Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometry and eutrophication in River Thames tributaries, UK

Smith, D.R.; Jarvie, H.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4984-1607; Bowes, M.J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0673-1934. 2017 Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometry and eutrophication in River Thames tributaries, UK. Agricultural & Environmental Letters, 2 (1), 170020. 4, pp. https://doi.org/10.2134/ael2017.06.0020

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.2134/ael2017.06.0020

Abstract/Summary

Primary productivity in aquatic systems relies on carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) availability, with a reference stoichiometric ratio of 106 C/16 N/1 P, known as the Redfield ratio. This paper presents a methodology to visualize river water C/N/P stoichiometry and examine phytoplankton response. Redfield total dissolved C/N/P concentration ratios (TDC/TDNR/TDPR) from five River Thames tributaries were plotted in a ternary diagram, allowing relationships between nutrient stoichiometry, total P concentrations, and chlorophyll a, as a surrogate for phytoplankton biomass, to be explored. Chlorophyll a concentrations above 100 μg L−1 were not observed below 14% TDPR, and concentrations above 30 μg L−1 were not observed below 13% TDPR. This indicates a potentially lower TDPR limit for highly eutrophic waters. These rivers are C and N rich, and this methodology should be applied to a wider range of rivers to explore C, N and P thresholds across different river typologies.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.2134/ael2017.06.0020
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Water Resources (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	2471-9625
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URl link.
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	28 Nov 2017 12:09 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/518517

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.2134/ael2017.06.0020

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Water Resources (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

2471-9625

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URl link.

NORA Subject Terms:

Ecology and Environment