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The effect of benthic sediments on dissolved nutrient concentrations and fluxes

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Abstract

The Ria Formosa is a meso-tidal coastal lagoon experiencing enhanced nutrient concentrations. Assessment of sediment–seawater interaction is essential if nutrient dynamics and the risk of eutrophication are to be fully understood. Pore water concentrations of dissolved inorganic and organic phosphorus, ammonium, nitrate and nitrite were determined in cores from six sites. Changes in nutrients concentrations were measured in intertidal pools on sand and mud between tides. Dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) concentrations (~200 µmol l−1) and effluxes (123 ± 14 µmol m−2 h−1) were greater from sand than mud (37 ± 10 µmol m−2 h−1), possibly due to the binding of P with the <63 µm fraction. NH +4 effluxes were high outside the Ancão Basin (821 ± 106 µmol m−2 h−1) and were associated with Enteromorpha sp. mats. The greatest NO −3 efflux was from sediments near a salt marsh (170 ± 67 µmol m−2 h−1). These sediment fluxes of P were not sufficient to account for elevated P concentrations seen by other workers on the ebb tide from the Ancão Basin. Intertidal pools were sinks for Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) and DIP over the 6 h exposure period. Thus, tidepools may be an important route of nutrients into sediments that enhances the effects of sediments on seawater nutrient concentrations.

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Abbreviations

DIN:

Dissolved inorganic nitrogen

DM:

Deep mud

DS:

Deep sand

DOP:

Dissolved organic phosphorus

MP:

Mud pool

NH3 :

Ammonia

MR:

Mud replicate

NH +4 :

Ammonium

OA:

Outside Ancão

NO −2 :

Nitrite

SM:

Salt marsh

NO −3 :

Nitrate

SP:

Sand pool

P:

Phosphorus

SR:

Sand replicate

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the University of Algarve for the use of materials and facilities, and staff of the chemistry, and marine and environmental science faculties for assistance with nutrient analysis. The authors are grateful to the two anonymous reviewers whose comments greatly improved the manuscript. Financial assistance (to LGM) for this work was provided under an advanced course studentship from the Natural Environment Research Council (NER/S/M/2003/11640) and under the ERASMUS/Socrates programme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5AB, UK

    L. G. Murray & S. M. Mudge

  2. IMAR, FCT-Gambelas Campus, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal

    A. Newton

  3. Sagremarisco, Apt 21, Vila do Bispo, 8650-999, Portugal

    J. D. Icely

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  1. L. G. Murray
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  2. S. M. Mudge
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Correspondence to S. M. Mudge.

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Murray, L.G., Mudge, S.M., Newton, A. et al. The effect of benthic sediments on dissolved nutrient concentrations and fluxes. Biogeochemistry 81, 159–178 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-006-9034-6

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