Dj Ross

Stable isotopes trace estuarine transformations of carbon and nitrogen from primary-and secondary-treated paper and pulp mill effluent

Stable isotope analysis of a novel combination of carbon and nitrogen pools traced inputs and processing of primary-treated (PE) and secondary-treated effluent (SE) from a paper and pulp mill (PPM) in a temperate Australian estuary. Distinct carbon stable isotope ratios of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) near the PPM outfall indicated large PE and reduced SE inputs of DOC. DOC was remineralized to dissolved inorganic carbon regardless of season, but rates were lower in winter. PE discharge in winter elevated DOC concentrations along much of the estuary. Distinct stable isotope ratios confirmed particulate organic matter (POM) input from PE and SE to the water column and into the sediment. This was relatively localized, indicating rapid POM settlement regardless of season. SE discharge increased nutrient inputs and enhanced algal productivity, particularly in summer when chlorophyll-a concentrations were elevated throughout the estuary. SE discharge reduced pCO(2) from levels associated with PE discharge. However, the estuary remained heterotrophic as subsequent respiration or decomposition of algal material offset reductions in PPM organic matter input. The influence of the PPM was apparent throughout the estuary, demonstrating the ability of anthropogenic inputs, and changes to these, to affect ecosystem functioning.

Measuring hypoxia induced metal release from highly contaminated estuarine sediments during a 40 day laboratory incubation experiment

Nutrient inputs to estuarine and coastal waters worldwide are increasing and this in turn is increasing the prevalence of eutrophication and hypoxic and anoxic episodes in these systems. Many urbanised estuaries are also subject to high levels of anthropogenic metal contamination. Environmental O(2) levels may influence whether sediments act as sinks or sources of metals. In this study we investigated the effect of an extended O(2) depletion event (40 days) on fluxes of trace metals (and the metalloid As) across the sediment-water interface in sediments from a highly metal contaminated estuary in S.E. Tasmania, Australia. We collected sediments from three sites that spanned a range of contamination and measured total metal concentration in the overlying water using sealed core incubations. Manganese and iron, which are known to regulate the release of other divalent cations from sub-oxic sediments, were released from sediments at all sites as hypoxia developed. In contrast, the release of arsenic, cadmium, copper and zinc was comparatively low, most likely due to inherent stability of these elements within the sediments, perhaps as a result of their refractory origin, their association with fine-grained sediments or their being bound in stable sulphide complexes. Metal release was not sustained due to the powerful effect of metal-sulphide precipitation of dissolved metals back into sediments. The limited mobilisation of sediment bound metals during hypoxia is encouraging, nevertheless the results highlight particular problems for management in areas where hypoxia might occur, such as the release of metals exacerbating already high loads or resulting in localised toxicity.

Niche Differentiation of Ammonia-Oxidising Archaea (AOA) and Bacteria (AOB) in Response to Paper and Pulp Mill Effluent

Sediment organic loading has been shown to affect estuarine nitrification and denitrification, resulting in changes to sediment biogeochemistry and nutrient fluxes detrimental to estuarine health. This study examined the effects of organic loading on nutrient fluxes and microbial communities in sediments receiving effluent from a paper and pulp mill (PPM) by applying microcosm studies and molecular microbial ecology techniques. Three sites near the PPM outfall were compared to three control sites, one upstream and two downstream of the outfall. The control sites showed coupled nitrification–denitrification with minimal ammonia release from the sediment. In contrast, the impacted sites were characterised by nitrate uptake and substantial ammonia efflux from the sediments, consistent with a decoupling of nitrification and denitrification. Analysis of gene diversity demonstrated that the composition of nitrifier communities was not significantly different at the impacted sites compared to the control sites; however, analysis of gene abundance indicated that whilst there was no difference in total bacteria, total archaea or ammonia-oxidising archaea (AOA) abundance between the control and impacted sites, there was a significant reduction in ammonia-oxidising bacteria (AOB) at the impacted sites. The results of this study demonstrate an effect of organic loading on estuarine sediment biogeochemistry and highlight an apparent niche differentiation between AOA and AOB.

Processing of particulate organic carbon associated with secondary-treated pulp and paper mill effluent in intertidal sediments: a 13C pulse-chase experiment

To determine the benthic transformation pathways and fate of carbon associated with secondary-treated pulp and paper mill (PPM) effluent, (13)C-labeled activated sludge biomass (ASB) and phytoplankton (PHY) were added, separately, to estuarine intertidal sediments. Over 28 days, (13)C was traced into sediment organic carbon, fauna, seagrass, bacteria, and microphytobenthos and into fluxes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) from inundated sediments, and carbon dioxide (CO2(g)) from exposed sediments. There was greater removal of PHY carbon from sediments (~85% over 28 days) compared to ASB (~75%). Although there was similar (13)C loss from PHY and ASB plots via DIC (58% and 56%, respectively) and CO2(g) fluxes (<1%), DOC fluxes were more important for PHY (41%) than ASB (12%). Faster downward transport and loss suggest that fauna prefer PHY, due to its lability and/or toxins associated with ASB; this may account for different carbon pathways. Secondary-treated PPM effluent has lower oxygen demand than primary-treated effluent, but ASB accumulation may contribute to sediment anoxia, and respiration of ASB and PHY-derived DOC may make the water column more heterotrophic. This highlights the need to optimize secondary-treatment processes to control the quality and quantity of organic carbon associated with PPM effluent.

Dispersal and assimilation of an aquaculture waste subsidy in a low productivity coastal environment

To understand dispersal and assimilation of aquaculture waste subsidies in a naturally low-productivity environment, we applied a novel, rapid transmethylation technique to analyse sediment and biota fatty acid composition. This technique was initially validated at Atlantic salmon farms in Macquarie Harbour, Australia, where sediments were collected at farm and control locations. Subsequently, sediment, benthic polychaete and zooplankton were sampled at sites 0, 50, 250, 500 and 1000m distant from multiple cages. Results demonstrated an acute deposition zone up to 50m from cages and a diffuse zone extending 500m from cages. Changes in sediment concentration of linoleic acid, oleic acid and total fatty acids were effective tracers of farm deposition. Bacterial biomarkers indicated that aquaculture waste stimulates bacterial productivity in sediments, with elevated biomarker concentrations also detected in benthic polychaetes. Overall, fatty acid analysis was a sensitive technique to characterize the benthic footprint of aquaculture influence.

Sediment geochronology for bar-built estuaries subject to flood deposition and erosion: a robust multiproxy approach across an estuarine zone

This paper presents a contiguous late Anthropocene 210Pb sediment geochronology and a late Anthropocene flood/fire event geochronology for an estuary subject to flood deposition and erosion. The procedure used multiple proxies to identify and evaluate flood facies overlying regions of erosion. Reconstructions of the original baseline sediments were undertaken for the major 210Pb geochronological methods. Only the lower estuary core site, which was deficient in inventory of excess 210Pb of baseline sediments, over the expected atmospheric supply for, was chosen to calculate the total amount of erosion. Erosion, as both cumulative mass and thickness, was then proportioned across flood events, relative to the size of the Rp index flood signal. The Rp index is the product of a simple stepwise thermogravimetric procedure. The flood geochronology was constructed by correlating the relative magnitudes of pivotal floods from an existing 100-year rainfall/river flow model and correlations in peak sediment char content outside of the flood facies with contemporary fire records. Overall, it was determined that 210Pb sediment isotope tomography gave the closest convergence with flood and fire events over those of the constant rate of supply and constant initial concentration methods. The agreement signified that around 40% of the original baseline accretion (25 cm) had been eroded by floods over the last 83 years and that there was possibly considerably more erosion at the upper site, which led to the loss of two flood facies.