 49 mg m^?2 h^?1. On the average, ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) was released from the sediments (mean flux =+129 μmol m^?2 h^?1), and NO₃ ^? was taken up (mean flux =?19 μmol m^?2h^?1). However, very different NO₃ ^? fluxes were observed at the two sites, with sediment uptake at the upper, river-influenced, high NO₃ ^? site (mean flux =?112 μmol m^?2 h^?1) and release at the lower, marine-influenced low NO₃ ^? site (mean flux =+79 μmol m^?2 h^?1). PO₄ ^3? fluxes were low and often negative (mean flux =?8 μmol m^?2 h^?1), while dissolved organic phosphorus fluxes were high and positive (mean flux =+124 μmol m^?2 h^?1). Dissolved organic nitrogen fluxes varied greatly, ranging from a mean of +305 μmol m^?2 h^?1 at the lower bay, to ?710 μmol m^?2 h^?1 at the upper bay. Total dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus fluxes indicated the sediments were a nitrogen (mean flux =+543 μmol m^?2 h^?1) and phosphorus source (mean flux =+30 μmol m^?2 h^?1) at the lower bay, and a nitrogen sink (mean flux =?553 μmol m^?2 h^?1) and phosphorus source (mean flux =+17 μmol m^?2 h^?1) in the upper bay. Mean annual O∶N ration of the positive inorganic sediment fluxes were 27∶1 at the upper bay and 18∶1 at the lower bay. Based on these data we hypothesize that nitrification and denitrification are important sediment processes in the upper bay. We further hypothesize that Atchafalaya River discharge affects sediment-water fluxes through seasonally high nutrient loading which leads to net nutrient uptake by sediments in the upper bay and release in the lower bay, where there is less river influnces.     

Methane distribution and cycling in Tomales Bay, California

Cycling of methane (CH₄) in Tomales Bay, a 28-km² temperature estuary in northern California with relatively low inputs of organic carbon, was studied over a 1-yr period. Water column CH₄ concentrations showed spatial and temporal variability (range=8–100 nM), and were supersaturated with respect to the atmosphere by a factor of 2–37. Rates of net water column CH₄ production-oxidation were determined by in situ experiments, and were not found to be significantly different from zero. Fluxes across the sediment-water interface, determined by direct measurement using benthic chambers, varied from ?0.1 μmol m^?2 d^?1 to +16 μmol m^?2 d^?1 (positive fluxes into water). Methane concentrations in the two perennial creeks feeding the bay varied annually (140–950 nM); these creeks were a significant CH₄ source to the bay during winter. In addition, mass-balance calculations indicate a significant additional inter CH₄ source, which is hypothesized to result from storm-related runoff from dairy farms adjacent to the bay. Systemwide CH₄ budgets of the 16-km² inner bay indicate benthic production (110 mol d^?1) and atmospheric evasion (110 mol d^?1) dominated during summer, while atmospheric evasion (160 mol d^?1) and runoff from dairy farms (90 mol d^?1) dominated during winter.     

Spatial and temporal distribution of methane in an extensive shallow estuary, South India

Sedimentary methane (CH₄) fluxes and oxidation rates were determined over the wet and dry seasons (four measurement campaigns) in Pulicat lake, an extensive shallow estuary in south India. Dissolved CH₄ concentrations were measured at 52 locations in December 2000. The annual mean net CH₄ flux from Pulicat lake sediments was 3.7 × 10⁹ g yr^-1 based on static chamber measurements. A further 1.7 × 10⁹g yr_-1 was estimated to be oxidized at the sediment-water interface. The mean dissolved concentration of CH₄ was 242nmol |^-1 (ranging between 94 and 501 nmol |^-1) and the spatial distribution could be explained by tidal dynamics and freshwater input. Sea-air exchange estimates using models, account only for ∼13% (0.5 × 10⁹ g yr-1) of the total CH₄ produced in sediments, whereas ebullition appeared to be the major route for loss to the atmosphere (∼ 63% of the net sediment flux). We estimated the total atmospheric source of CH₄ from Pulicat lake to be 0.5 to 4.0 × 10⁹g yr^-1.     

Nitrogen flow and the interaction of Boston harbor with Massachusetts Bay

This paper summarizes evidence that most of the considerable nitrogen loading (～8, 470 mmol total N m^?2 yr^?1) to Boston Harbor (Massachusetts, USA) is expelled to shallow shelf waters of Massachusetts Bay, where it strongly influences ecological dynamics. Examination of nitrogen concentrations in the harbor, compared with loading, indicated that removal processes are active in the harbor. Comparison to other estuarine systems showed that the harbor’s nitrogen concentrations are consistent with its loading, if they are corrected for tidal flushing effects on the water residence time. Furthermore, extensive measurements of sediment denitrification confirmed that rates of N₂ gas loss are high in an absolute sense (～600–800 mmol N m^?2 yr^?1) but nonetheless remove only a small portion (<10%) of the annual land-derived nitrogen loading. Burial in sediments apparently removes only about 2% of the N input, implying export to offshore environments as the major removal process (～88–90% of N input). Western Massachusetts Bay receiving waters were examined for a signature of export from the harbor. Data consistently show a gradient of decreasing nitrogen concentrations from the harbor to about 10–20 km into the bay. In many cases, plots of nitrogen concentrations versus salinity show nearly conservative mixing character, which implies virtual export. Seasonally, the data suggest most of the export from the harbor in winter is as dissolved inorganic forms (NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ^?, NO₂ ^?). In summer, export is dominated by the outflow of organic nitrogen forms. Chlorophyll export is evident as well, suggesting that the nutritional coupling of the harbor and bay in summer involves organic fertilization of the bay’s surface water. Finally, high-resolution studies over different stages of the tidal cycle help refine understanding of the advection of chlorophyll and stimulation of in situ chlorophyll growth at the seaward edge of the tidal excursion into the bay.     

Dynamics of NH4 + and NO3 − uptake in the water column of the Neuse River Estuary,North Carolina

In an attempt to more fully understand the dissolved inorganic nitrogen dynamics of the Neuse River estuary, ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ and ¹⁵NO₃ ^? uptake rates were measured and daily depth-integrated rates calculated for seven stations distributed along the salinity gradient. Measurements were made at 2–3-wk intervals from March 1985 to February 1989. Significant dark NH₄ ⁺ uptake occurred and varied both spatially and seasonally, accounting for as much as 95% of light uptake with the median being 33%. Apparent NH₄ ⁺ uptake ranged from 0.001 μmol N 1^?1 h^?1 to 4.2 μmol N 1^?1 h^?1, with highest rates occurring during late summer-fall in the oligohaline estuary. Apparent NH₄ ⁺ uptake was significantly related to NH₄ ⁺ concentration (p<0.01); however, the regression explained <3% of the variation. Daily-integrated NH₄ ⁺ uptake ranged from 0.1 mmol N m^?2 d^?1 to 133 mmol N m^?2 d^?1 and followed the trend of apparent uptake. Annual NH₄ ⁺ uptake of the estuary was significantly lower in 1988 than for any other year. Dark uptake of NO₃ ^? was only 14% of maximum light uptake. Apparent NO₃ ^? uptake rates ranged from 0.001 μmol N 1^?1 h^?1 to 1.84 μmol N 1^?1 h^?1 with highest rates occurring in the oligohaline estuary. Apparent NO₃ ^? uptake was significantly related to NO₃ ^? concentration (p<0.01); however, the regression explained <5% of the variation. In general, NO₃ ^? uptake was only 20% of total dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) uptake. Daily-integrated NO₃ ^? uptake ranged from 0.1 mmol N m^?2 d^?1 to 53 mmol N m^?2 d^?1 and followed similar patterns of apparent uptake. Annual NH₄ ⁺ uptake was 11.39 mol N m^?2 yr^?1, 10.28 mol N m^?2 Yr^?1, 10.93 mol N m^?2 yr^?1, and 7.38 mol N m^?2 yr^?1, and 1.84 mol N m^?2 yr^?1, with the 4-yr mean being 10.0. Annual NO₃ ^? uptake was 3.12 mol N m^?2 yr^?1, 3.40 mol N m^?2 yr^?1, 1.96 mol N m^?2 yr^?1, and 1.84 mol N m^?2 yr^?1, with the 4-yr mean being 2.6. The total annual DIN uptake was more than twice published estimates of phytoplankton DIN demand, indicating that there is an important heterotrophic component of DIN uptake occurring in the water column. The extrapolation of nitrogen demand from primary productivity results in serious underestimates of estuarine nitrogen demand for the Neuse River estuary and may be true for other estuaries as well.     

Fate of riverine nitrate entering an estuary: I. Denitrification and nitrogen burial

Fate of riverine nitrate entering a well defined turbid estuary receiving discharges from the Atchafalaya River, a distributary of the Mississippi River, was determined. Seasonal distribution of NO₃ and its transformations were measured in Four League Bay (9,300 ha). Denitrification was estimated by incubating wet samples in the presence of acetylene and monitoring N₂O production. The annual sediment accumulation of N was also determined within the bay and within the adjacent marshes. Nitrogen accumulation ranged from 6.0 to 23 gN per m² per yr on the marsh and 6.1 to 11.2 gN per m² per yr in the bay. Denitrification in this system was controlled by the availability of NO₃ ^? with fluxes ranging from 2 to 70 ngN per g per hr. The annual (N₂O +N₂)-N emission was equivalent to 142 and 120 μg per g or 2.1 and 1.7 gN per m² from the 5 bay and 5 marsh stations, respectively. Approximately 1.95×10⁵ kgN, predominantly as N₂, is being returned to the atmosphere via denitrification. We estimate this to be equivalent to 50% of the riverine NO₃ ^? entering this estuary. A significant amount was also assimilated within the estuary.     

Net Ecosystem Metabolism and Nonconservative Fluxes of Organic Matter in a Tropical Mangrove Estuary, Piauí River (NE of Brazil)

Net ecosystem metabolism (NEM) was measured in the Piauí River estuary, NE Brazil. A mass balance of C, N, and P was used to infer its sources and sinks. Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations and fluxes were measured over a year along this mangrove dominated estuary. DIC concentrations were high in all estuarine sections, particularly at the fluvial end member at the beginning of the rainy season. Carbon dioxide concentrations in the entire estuary were supersaturated throughout the year and highest in the upper estuarine compartment and freshwater, particularly at the rainy season, due to washout effects of carbonaceous soils and different organic anthropogenic effluents. The estuary served as a source of DIC to the atmosphere with an estimated flux of 13 mol CO₂ m^?2 year^?1. Input from the river was 46 mol CO₂ m^?2 year^?1. The metabolism of the system was heterotrophic, but short periods of autotrophy occurred in the lower more marine portions of the estuary. The pelagic system was more or less balanced between auto- and heterotrophy, whereas the benthic and intertidal mangrove region was heterotrophic. Estimated annual NEM yielded a total DIC production in the order of 18 mol CO₂ m^?2 year^?1. The anthropogenic inputs of particulate C, N, and P, dissolved inorganic P (DIP), and DIC were significant. The fluvial loading of particulate organic carbon and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) was largely retained in two flow regulation and hydroelectric reservoirs, promoting a reduction of C:N and C:P particulate ratios in the estuary. The net nonconservative fluxes obtained by a mass balance approach revealed that the estuary acts as a source of DIP, DIN, and DIC, the latter one being almost equivalent to the losses to the atmosphere. Mangrove forests and tidal mudflats were responsible for most of NEM rates and are the main sites of organic decomposition to sustain net heterotrophy. The main sources for this organic matter are the fluvial and anthropogenic inputs. The mangrove areas are the highest estuarine sources of DIP, DIC, and DIN.     

A comparative analysis of eutrophication patterns in a temperate coastal lagoon

The coastal bays and lagoons of Maryland extend the full length of the state's Atlantic coast and compose a substantial ecosystem at the land-sea margin that is characterized by shallow depth, a well-mixed water column, slow exchange with the coastal ocean, and minimal freshwater input from the land. For at least 25 years, various types of measurements have been made intermittently in these systems, but almost no effort has been made to determine if water quality or habitat conditions have changed over the years or if distinctive spatial gradients in these features have developed in response to changing land uses. The purpose of this work was to examine this fragmented database and determine if such patterns have emerged and how they may be related to land uses. Turbidity, dissolved inorganic phosphate, algal biomass, and primary production rates in most areas of the coastal bays followed a regular seasonal pattern, which was well correlated with water temperature. Nitrate concentrations were low (<5 μM), and only modestly higher in tributary creeks (<20 μM). Additionally, there was little indication of the spring bloom typical of river-dominated systems. There does appear to be a strong spatial gradient in water quality conditions (more eutrophic in the upper bays, especially in tributary creeks). Comparisons of water quality data collected between 1970 and 1991 indicate little temporal change in most areas and some small improvements in a few areas, probably related to decreases in point-source discharges. Seagrass communities were once extensive in these systems but at present are restricted to the eastern portion of the lower bays where water clarity is sufficient to support plant survival. Even in these areas, seagrass densities have recently decreased. Examination of diel dissolved oxygen data collected in the summer indicates progressively larger diel excursions from lower to upper bays and from open bays to tributary subsystems; however, hypoxic conditions (<2 mg 1^?1) were rarely observed in any location. Nitrogen input data (point, surface runoff, groundwater and atmospheric deposition to surface waters) were assembled for seven regions of the coastal bay system; annual loading rates ranged from 2.4 g N m^?2 yr^?1 to 39.7 g N m^?2 yr^?1. Compared with a sampling of loading rates to other coastal systems, those to the upper and lower bays were low while those to tributaries were moderate to high. Regression analysis indicated significant relationships between annual nitrogen loading rates and average annual total nitrogen and chlorophyll a concentrations in the water column. Similar analyses also indicated significant relationships between chlorophyll a and the magnitude of diel dissolved oxygen changes in the water column. It is concluded that these simple models, which could be improved with a well-designed monitoring program, could be used as quantitative management tools to relate habitat conditions to nutrient loading rates.     

Rates of nitrification along an estuarine gradient in Narragansett Bay

Rates of pelagic nitrification, measured using N-Serve-sensitive [¹⁴C]bicarbonate uptake, varied by as much as an order-of-magnitude among three sites along the salinity gradient of Narragansett Bay (Rhode Island, United States). Rates were always higher at the Providence River estuary site (0.04–11.2 μmol N I^?1 d^?1) than at either the lower Narragansett Bay site (0.02–0.98 μmol N I^?1d^?1) or the freshwater Blackstone River site (0.04–1.7 μmol N I^?1d^?1). Although temperature was the most important variable regulating the annual cycle of nitrification, ammonium concentrations were most likely responsible for the large differences in rates among the three sites in summer. At the levels found in this estuarine system, salinity and concentrations of oxygen or total suspended matter did not appear to have a direct measurable effect on nitrification and pH did only occasionally. Nitrification played an important role in the nitrogen cycle at all three sites. In Narragansett Bay, nitrification contributed 55% of the NO₂ ^? and NO₃ ^? entering annually, and was the major source during spring and summer. Water from offshore was the only other large source of NO₂ ^? and NO₃ ^?, contributing 34%. High summer rates of nitrification could support much of the phytoplankton uptake of NO₂ ^? and NO₃ ^?. In the Providence River estuary, the largest annual input of NO₂ ^? and NO₃ ^? was from rivers (54%), although nitrification (28%) and water from lower portions of the bay (11%) also made large contributions. Again, nitrification was most important in the summer. The high rates of nitrification in the Providence River estuary during summer were also likely to be important in terms of oxygen demand, and the production of nitric and nitrous oxides. In the Blackstone River, NO₂ ^? and NO₃ ^? concentrations increased as the river flowed through Rhode Island, and nitrification was a possible source.     

Fluxes of organic carbon in Manukau Harbour, New Zealand

We collated information on the sources and sinks of organic carbon in Manukau Harbour, a shallow temperate estuary. Two contrasting inner harbor regions were considered; the northern region, which is urbanized and receives a major load of sewage wastewater, and the southern region, where allochthonous inputs are dominated by the runoff from small rural streams. Although high levels of dissolved nitrogen in the wastewater supported phytoplankton blooms in the northern region, total primary production there was similar to that in the southern region (ca. 300 g C m^?2yr^?1). By contrast, high concentrations of organic carbon in the wastewater resulted in an additional input to the northern region of 120 g C m^?2 yr^?1. Loads from runoff and streams to both regions were low. At 350 g C m^?2 yr^?1, total respiration in the northern region exceeded total production, so the region was slightly heterotrophic. Respiration was lower in the southern region (270 g C m^?2 yr^?1), which was net autotrophic. Some carbon was exported from each region to the outer harbour (50–80 g C m^?2 yr^?1). Dissolved oxygen levels in the northern region were somewhat depleted at times; and the high numbers of microzooplankton indicated consumption was enhanced there. Apart from a relatively small area of organic enrichment close to the wastewater discharge, benthic consumers in the harbor appeared to be limited by physical disturbance (by wind-waves) rather than by food availability. Improved wastewater treatment is expected to substantially reduce the allochthonous input to the northern region, with the total input of carbon in the future being only slightly higher than that to the southern region.     

Sources of nutrient inputs to the Patuxent River estuary

We quantified annual nutrient inputs to the Patuxent River estuary from point and nonpoint sources and from direct atmospheric deposition. We also compared nonpoint source (NPS) discharges from Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions and from agricultural and developed lands. Using continuous automated-sampling, we measured discharges of water, nitrogen, phosphorus, organic carbon (C), and suspended solids from a total of 23 watersheds selected to represent various proportions of developed land and cropland in the Patuxent River basin and the neighboring Rhode River basin. The sampling period spanned two years that differed in annual precipitation by a factor of 1.7. Water discharge from the watershed to the Patuxent River estuary was 3.4 times higher in the wet year than in the dry year. Annual water discharges from the study watersheds increased as the proportion of developed land increased. As the proportion of cropland increased, there were increases in the annual flow-weighted mean concentrations of nitrate (NO₃ ^?), total nitrogen (TN), dissolved silicate (Si), total phosphate (TPO₄ ^3?), total organic phosphorus (TOP), total P (TP), and total suspended solids (TSS) in NPS discharges. The effect of cropland on the concentrations of NO₃ ^? and TN was stronger for Piedmont watersheds than for Coastal Plain watersheds. As the proportion of developed land increased, there were increases in annual mean concentrations of NO₃ ^?, total ammonium (TNH₄ ⁺), total organic N (TON), TN, total organic C (TOC), TPO₄ ^3?, TOP, TP, and TSS and decreases in concentrations of Si. Annual mean concentrations of TON, TOC, forms of P, and TSS were highest in the wet year. Annual mean concentrations of NO₃ ^?, TNH₄ ⁺, TN, and Si did not differ significantly between years. We directly measured NPS discharges from about half of the Patuxent River basin and estimated discharges from the other half of the basin using statistical models that related annual water flow and material concentrations to land cover and physiographic province. We compared NPS discharges to public data on point source (PS) discharges. We estimated direct atmospheric deposition of forms of N, P, and organic C to the Patuxent River estuary based on analysis of bulk deposition near the Rhode River. During the wet year, most of the total terrestrial and atmospheric inputs of forms of N and P came from NPS discharges. During the dry year, 53% of the TNH₄ ⁺ input was from atmospheric deposition and 58% of the NO₃ ^? input was from PS discharges; NPS and PS discharges were about equally important in the total inputs of TN and TPO₄ ^3?. During the entire 2-yr period, the Coastal Plain portion of the Patuxent basin delivered about 80% of the NPS water discharges to the estuary and delivered similar proportions of the NPS TNH₄ ⁺, TN, TOP, and TSS. The Coastal Plain delivered greater proportions of the NPS TON, TOC, Si, and TP (89%, 90%, 93%, and 95%, respectively) than of water, and supplied nearly all of the NPS TPO₄ ^3? (99%). The Piedmont delivered 33% of the NPS NO₃ ^? while delivering only 20% of the NPS water to the stuary. We used statistical models to infer the percentages of NPS discharges supplied by croplands, developed lands, and other lands. Although cropland covers only 10% of the Patuxent River basin, it was the most important source of most materials in NPS discharge, supplying about 84% of the total NPS discharge of NO₃ ^?; about three quarters of the TPO₄ ^3?, TOP, TP, and TSS; and about half of the TNH₄ ⁺ and TN. Compared to developed land, cropland supplied a significantly higher percentage of the NPS discharges of NO₃ ^?, TN, TPO₄ ^3?, TOP, TP, and TSS, despite the fact development land covered 12% of the basin.     

Community Oxygen and Nutrient Fluxes in Seagrass Beds of Florida Bay, USA

We used clear, acrylic chambers to measure in situ community oxygen and nutrient fluxes under day and night conditions in seagrass beds at five sites across Florida Bay five times between September 1997 and March 1999. Underlying sediments are biogenic carbonate with porosities of 0.7–0.9 and with low organic content (<1.6%). The seagrass communities always removed oxygen from the water column during the night and produced oxygen during daylight, and sampling date and site significantly affected both night and daytime oxygen fluxes. Net daily average fluxes of oxygen (?4.9 to 49 mmol m^?2 day^?1) ranged from net autotrophy to heterotrophy across the bay and during the 18-month sampling period. However, the Rabbit Key Basin site, located in the west-central bay and covered with a dense Thalassia testudinum bed, was always autotrophic with net average oxygen production ranging from 4.8 to 49 mmol m^?2 day^?1. In November 1998, three of the five sites were strongly heterotrophic and oxygen production was least at Rabbit, suggesting the possibility of hypoxic conditions in fall. Average ammonium (NH₄) concentrations in the water column varied widely across the bay, ranging from a mean of 6.9 μmol l^?1 at Calusa in the eastern bay to a mean of 0.6 μmol l^?1 at Rabbit Key for the period of study. However, average NH₄ fluxes by site and date (?240 to 110 μmol m^?2 h^?1) were not correlated with water column concentrations and did not vary in a consistent diel, seasonal, or spatial pattern. Concentrations of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in the water column, averaged by site (15–25 μmol l^?1), were greater than mean NH₄ concentrations, and the range of day and night DON fluxes (?920 to 1,300 μmol m^?2 h^?1), averaged by site and date, was greater than the range of mean NH₄ fluxes. Average DON fluxes did not vary consistently from day to night, seasonally or spatially. Mean silicate fluxes ranged from ?590 to 860 μmol m^?2 h^?1 across all sites and dates, but mean net daily fluxes were less variable and most of the time contributed small amounts of silicate to the water column. Mean concentrations of filterable reactive phosphorus (FRP) in the water column across the bay were very low (0.021–0.075 μmol l^?1); but site average concentrations of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) were higher (0.04–0.15 μmol l^?1) and showed a gradient of increasing concentration from east to west in the bay. A pronounced gradient in average surficial sediment total phosphorus (1.1–12 μmol g DW^?1) along an east-to-west gradient was not reflected in fluxes of phosphorus. FRP fluxes, averaged by site and date, were low (?5.2 to 52 μmol m^?2 h^?1), highly variable, and did not vary consistently from day to night or across season or location. Mean DOP fluxes varied over a smaller range (?8.7 to 7.4 μmol m^?2 h^?1), but also showed no consistent spatial or temporal patterns. These small DOP fluxes were in sharp contrast to the predominately organic phosphorus pool in surficial sediments (site means?=?0.66–7.4 μmol g DW^?1). Significant correlations of nutrient fluxes with parameters related to seagrass abundance suggest that the seagrass community may play a major role in nutrient recycling. Integrated means of net daily fluxes over the area of Florida Bay, though highly variable, suggest that seagrass communities might be a source of DOP and NH₄ to Florida Bay and might remove small amounts of FRP and potentially large amounts of DON from the waters of the bay.     

Chesapeake Bay nutrient and plankton dynamics: III. The annual cycle of dissolved silicon

Silicic acid (H₄SiO₄) flux from the sediment, H₄SiO₄ concentration and river flow were used to obtain an annual dissolved silicon budget for Chesapeake Bay. H₄SiO₄ concentrations vary seasonally in the estuary: for a 12-year period, mean H₄SiO₄ concentrations in the mesohaline region were high both in spring and in late summer to early fall, and were low in late spring—occasionally approaching levels potentially limiting to diatom growth. Most of the annual allochthonous H₄SiO₄ supply to the estuary derives from the three major rivers, but regenerative H₄SiO₄ flux from the sediment to the water column exceeds the total riverine input by a factor of at least five. Sediment H₄SiO₄ efflux exhibits seasonality and averages approximately 2–3 mol Si m^?2 yr^?1. The high rates of sediment dissolution and efflux appear to maintain high levels of H₄SiO₄ in the mesohaline region, and Si-limitation of diatom growth there seems unlikely. The relative rates of biogenic silica formation and dissolution do not vary synchronously: seasonal variations in diatom productivity, sedimentary release of H₄SiO₄ and river flow all contribute to the observed late winter and late summer seasonal maxima and late spring minimum in water column H₄SiO₄ concentrations. If the only source of Si to support sedimentary H₄SiO₄ efflux is biogenic particulate silica recently deposited from the water column and this silica in turn was produced by diatoms in a ratio of 8C:1 Si, the minimum annual primary production by diatoms is at least 260 g C m^?2, approximately half of annual total plankton primary production. This estimate would be revised upwards according to the amount of particulate biogenic silica dissolving in the water column. Burial of biogenic silica amounts to from 2 to 84% of the sediment efflux of H₄SiO₄, depending on location in the bay. On an annual basis, burial represents from 60 to 100% of fluvial H₄SiO₄-Si inputs.     

Sedimentation,dredging, and spoil disposal in a subtropical estuarine lagoon

Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, is an estuary used as a harbor for a military installation and for recreation, fishing, and research purposes. Rapid shoaling of the bay had been reported and attributed to increased stream erosion and sedimentation from the newly suburbanized watershed. Comparison of a 1976 bathymetric survey of Kaneohe Bay with that of a 1927 survey indicates an average shoaling of the lagoonal area of 1.0 m. Average shoaling for the north and middle bay at 0.6m/49 years (1.2 cm yr⁻¹ is lower than for the south bay at 1.5m/49 years (3.1 cm yr⁻¹). The total lagoonal fill in the 49-year period is about 1.95× 10⁷ m³, assigned as follows: 64% carbonate detritus from the reefs as well as growth of living coral and unrecorded dredging spill, 9% recorded dredging spoils, and only 27% terrigenous sediment. Seismic reflection profiles distinguish spoil from natural sediment and show that the infilling sediment is trapped between, burying reef structures built during Quaternary lower stands of the sea. There had been little obvious change between 1882 and 1927 surveys. All information suggests that increased shoaling rates since 1927 are due to reported and unreported disposal of dredge spoil, mainly from 1939 to 1945 for ship and seaplane channels in the south bay, and not from increased runoff and urbanization around the south bay. Hawaii Institute of Geophysics Contribution No. 1257.     

Seasonal cycle and mass balance of cadmium in an estuary with an agricultural catchment: The Morlaix River estuary (Brittany,France)

Cadmium (Cd) variations were investigated over an annual cycle (12 surveys between February 1998–January 1999) in the Morlaix estuary (Brittany, France) in both the water column and the benthic compartment in relation to hydrological conditions. The drainage basin of the Morlaix River estuary is predominantly agricultural in character. Dissolved Cd concentrations in the water column varied from 0.04 to 0.48 nM. Particulate Cd concentrations ranged from 1 to 64 nmol g⁻¹. These concentrations reach levels commonly observed in estuaries affected by heavy industrial activities. Extensive agricultural activities in the drainage basin may be responsible for Cd levels above pristine conditions. Metal concentrations varied significantly over the seasonal cycle and the dissolved fraction exhibited high values in summer months. Particulate concentrations were always lowest during this season. In the benthic compartment, Cd concentrations in surface sediment varied from 0.4 to 5.0 nmol g⁻¹ and from 0.2 to 5.0 nM in porewaters. Concentrations in sediment were slightly affected by Cd contamination and temporal changes were important over the seasonal cycle. The variations seem to be controlled by the succession of sedimentation and erosion processes, which are tightly linked to seasonal changes in river discharge. A box model was constructed based on known Cd sources and sinks in the estuary. Cd is chiefly brought into the estuary by the Morlaix River and accumulates within the estuary. The accumulation within the estuary represents from 6.3 to 7.2 kg yr⁻¹.     

Scales of nutrient-limited phytoplankton productivity in Chesapeake Bay

The scales on which phytoplankton biomass vary in response to variable nutrient inputs depend on the nutrient status of the plankton community and on the capacity of consumers to respond to increases in phytoplankton productivity. Overenrichment and associated declines in water quality occur when phytoplankton growth rate becomes nutrient-saturated, the production and consumption of phytoplankton biomass become uncoupled in time and space, and phytoplankton biomass becomes high and varies on scales longer than phytoplankton generation times. In Chesapeake Bay, phytoplankton growth rates appear to be limited by dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) during spring when biomass reaches its annual maximum and by dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) during summer when phytoplankton growth rates are highest. However, despite high inputs of DIN and dissolved silicate (DSi) relative to DIP (molar ratios of N∶P and Si∶P>100), seasonal accumulations of phytoplankton biomass within the salt-intruded-reach of the bay appear to be limited by riverine DIN supply while the magnitude of the spring diatom bloom is governed by DSi supply. Seasonal imbalances between biomass production and consumption lead to massive accumulations of phytoplankton biomass (often>1,000 mg Chl-a m^?2) during spring, to spring-summer oxygen depletion (summer bottom water <20% saturation), and to exceptionally high levels of annual phytoplankton production (>400 g m^?2 yr^?1). Nitrogen-dependent seasonal accumulations of phytoplankton biomass and annual production occur as a consequence of differences in the rates and pathways of nitrogen and phosphorus cycling within the bay and underscore the importance of controlling nitrogen inputs to the mesohaline and lower reaches of the bay.     

Phytoplankton productivity response to nutrient concentrations, light availability and temperature along an Australian estuarine gradient

Phytoplankton productivity and the factors that influence it were studied in the Logan River and southern Moreton Bay, a large embayment on the east coast of Australia. Phytoplankton productivity, dissolved and total nutrient concentrations, and turbidity were determined throughout high and low rainfall periods to characterize light and nutrient influences on productivity. Turbidity and nutrient concentrations were highest at upriver sites, but productivity was highest at the river mouth and within the river plume. Phytoplankton productivity peaked after rainfall events (>150 mg C m^?3 h^?1), commensurate with a decrease in dissolved nitrogen concentrations. Productivity responses to increased nutrient concentrations and light availability were determined in laboratory incubations. During summer, productivities at the bay sites were stimulated by nitrogen (N) enrichment, while productivities at upriver sites were stimulated by phosphorus (P) addition. Light stimulation of productivities was more pronounced at upriver sites than bay sites. The relative magnitude of nutrient and light stimulation of productivities indicate a predominance of light limitation upriver, significant N limitation within the Logan River plume, and little effect of light, N, or P at sites beyond the Logan River plume. Productivity decreased with seasonal decreases in temperature. Lower water temperatures in winter probably helped determine maximum rates of phytoplankton productivity. The combination of light and N limitation of productivity during summer, and temperature limitation during winter, account for low areal productivities (<0.6 g C m^?2 d^?1), compared with other rivers and estuaries worldwide.     

Estimating secondary production and benthic consumption in monitoring studies: A case study of the impacts of dredged material disposal in Galveston Bay, Texas

We examined the effects of dredged material disposal on benthic macroinvertebrates in Galveston Bay, Texas, USA, while investigating the utility of estimating secondary production with estimation methods that have less rigorous data requirements than most classical techniques. Production estimates were compared to estimates of benthic consumption by blue crabs, shrimp, and epibenthic fish. There was no evidence that dredged material disposal had a detrimental impact on benthic production; however, production was low throughout the entire bay the year following dredged material disposal, which may have obscured an assessment of the impact of disposal. In fact, disposal sites yielded both the highest production estimates and species richness in both the upper and lower bay areas 2 yr after disposal. Of the five estimation methods used, two that incorporated environmental parameters (temperature and depth) yielded similar and moderate results, ranging from 1.1 g ash-free dry weight m² yr¹ to 26.9 g ash-free dry weight (AFDW) m^?2 yr^?1 over the 4 yr studied. Daily food ration estimates applied to fishery-independent trawl-survey data yielded overall benthic consumption estimates ranging from 1.1 g AFDW m^?2 to 1.7 g AFDW m^?2. A second method of estimating consumption, which used transfer efficiency estimates and annual fisheries statistics produced slightly lower benthic consumption estimates (0.72–1.13 g AFDW m^?2). The average consumption estimate exceeded benthic production in the upper bay in one of the 4 yr for which benthic production was estimated. In years with high benthic production, the estimated benthic food requirement of epibenthic predators was roughly 10–15% of benthic production. Variation in annual benthic production estimates was two to three times greater than the variation in consumption estimates.