Sub: Biology Topic: Ecology

Question:
How would you be able to determine from where nutrient influx comes? Could you prove this?

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Solution:

Determination of nutrient influx sources:

Nutrient influx may come from land runoff or may come from the decomposition of dead plant
and animal remains that have settled on the bottom. The ultimate influx of nutrients into the ecosystem
will be in the form of nitrates, nitrite, ammonium, phosphate and silicates. With any one of these nutrient
influxes or in combination and with the help of sunlight, photosynthesis will occur whose rate will also be
increased. Nutrient analyses will be conducted to determine historical patterns of nutrient influx. We can
very well determine the nutrient influx source by determining water samples collected from surface and
subsurface layers along the length of the estuaries as well as from a series of transects occupied in the
nearshore environment. Samples were analyzed for nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, phosphate and silicate.
Temperature and salinity were recorded at each station.

A Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone (LOICZ) budget was constructed for each estuary
to describe the role of ecosystem-level metabolism as either a sink or a source of phosphorus, nitrogen
and carbon. Seasonal variation in physico-chemical properties and nutrient concentrations in the estuary
will be minimal due to constant low inflow, while in the Great Fish estuary, concentrations varied in
response to changes in flow rate. Nutrient concentrations were consistently higher in the Great Fish river
estuary than in the oceanic estuary, largely reflecting differences in fresh water inflow.

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Sub: Biology Topic: Ecology

During periods of high flow dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations in the Great Fish river
estuary were an order of magnitude higher than those recorded in the oceanic estuary. There will be two
different sets of processes operating in the estuaries, namely low nutrient concentrations resulting in
microbial activity in the oceanic estuary and riverine influx of nutrients and phytoplankton combined with
a short residence time of the water in the Great Fish estuary. In the marine nearshore environment, higher
nutrient concentrations were recorded adjacent to the Great Fish estuary. This was due to a surface plume
of less saline water leaving the Great Fish estuary, which acted as an „outweller‟ of nutrients. Offshore of
the oceanic estuary, on the other hand, the nutrient concentrations were characteristic of marine waters
due to a lack of fresh water outflow from the estuary. Nutrient concentrations in the marine environment
adjacent to the oceanic estuary were, at times, higher than those recorded within the estuary. This
observation supports previous statements which suggest that the oceanic estuary is not an „outweller‟ of
dissolved nutrients and particulate material, but rather an extension of the marine environment.

Examples to prove the determination:

This concept could well be proved with the help of two examples, when the different nutrient
influx reached the esturian ecosystem, the nutrients with the help of sunlight undergoes photosynthesis
and produces phytoplanktons. These phytoplanktons will then be used to support large population of
pfiesteria, which in turn helps to attract fish. A study done by Glasgow and Burkholder in 2000 found
that some effluent came to the Neuse system from municipal wastewater treatment plants, as well as from
swine and poultry production areas. Manure produced by animals can contribute to the nutrient load. The
good news is that over a five-year study period, the amount of phosphate decreased. The bad news is that
the amount of nitrogen entering the system increased. We can try to make a difference here. We can also
think about controlling nutrient runoff from other locations like manicured lawns.”

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 Sub: Biology Topic: Ecology

When nutrient nitrate enters the estuary as discussed before it will ultimately increase the rate of
photosynthesis with the help of sunlight and in turn will increase the production of phytoplankton.

More phytoplankton provides more food for zooplankton. More phytoplankton and zooplankton
provide more food for fish. When large schools of fish are present, they can excrete or secrete substances
into the water that act as a cue for Pfiesteria to produce a deadly toxin, which results in fish kills. Many
forms of Pfiesteria can produce the toxin. Active amoeboid and flagellated cells can produce the toxin
immediately. Encysted cells can change forms and then begin to produce the toxin. The toxin makes the
fish lethargic, which prevents them from swimming quickly away from the toxin. The toxin also destroys
the skin of the fish. Some people have described some of these fish as the “living dead” because they have
pieces of flesh missing. Pfiesteria will feed on this tissue and other substances that are leaking from the
sores.”

** End of the Solution **

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