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Spatial variability in sediment phosphorus characteristics along a hydrological gradient upstream of Lake Rotorua, New Zealand

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Abstract

This study examined particulate phosphorus (PP) characteristics of terrestrial, stream bed and lake bed sediments along a common hydrological pathway. The objective was to quantify spatial variability of PP in the catchment of a eutrophic lake, Rotorua (New Zealand). Median total phosphorus (TP; dry weight) concentration in sediments (‘terrestrial’) deposited from overland flow on farmland in the upper stream catchment was high (2,157 mg kg−1), greatly exceeding that of stream bed sediments (212 mg kg−1; Waiteti Stream) which exhibited downstream decline in TP concentrations. Lake bed sediments were enriched in TP (median = 2,661 mg kg−1) with relatively low Fe:P and Al:P mass ratios. Sequential extraction of three PP fractions showed that the mean proportion of HCl-extracted P (Ca-bound, denoting the refractory fraction) in extracted P was higher in terrestrial sediments (17 %) than stream bed sediments (4 %). Accordingly, TP concentrations of terrestrial sediments were highly (p < 0.01) correlated with Ca (R = 0.89), whereas TP was most closely correlated with Al (R = 0.83) in the stream bed sediments. Nonetheless, the majority of sequentially extracted P in both terrestrial and stream bed sediments comprised fractions (bicarbonate dithionate- and NaOH-extractable) that are potentially bioavailable in Lake Rotorua. Furthermore, phosphate buffering experiments indicated that terrestrial sediments desorbed P to be a source of PO4–P to receiving waters, whereas stream bed sediments buffered PO4–P concentrations in stream water. Such quantification of landscape-scale variability in PP characteristics can support strategic management of TP loading to the lake.

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Acknowledgments

This study is indebted to the landowners who permitted fieldwork access and detainment bund construction. John Paterson (Bay of Plenty Regional Council) managed construction of the detainment bunds and provided considerable technical support. Michael Hupfer (IGB, Berlin) provided guidance regarding sequential extraction methods and Phil Owens (University of Northern British Columbia) provided advice about the use of synthetic grass mats. Paul Scholes provided monitoring data and Alastair MacCormick provided management support (both from Bay of Plenty Regional Council). Steve Cameron undertook ICP-MS analysis and Annette Rogers assisted with particle size analysis (both from University of Waikato). Funding was primarily provided by Bay of Plenty Regional Council with additional support from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (UOWX0505) and DairyNZ.

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  1. Jonathan M. Abell

    Present address: Ecofish Research Ltd., Suite 1220–1175 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Research Institute, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand

    Jamie Peryer-Fursdon, Jonathan M. Abell, Dylan Clarke, Deniz Özkundakci, David P. Hamilton & Lisa Pearson

  2. Bay of Plenty Regional Council, 1125 Arawa St, Rotorua, New Zealand

    Dylan Clarke

  3. Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany

    Deniz Özkundakci

Authors
  1. Jamie Peryer-Fursdon
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  2. Jonathan M. Abell
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Correspondence to Jonathan M. Abell.

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Peryer-Fursdon, J., Abell, J.M., Clarke, D. et al. Spatial variability in sediment phosphorus characteristics along a hydrological gradient upstream of Lake Rotorua, New Zealand. Environ Earth Sci 73, 1573–1585 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3508-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3508-y

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