Effects of sewage water on bio-optical properties and primary production of coastal systems in West Australia
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Effects of sewage water on bio-optical properties and primary production of coastal systems in West Australia. / Stæhr, Peter Anton; Waite, A. M.; Markager, S.
In: Hydrobiologia, Vol. 620, No. 1, 2008, p. 191-205.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of sewage water on bio-optical properties and primary production of coastal systems in West Australia
AU - Stæhr, Peter Anton
AU - Waite, A. M.
AU - Markager, S.
N1 - Keywords Light absorption - Nutrients - Pigmentation - Photosynthesis - Primary production - Sewage water
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - Relationships between key phytoplankton attributes including Chl a-specific light absorption, pigment composition and concentration, photosynthesis, primary production and community structure were studied in two open shallow nutrient-poor coastal systems receiving similar amounts of sewage water. Both systems were significantly nitrogen limited. However, differences in wastewater treatment (primary vs secondary) and sewage dilution (50%) between the two systems caused a greater difference between systems than locally around the outflows. For both systems, water at the outlet had significantly lower water transparency caused by a 20% higher absorption by coloured dissolved organic matter. Nutrient concentrations were also elevated, gradually decreasing with distance north (governing current) of the outflows, causing higher abundance of nano-sized phytoplankton, higher content of carotenoid pigments, 20-50% higher Chl a-specific absorption coefficients and higher photosynthetic capacity. Although maximum rates of Chl a-normalised photosynthesis were strongly related to nitrate availability, no effects were found on the derived areal primary production or algal biomass suggesting that photosynthetic and optical parameters are more sensitive indicators of nutrient enrichment than biomass or productivity.
AB - Relationships between key phytoplankton attributes including Chl a-specific light absorption, pigment composition and concentration, photosynthesis, primary production and community structure were studied in two open shallow nutrient-poor coastal systems receiving similar amounts of sewage water. Both systems were significantly nitrogen limited. However, differences in wastewater treatment (primary vs secondary) and sewage dilution (50%) between the two systems caused a greater difference between systems than locally around the outflows. For both systems, water at the outlet had significantly lower water transparency caused by a 20% higher absorption by coloured dissolved organic matter. Nutrient concentrations were also elevated, gradually decreasing with distance north (governing current) of the outflows, causing higher abundance of nano-sized phytoplankton, higher content of carotenoid pigments, 20-50% higher Chl a-specific absorption coefficients and higher photosynthetic capacity. Although maximum rates of Chl a-normalised photosynthesis were strongly related to nitrate availability, no effects were found on the derived areal primary production or algal biomass suggesting that photosynthetic and optical parameters are more sensitive indicators of nutrient enrichment than biomass or productivity.
U2 - 10.1007/s10750-008-9628-1
DO - 10.1007/s10750-008-9628-1
M3 - Journal article
VL - 620
SP - 191
EP - 205
JO - Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Health
JF - Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Health
SN - 0018-8158
IS - 1
ER -
ID: 10248656