Journal
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
Volume 177, Issue -, Pages 71-82Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2016.05.002
Keywords
Phytoplankton; ChemTax; Phosphorus; Nitrogen; Urea; Land use
Categories
Funding
- EPA [CD-95471311-0]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Human population density, and related urbanization, is predicted to increase along coastlines worldwide. Varied land Uses will likely influence nutrient delivery, mainly nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), to the coast and thereby phytoplankton assemblages. This study examined spatial and seasonal variability in phytoplankton community composition and growth responses to N (ammonium, nitrate, or urea) and/or P (orthophosphate) using in situ bioassays during 2011-2013. Study sites were in four southeastern US (South Carolina) coastal systems with distinct land uses: a forested tidal creek, a forested/agricultural tidal creek, an urbanized tidal creek, and a stormwater detention pond. Results showed that sites were primarily N-limited and diatoms typically contributed most to phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a). Phytoplankton communities at the more developed sites (urbanized creek and stormwater detention pond) not only exhibited higher biomass and growth rates with N, particularly urea, additions compared to the less-developed sites (forested and forested/agricultural tidal creeks), they often included harmful algal bloom species, particularly cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates, and raphidophytes. These findings suggest that phytoplankton community responses to N-form are site specific, influenced by surrounding land cover, and N inputs (e.g. fertilizers) may cause algal blooms. Results both underscore the role of development as a driver of coastal production and can be informative for water quality management. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available