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Coral carbonate-bound isotopes reveal monsoonal influence on nitrogen sources in Southeastern China's Greater Bay Area from the mid-Holocene until the Anthropocene.
- Source :
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Marine pollution bulletin [Mar Pollut Bull] 2023 Dec; Vol. 197, pp. 115757. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Nov 21. - Publication Year :
- 2023
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Abstract
- Most anthropogenic nitrogen (N) reaches coastal waters via rivers carrying increasing loads of sewage, fertilizer, and sediments. To understand anthropogenic N impacts, we need to understand historical N-dynamics before human influence. Stable isotope ratios of N preserved in carbonates are one way to create temporal N records. However, records that span periods of human occupation are scarce, limiting our ability to contextualize modern N dynamics. Here, we produce a fossil-bound N-record using coral subfossils, spanning 6700 years in China's Greater Bay Area (GBA). We found that during the mid-to-late Holocene, the GBA's coastal N was dominated by fluvial sources. The weakening of the Asia monsoon throughout the late-Holocene decreased river outflow, leading to a relative increase of marine nitrate. This source shift from riverine-to-ocean dominance was overprinted by anthropogenic N. During the late 1980s to early 1990s, human development and associated effluent inundated the coastal system, contributing to the decline of coral communities.<br />Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.<br /> (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1879-3363
- Volume :
- 197
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Marine pollution bulletin
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 37988964
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115757