Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Assessing The Impact Of A New Inlet Created By 2012 Hurricane Sandy On The Intensity Of Algae Blooms In Bellport Bay Ny, Ryan A. Wagner

Student Publications

Harmful algae blooms (HABs) are a growing ecosystem health issue in environments worldwide, driven by excess nitrogen runoff (Eutrophication) alongside high summer temperatures. HABs strip oxygen from the environment and create toxic environments that impact other primary producers, fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, and any other organisms that enter an affected body of water. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of a new inlet, created by Hurricane Sandy in Long Island’s Bellport Bay, on the concentration of algae blooms during peak blooming periods (Jul-Aug) to inform ecosystem-based management. Google Earth Engine Code Editor and 2008-2017 Landsat 5-8 …

Spatial And Temporal Variation Of Nutrients In The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin: Implications For Primary Production In Stream Ecosystems, Nolan Pearce

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Growing human populations and associated land use activities has increased the amount of nutrients delivered to surface waters. Eutrophication from the over-enrichment of nitrogen and phosphorus has degraded ecosystem conditions in streams, lakes, and coastal areas worldwide. Thus, the management of anthropogenic nutrient loading is a global concern. This thesis employed a combination of field and experimental research to provide watershed managers with information on the spatial and temporal patterns in stream nutrient enrichment, and the associated ecological effects of anthropogenic nutrient loading in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence basin. Four studies were completed to address this research goal. First, I …

Algal Coverage Detection And Classification Using Envi: Correlation With Dissolved Oxygen Levels In Elkhorn Slough, Ca, Jason Dawson

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Estuaries are exposed to varying stressors, whether they be physical, chemical, or environmental. The most notable of stressors is eutrophication of coastal and inland ecosystems. This is a result of increased supply of nutrients fueling production within the system. One outcome of this increased nutrient load to the system is that of algal blooms. These blooms can impact the aesthetic appearance and degrade the quality of health of the system. Many of these coastal zones and waterways are critical habitats for many biological (some endangered) species and serve as recreational areas for human populations. Elkhorn Slough, California is one of …

Hurricane Disturbance Stimulated Nitrification And Altered Ammonia Oxidizer Community Structure In Lake Okeechobee And St. Lucie Estuary (Florida), Justyna J. Hampel, Mark J. Mccarthy, Sanni L. Aalto, Silvia E. Newell

Faculty Publications

© Copyright © 2020 Hampel, McCarthy, Aalto and Newell. Nitrification is an important biological link between oxidized and reduced forms of nitrogen (N). The efficiency of nitrification plays a key role in mitigating excess N in eutrophic systems, including those with cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs), since it can be closely coupled with denitrification and removal of excess N. Recent work suggests that competition for ammonium (NH₄⁺) between ammonia oxidizers and cyanoHABs can help determine microbial community structure. Nitrification rates and ammonia-oxidizing archaeal (AOA) and bacterial (AOB) community composition and gene abundances were quantified in Lake Okeechobee …

The Release, Transport, And Utilization Of Phosphorus From Bed-Sediments: A Study Of A Eutrophic Littoral Cove On Beaver Lake In Northwest Arkansas, James A. Mccarty

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Eutrophication of surface waters not only impacts the environment but also water treatment processes, the most significant of which is from the effects of algae. During peak algal growth in many southern U.S. reservoirs, inflows that bring nutrients are at an annual minimum, and phosphorus released from bed-sediments is trapped in the hypolimnion. Littoral areas, described as the most productive zone of the lake, may be a possible source of phosphorus that fuels algal growth in the reservoir. I studied an isolated shallow cove in the War Eagle Creek arm of Beaver Lake in Northwest Arkansas to measure, quantify, and …

Impacts Of Human Recreation On Nutrient Availability And Periphyton Abundance On The Niobrara River, Matthew Chen, Jessica Corman, Sydney Kimnach, Kayla Vondracek

UCARE Research Products

In freshwater ecosystems, eutrophication can create many problems. Excess nutrients, like nitrogen or phosphorus, promote algal or cyanobacterial growth. This growth also leads to increased organic matter production and decomposition, a process that can reduce oxygen concentration in the water. When this happens, species diversity declines, transparency of the water declines, and anoxia may lead to fish kills . Of particular concern is the possibility of cyanobacteria blooms that create compounds toxic for humans. Many of the waters across Nebraska receive excessive nutrients from human activities, largely related to agriculture (Dickey 1982). However, there is one river, the Niobrara River, …

Quantification Of Septic System Contribution To Nutrient Loads In Surface Waters, Archana Tamang

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Freshwater systems worldwide are threatened by excessive nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) loading. This study evaluated the contribution of septic systems to stream nutrient loads in nine subwatersheds. Stream sampling was conducted during low and high discharge conditions, with samples analyzed for total phosphorus (TP), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), nitrate (NO₃-N), and acesulfame (ACE; wastewater tracer). Higher septic effluent reached the subwatershed outlets during high discharge conditions. Subwatersheds with newer households had a lower percentage of septic effluent reaching the stream compared with subwatersheds with older households. Seasonal and event-based ACE concentration-discharge relationships revealed that the hydrological pathways delivering …

Carbon And Nitrogen Recycling During Cyanohabs In Dreissenid-Invaded And Non-Invaded Us Midwestern Lakes And Reservoirs, Trinity L. Hamilton, Jessica Corman, Jeff R. Havig

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Lakes and reservoirs play key roles in global carbon cycling, especially as a carbon sink. Enrichment of nutrients in lakes and reservoirs (eutrophication) and rising global temperatures favors the proliferation of bloom-forming cyanobacteria. Harmful blooms of cyanobacteria (cyanoHABs) alter carbon and nutrient cycling in freshwater ecosystems. Some evidence suggests the introduction or establishment of invasive mussel species (i.e., Dreissena spp.) also favor cyanoHAB formation through selective filter feeding, a process through which they may also impact biogeochemical processes including carbon cycling and sequestration. However, few studies have considered the combined effects of invasive mussels and cyanoHABs on carbon and nitrogen …

The Fate Of Anthropogenic Nitrogen Along Hydrologic Continuums: Patterns Of Transformation And Recycling In A Eutrophic Lake And Coastal Marine Sediments, Daniel K. Hoffman

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Eutrophication of aquatic systems can have cascading effects along hydrological continua from watersheds to coasts that result in impaired ecosystem health. In freshwater systems, blooms of toxic, non-nitrogen (N) fixing cyanobacteria (cyanoHABs), such as Microcystis, proliferate due to external loading of chemically reduced forms of N (e.g., ammonium (NH4+) and urea), which promote growth and toxin production. In coastal marine systems, nutrient loading can promote harmful algae blooms and threaten vulnerable, native vegetation, such as seagrasses, which provide valuable ecosystem services but are under threat globally from anthropogenic stressors. This dissertation focuses on NH4+ cycling in the water column of …

Seagrass Losses Since Mid‐20th Century Fuelled Co2 Emissions From Soil Carbon Stocks, Cristian Salinas, Carlos M. Duarte, Paul Lavery, Pere Masque´, Ariane Arias-Ortiz, Javier X. Leon, David Callaghan, Gary A. Kendrick, Oscar Serrano

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Seagrass meadows store globally significant organic carbon (C_org) stocks which, if disturbed, can lead to CO₂ emissions, contributing to climate change. Eutrophication and thermal stress continue to be a major cause of seagrass decline worldwide, but the associated CO₂ emissions remain poorly understood. This study presents comprehensive estimates of seagrass soil C_org erosion following eutrophication‐driven seagrass loss in Cockburn Sound (23 km² between 1960s and 1990s) and identifies the main drivers. We estimate that shallow seagrass meadows ( < 5 m depth) had significantly higher C_org stocks in 50 cm thick soils (4.5 ± 0.7 kg C_org/m²) …

Impact Of Seagrass Establishment, Industrialization And Coastal Infrastructure On Seagrass Biogeochemical Sinks [Dataset], Oscar Serrano, Paul Lavery, James Bongiovanni, Carlos Duarte

Research Datasets

The database compiles published data (in Serrano et al. 2020, Marine Environmental Research, in press) on biogeochemical characteristics (density, organic carbon, stable carbon isotopes, chemical element and sediment grain size) of cores from Posidonia sinuosa soil in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia. Pb-210 concentrations of the first 20 cm are included along with C-14 raw ages.

Enquiries about the dataset may be sent to Oscar Serrano: o.serranogras@ecu.edu.au

Community Structure Has Greater Effect On Water Column Ammonium Cycling Than Nutrients And Temperature In Shallow Lake Mesocosms, Shannon Marie Collins

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) impact lakes worldwide and are caused by excess nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loading from watersheds. Climate warming and nutrient loading effects on N cycling were examined in shallow lake mesocosms in Denmark. N loading to some mesocosms ceased in June 2018 and resumed in June 2019. Ammonium (NH4+) uptake, regeneration, and nitrification and nitrate uptake rates were evaluated. High nutrient, ambient temperature mesocosms exhibited the highest NH4+ cycling rates. Before resumption of N loading in high nutrient mesocosms, NH4+ regeneration supported 46 % of potential microbial NH4+ demand, versus 24 % with N loading. Nutrient …