Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of Watershed Land use on Nitrogen Concentrations and δ15 Nitrogen in Groundwater

  • Published:
Biogeochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Eutrophication is a major agent of change affecting freshwater, estuarine, and marine systems. It is largely driven by transportation of nitrogen from natural and anthropogenic sources. Research is needed to quantify this nitrogen delivery and to link the delivery to specific land-derived sources. In this study we measured nitrogen concentrations and δ15N values in seepage water entering three freshwater ponds and six estuaries on Cape Cod, Massachusetts and assessed how they varied with different types of land use. Nitrate concentrations and δ15N values in groundwater reflected land use in developed and pristine watersheds. In particular, watersheds with larger populations delivered larger nitrate loads with higher δ15N values to receiving waters. The enriched δ15N values confirmed nitrogen loading model results identifying wastewater contributions from septic tanks as the major N source. Furthermore, it was apparent that N coastal sources had a relatively larger impact on the N loads and isotopic signatures than did inland N sources further upstream in the watersheds. This finding suggests that management priorities could focus on coastal sources as a first course of action. This would require management constraints on a much smaller population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • R. Aravena M.L. Evans J.A. Cherry (1993) ArticleTitleStable isotopes of oxygen and nitrogen in source identification of nitrate from septic systems Ground Water 31 180–186 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1745-6584.1993.tb01809.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • B. Ataie-Ashtiani R.E. Volker D.A. Lockington (2001) ArticleTitleTidal effects on groundwater dynamics in unconfined aquifers Hydrol. Process. 15 655–669 Occurrence Handle10.1002/hyp.183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S.P. Baden L.-O. Loo L. Pihl R. Rosenberg (1990) ArticleTitleEffects of eutrophication on benthic communities including fish: Swedish west coast Ambio 19 113–122

    Google Scholar 

  • P.M. Barlow K.M. Hess (1993) Simulated hydrologic responses of the Quashnet River streamaquifer system to proposed ground-water withdrawals, Cape Cod, Massachusetts US Geological Survey Denver, CO

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Bottcher O. Strebel S. Voerkelius H.-L. Schmidt (1990) ArticleTitleUsing isotope fractionation of nitrate-nitrogen and nitrate-oxygen for evaluation of microbial denitrification in a sandy aquifer J. Hydrol. 114 413–424 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0022-1694(90)90068-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J.L. Bowen I. Valiela (2001) ArticleTitleThe ecological effects of urbanization of coastal watersheds: historical increases in nitrogen loads and eutrophication of Waquoit Bay estuaries Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 58 1489–1500 Occurrence Handle10.1139/cjfas-58-8-1489

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D.G. Capone J.M. Slater (1990) ArticleTitleInterannual patterns of water table height and groundwater derived nitrate in nearshore sediments Biogeochemistry 10 277–288

    Google Scholar 

  • J.J. Cole B.L. Peierls N.F. Caraco M.L. Pace (1993) Nitrogen loading of rivers as a humandriven process M.J. McDonnell S.T.A. Pickett (Eds) Humans as Components of Ecosystems: The Ecology of Subtle Human Effects and Populated Areas Springer-Verlag New York 138–154

    Google Scholar 

  • D.R. Corbett K. Dillon W. Burnett G. Schaefer (2002) ArticleTitleThe spatial variability of nitrogen and phosphorus concentration in a sand aquifer influenced by onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems: a case study on St. George Island, Florida Environ. Pollut. 117 337–345

    Google Scholar 

  • E.M. Eichner T.C. Cambareri (1992) Nitrogen loading. Cape Cod Commission Technical Bulletin 91-001 Cape Cod Commission Barnstable, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • C.J. Gobler S.A. Sanudo-Wilhelmy (2001) ArticleTitleTemporal variability of groundwater seepage and brown tide blooms in a Long Island embayment Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 217 299–309

    Google Scholar 

  • S.E. Hagerthey W.C. Kerfoot (1998) ArticleTitleGroundwater flow influences the biomass and nutrient ratios of epibenthic algae in a north temperate seepage lake Limnol. Oceanogr. 43 1227–1242

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Hauxwell J. Cebrian C. Furlong I. Valiela (2001) ArticleTitleMacroalgal canopies contribute to eelgrass (Zostera marina) decline in temperate estuarine ecosystems Ecology 82 1007–1022

    Google Scholar 

  • B.L. Howes J.M. Teal (1995) ArticleTitleNutrient balance of a Massachusetts cranberry bog and relationships to coastal eutrophication Environ. Sci. Technol. 29 960–974

    Google Scholar 

  • M.N. Jones (1984) ArticleTitleNitrate reduction by shaking with cadmium: alternative to cadmium columns Wat. Res. 18 643–646

    Google Scholar 

  • M.J. Kemp W.K. Dodds (2001) ArticleTitleSpatial and temporal patterns of nitrogen concentrations in pristine and agriculturally-influenced prairie streams Biogeochemistry 53 125–141 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1010707632340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall C. 1998. Tracing nitrogen sources and cycling in catchments. In: Kendall C. and McDonnell (eds), Isotope Tracers in Catchment Hydrology. Elsevier Science, pp. 519–576.

  • K.D. Kroeger J.L. Bowen D. Corcoran J. Moorman J. Michalowski C. Rose I. Valiela (1999) ArticleTitleNitrogen loading to Green Pond, Falmouth, MA: Sources and evaluation of management options Environ. Cape Cod 2 15–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Kroeger K.D., Cole M.L., York J.K. and Valiela I. N loads from wastewater plumes: modeling and isotopic approaches. Ground Water. in press.

  • J.W. LaBaugh D.O. Rosenberry T.C. Winter (1995) ArticleTitleGroundwater contribution to the water and chemical budgets of Williams Lake, Minnesota1980–1991 Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 52 754–767

    Google Scholar 

  • K. Lajtha B. Seely I. Valiela (1995) ArticleTitleRetention and leaching losses of atmospherically-derived nitrogen in the aggrading coastal watershed of Waquoit Bay, MA Biogeochemistry 28 33–54 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF02178060

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J.L. Lake R.A. McKinney F.A. Osterman R.J. Pruell J. Kiddon S.A. Ryba A.D. Libby (2001) ArticleTitleStable nitrogen isotopes as indicators of anthropogenic activities in small freshwater systems Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 58 870–878 Occurrence Handle10.1139/cjfas-58-5-870

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D.R. LeBlanc (1984) Sewage Plume in a Sand and Gravel Aquifer, Cape Cod, Massachusetts U.S. Geological Survey Denver, CO

    Google Scholar 

  • D.R. LeBlanc S.P. Garabedian K.M. Hess L.W. Gelhar R.D. Quadri (1991) ArticleTitleLarge-scale natural gradient tracer test in sand and gravel, Cape Cod, Massachusetts: I. Experimental design and observed tracer movement Wat. Resour. Res. 27 895–910

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Mayer E.B. Boyer C. Goodale N.A. Jaworski N. Breemen ParticleVan R.W. Howarth S. Seitzinger G. Billen K. Lajtha K. Nadelhoffer D. Dam ParticleVan L.J. Hetling M. Nosal K. Paustian (2002) ArticleTitleSources of nitrate in rivers draining sixteen watersheds in the northeastern U.S.: Isotopic constraints Biogeochemistry 57/58 171–197

    Google Scholar 

  • J.W. McClelland I. Valiela (1998) ArticleTitleLinking nitrogen in estuarine producers to land-derived sources Limnol. Oceanogr. 43 577–585

    Google Scholar 

  • J.W. McClelland I. Valiela R.H. Michener (1997) ArticleTitleNitrogen-stable isotope signatures in estuarine food webs: a record of increasing urbanization in coastal watersheds Limnol. Oceanogr. 42 930–937

    Google Scholar 

  • P. Morand X. Briand (1996) ArticleTitleExcessive growth of macroalgae: a symptom of environmental disturbance Bot. Mar. 39 491–516

    Google Scholar 

  • M.E. Nelson S.W. Horsley T.C. Cambareri M.D. Giggey J.R. Pinnette (1988) Predicting nitrogen concentrations in ground water—an analytical model Conference on eastern regional groundwater issues Dublin National Well Water Association OH 179–202

    Google Scholar 

  • N.J.P. Owens (1987) ArticleTitleNatural variations in 15N in the marine environment Adv. Mar. Biol. 24 389–451

    Google Scholar 

  • W.J. Pabich I. Valiela H.F. Hemond (2001) ArticleTitleRelationship between DOC concentration and vadose zone thickness and depth below water table in groundwater of Cape Cod, U.S.A Biogeochemistry 55 247–268 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1011842918260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • B.J. Peterson B. Fry (1987) ArticleTitleStable isotopes in ecosystem studies Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 18 293–320 Occurrence Handle10.1146/annurev.es.18.110187.001453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. 2003. The Greenwich Bay Fish Kill-August 2003. Causes, Impacts and Responses. http://www.state.ri.us/dem/pubs/fishkill.pdf

  • W.D. Robertson J.A. Cherry E.A. Sudicky (1991) ArticleTitleGroundwater contamination from two small septic systems on sand aquifers Ground Water 29 82–92 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1745-6584.1991.tb00500.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S.W. Running R.R. Nemani R.D. Hungerford (1988) ArticleTitleExtrapolation of synoptic meteorological data in mountainous terrain and its use for simulating forest evapotranspiration and photosynthesis Can. J. Forest. Res. 17 472–483

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Savoie (1995) Altitude and Configuration of the Water TableWestern Cape Cod Aquifer, Massachusetts, March 1993 Geological Survey U.S

    Google Scholar 

  • D.M. Sigman M.A. Altabet R. Michener D.C. McCorkle B. Fry R.M. Holmes (1997) ArticleTitleNatural abundance-level measurement of the nitrogen isotopic composition of oceanic nitrate: an adaptation of the ammonia diffusion method Mar. Chem. 57 227–242 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0304-4203(97)00009-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R.R. Sokal F.J. Rohlf (1995) Biometry W.H. Freeman and Company San Francisco, CA

    Google Scholar 

  • A.N. Strahler (1966) A Geologist’s View of Cape Cod Doubleday Orleans, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • N. Takatert J.M. Sanchez-Perez M. Tremolieres (1999) ArticleTitleSpatial and temporal variations of nutrient concentration in the groundwater of a floodplain: effect of hydrology, vegetation and substrate Hydrol. Process. 13 1511–1526 Occurrence Handle10.1002/(SICI)1099-1085(199907)13:10<1511::AID-HYP828>3.0.CO;2-F

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • I. Valiela G. Collins J. Kremer K. Lajtha M. Geist B. Seely J. Brawley C.H. Sham (1997) ArticleTitleNitrogen loading from coastal watersheds to receiving estuaries: new method and application Ecol. Appl. 7 358–380

    Google Scholar 

  • I. Valiela J. Costa K. Foreman J.M. Teal B.L. Howes D. Aubrey (1990) ArticleTitleTransport of groundwater-borne nutrients from watersheds and their effects on coastal waters Biogeochemistry 10 177–197

    Google Scholar 

  • I. Valiela M. Geist J. McClelland G. Tomasky (2000) ArticleTitleNitrogen loading from watersheds to estuaries: Verification of the Waquoit Bay Nitrogen Loading Model Biogeochemistry 49 277–293 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1006345024374

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • I. Valiela J.M. Teal (1979) ArticleTitleThe nitrogen budget of a salt marsh ecosystem Nature 280 652–656

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Waldron P. Tatner I. Jack C. Arnott (2001) ArticleTitleThe impact of sewage discharge in a marine embayment: A stable isotope reconnaissance Estuar. Coast Shelf Sci. 52 111–115 Occurrence Handle10.1006/ecss.2000.0731

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S.R. Wilhelm S.L. Schiff J.A. Cherry (1994) ArticleTitleBiogeochemical evolution of domestic waste water in septic systems: 1. Conceptual model Ground Water 32 905–916 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1745-6584.1994.tb00930.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A.R. Zimmerman E.A. Canuel (2000) ArticleTitleA geochemical record of eutrophication and anoxia in Chesapeake Bay sediments: Anthropogenic influenze on organic matter composition Mar. Chem. 69 117–137 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0304-4203(99)00100-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Marci L. Cole

    Present address: Save The Bay, 100 Bayview Dr., Providence, RI, 02905, USA

  2. Kevin D. Kroeger

    Present address: US Geological Survey, Center for Coastal Watershed Studies, 600 4th St. South, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA

  3. J. W. Mcclelland

    Present address: Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, 02908, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Biological Laboratory, Boston University Marine Program, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA

    Marci L. Cole, Kevin D. Kroeger, J. W. Mcclelland & I. Valiela

Authors
  1. Marci L. Cole
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kevin D. Kroeger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. W. Mcclelland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. I. Valiela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marci L. Cole.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cole, M.L., Kroeger, K.D., Mcclelland, J.W. et al. Effects of Watershed Land use on Nitrogen Concentrations and δ15 Nitrogen in Groundwater. Biogeochemistry 77, 199–215 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-005-1036-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-005-1036-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation