Tracing sewage and natural freshwater input in a northwest Mediterranean Bay: evidence obtained from isotopic ratios in marine organisms.
Mar Pollut Bull
; 60(6): 843-51, 2010 Jun.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20171702
ABSTRACT
Elemental carbon and nitrogen levels and isotope ratios were assessed in different biological compartments of a Northwest (NW) Mediterranean bay to trace the various sources of nutrient input from natural (river runoffs) and anthropogenic (harbor outflows, fish farms and urban sewage outfall) sources. Samples from transplanted mussels and natural sea grass communities (Posidonia oceanica leaves and epiphytes) were harvested from different locations throughout the bay during the touristic summer and rainy seasons. The results from the nitrogen analysis revealed that sewage and harbor outflow promote higher nitrogen levels, enrichment of (15)N in the tissues, and a higher seasonal variability in sea grass and epiphytes. In mussel tissues, the delta(15)N was also influenced by sewage and harbor outflow, whereas delta(13)C was influenced by terrestrial inputs. These results suggest that natural and anthropogenic nutrient inputs have a temporary and localized influence and affect the sensitivity of natural isotopic ratios to changes in hydrologic conditions, especially to rain and tourism.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Água do Mar
/
Esgotos
/
Poluição da Água
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Monitoramento Ambiental
/
Bivalves
/
Alismatales
Limite:
Animals
País como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2010
Tipo de documento:
Article