Nitrogen metabolism of the eutrophic Delaware River ecosystem

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5180592

A comprehensive investigation of the nitrogen cycle in the Delaware River was carried out using /sup 13/N tracers to measure rates for important transformations of nitrogen. Daily, depth-averaged /sup 15/N rates for the principal inorganic nitrogen species were consistent with rates derived from longitudinal profiles of concentration in the river. The data indicated that nitrification was a rapid, irreversible sink for NH/sub 4//sup +/, with export of the product NO/sub 3//sup -/ from the study area. Utilization of NO/sub 3//sup -/ by primary producers was negligible, owing to low irradiance levels and to high NH/sub 4//sup +/ concentrations. The oxygen sag near Philadelphia was found to result from oxygen demand in the water column, with only minor benthic influence. Reaeration provided the major oxygen input. Nitrification accounted for about 1% of the net oxygen demand near Philadelphia but as much as 25% farther downstream.

• Research Organization: Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA
• OSTI ID: 5180592
• Journal Information: Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States), Journal Name: Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States) Vol. 31:4; ISSN LIOCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520101* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- Radiometric Techniques-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALGAE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DELAWARE RIVER
ELEMENTS
EUTROPHICATION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
METABOLISM
MICROORGANISMS
NITRIFICATION
NITROGEN 15
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN CYCLE
NITROGEN ISOTOPES
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OXYGEN
PLANTS
RIVERS
STABLE ISOTOPES
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TRACER TECHNIQUES