Sewage derive [sup 15]N in the Baltic traced in fucus
- The Ecosystems Center, Woods Hole, MA (United States)
- Univ. of Sotckholm (Sweden)
Himmerfjarden, a fjord-like bay on the eastern shore of the Baltic, receives treated sewage from 250,000 inhabitants. Because the inorganic N in the effluent is enriched in [sup 15]N through denitrification, nitrification, and ammonia volatilization, an analysis of the distribution of [sup 15]N in the Bay tells how far from the source the sewage nitrogen moves. The attached macroalga Fucus vesiculosus was collected in early May from rocky shore at 0-0.5 m depth and the [sup 15]N content of the tips of the fronds analyzed. This N represents uptake and storage during the previous six months and growth during March and April. The [delta][sup 15]N was uniformly high (11-13[per thousand]) in the main body of the Bay within 15 km from the sewage source. Beyond 15 km values decreased with distance to a low of 4.6[per thousand] at 35 km, where the Bay ends and the coastal waters begin. Using the 11-13 and 4.6[per thousand] as endmembers, the percentage of sewage N making up the Fucus at any point may be calculated. The [delta][sub 15]N of particulate organic matter in the offshore Baltic waters was around 0[per thousand] and Fucus had an [delta][sup 15]N about 1.5[per thousand] higher than the POM. From this and other evidence we conclude that there is a belt of coastal water with an elevated [delta][sup 15]N lying along the east coast of the Baltic. This presumably derives from sewage and perhaps from agriculture and is potentially of use as a tracer of coastal zone/pelagic zone interactions.
- OSTI ID:
- 6880750
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9002174-; CODEN: EOSTAJ
- Journal Information:
- EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union; (United States), Vol. 71:2; Conference: Ocean sciences meeting, New Orleans, LA (United States), 12-16 Feb 1990; ISSN 0096-3941
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
FUCUS
UPTAKE
NITROGEN 15
DISTRIBUTION
SEWAGE
AGRICULTURE
AMMONIA
BALTIC SEA
COASTAL WATERS
DENITRIFICATION
NITRIFICATION
NITROGEN
ORGANIC MATTER
ALGAE
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMOPHYCOTA
ELEMENTS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MATTER
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NITROGEN ISOTOPES
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PLANTS
SEAS
SEAWEEDS
STABLE ISOTOPES
SURFACE WATERS
WASTES
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)