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Nutrient fluxes from an Arctic seabird colony to the adjacent coastal marine ecosystem.
- Source :
- Polar Biology; Sep2024, Vol. 47 Issue 9, p859-872, 14p
- Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Seabirds are important vectors for nutrient transfer across ecosystem boundaries. In this seasonal study, we evaluate the impact of an Arctic colony (Alkhornet, Svalbard) of Black-legged Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) and Brünnich's Guillemots (Uria lomvia) on stream nutrient concentrations and fluxes, as well as utilization by coastal biota. Water samples from seabird-impacted and control streams were collected regularly throughout the melt season (June–September) for nutrient and organic carbon analysis. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis (δ<superscript>13</superscript>C and δ<superscript>15</superscript>N) was used to assess whether seabird-derived nitrogen (N) could be traced into filamentous stream algae and marine algae as well as consumers (amphipods). Concentrations of nitrate (NO<subscript>3</subscript><superscript>−</superscript>) and nitrite (NO<subscript>2</subscript><superscript>−</superscript>) peaked in July at 9200 µg N L<superscript>−1</superscript> in seabird-impacted streams, 70 times higher than for control streams. Mean concentrations of phosphate (PO<subscript>4</subscript><superscript>3−</superscript>) in seabird-impacted streams were 21.9 µg P L<superscript>−1</superscript>, tenfold higher than in controls. Areal fluxes from seabird-impacted study catchments of NO<subscript>3</subscript><superscript>−</superscript> + NO<subscript>2</subscript><superscript>−</superscript> and PO<subscript>4</subscript><superscript>3−</superscript> had estimated ranges of 400–2100 kg N km<superscript>−2</superscript> and 15–70 kg P km<superscript>−2</superscript>, respectively. Higher δ<superscript>15</superscript>N was found in all biota collected from seabird-impacted sites, indicating utilization of seabird-derived nitrogen. Acrosiphonia sp. from seabird-impacted sites had higher δ<superscript>15</superscript>N values (20–23‰ vs. 3–6‰) and lower C:N ratios (10.9 vs. 14.3) than specimens collected from control sites, indicating reliance on seabird-derived nitrogen sources and potentially higher N-availability at seabird-impacted nearshore sites. Our study demonstrates how marine nutrients brought onshore by seabirds also can return to the ocean and be utilized by nearshore primary producers and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 07224060
- Volume :
- 47
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Polar Biology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 179278250
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-022-03024-5