Factors affecting the concentration and flux of materials in two southern Everglades mangrove wetlands

Material Information

Title:
Factors affecting the concentration and flux of materials in two southern Everglades mangrove wetlands
Series Title:
Marine Ecology Progress Series
Creator:
Davis III, Stephen E.
Childers, Daniel L.
Day Jr., John W.
Rudnick, David T.
Sklar, Fred H.
Publisher:
Inter-Research
Publication Date:
Language:
English

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Wetlands -- Florida -- Everglades
Nutrition -- Florida -- Everglades
Salinity -- Florida -- Everglades
Temperature -- Florida -- Everglades
Genre:
article
serial ( sobekcm )
Spatial Coverage:
Everglades (Fla.)
Coordinates:
25.750537 x -80.558111

Notes

Abstract:
Concentrations and fluxes of C, N, and P were measured in dwarf and fringe mangrove wetlands along the Taylor River, Florida, USA from 1996 to 1998. Data from these studies revealed considerable spatial and temporal variability. Concentrations of C, N, and P in the dwarf wetland showed seasonal trends, while water source was better at explaining concentrations in the fringe wetland. The total and dissolved organic carbon (TOC and DOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) content of both wetlands was higher during the wet season or when water was flowing to the south (Everglades source). Concentrations of nitrate plus nitrite (NOx –), ammonium (NH4 +), and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in the fringe wetland were all highest during the dry season or northerly flow (bay source). Nutrient concentrations most effectively explained patterns of flux in both wetlands. Increased wetland uptake of a given constituent was usually a function of its availability in the water column. However, the release of NOx – from the dwarf wetland was related to the NH4 + concentration, suggesting a nitrification signal. Nitrogen flux in the dwarf wetland was also related to surface water salinity and temperature. Our findings indicate that freshwater Everglades marshes are an important source of dissolved organic matter to these wetlands, while Florida Bay may be a source of dissolved inorganic nutrients. Our data also suggest that temperature, salinity, and nutrient concentrations (as driven by season and water source) influence patterns of materials flux in this mangrove wetland. Applying long-term water quality data to the relationships we extracted from these flux data, we estimated that TN and TP were imported by the dwarf wetland 87 ± 10 and 48 ± 17% of the year, respectively. With Everglades restoration, modifications in freshwater delivery may have considerable effects on the exchanges of nutrients and organic matter in these transitional mangrove wetlands.
General Note:
Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. Vol. 253: 85–96, 2003

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
Rights Management:
Please contact the owning institution for licensing and permissions. It is the users responsibility to ensure use does not violate any third party rights.
Resource Identifier:
FI14082568