Abstract
Purpose
In order to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities on carbon and nutrient accumulation, total organic carbon (TOC), nitrogen (TN), and phosphorus (TP) accumulation rates were examined in a 210Pb-dated mangrove sediment core from Sepetiba Bay, Brazil, a coastal region impacted by multiple environmental changes during the previous century.
Materials and methods
A 50-cm length sediment core was collected from a mangrove forest in Sepetiba Bay. Sediment subsamples were analyzed to measure TOC, TN, δ13C, and δ15N using an elemental analyzer attached to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer Thermo Finnigan Model Delta Plus XP, whereas colorimetric analysis were used to measure TP. For 210Pbex analyses, gamma-ray measurements were performed in a semiplanar intrinsic germanium high purity coaxial detector, coupled to a multichannel analyzer, whereas the sediment accumulation rate (SAR) was calculated according to the constant initial concentration (CIC) method. Also, carbon and nutrient fluxes were calculated using SAR and TOC, TN, and TP contents, whereas statistical differences were evaluated by ANOVA + Tukey HSD analysis with previous data normalization.
Results and discussion
The calculated sedimentation rate (~ 8.1 mm year−1) since the early 1900s was up to threefold higher than the global mean determined for mangrove forests (~ 2.8 mm year−1) and the regional sea level rise (~ 3.2 mm year−1). Significantly higher TOC, TN, and TP fluxes, up to nearly 1000, 90, and 15 g m−2 year−1, respectively, were observed after the water diversion from a nearby drainage basin in the 1950s and an increase in sewage effluent input, which increased in the early 1990s. After this period, lighter δ13C values (~ − 25‰) indicate an increased importance of the terrestrial organic matter source, while lower TOC:TN ratios (~ 11) and heavier δ15N values (~ + 9‰) suggest an increased influence of anthropogenic fertilization on inorganic nitrogen accumulation.
Conclusions
The significantly higher accumulation rates during the last decades evidenced the role of mangrove sediments as sinks for anthropogenically enhanced inputs of carbon and nutrients. Also, studies on carbon and nutrient accumulation evidenced the need for further research in eutrophic coastal areas.
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Acknowledgments
AP is supported by the “Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Cientifico Tecnologico y de Innovacion Tecnológica” (Fondecyt, Peru), through the MAGNET research program (Grant number 007-2017-FONDECYT) and the “Incorporación de Investigadores” program (Grant number E038-2019-02-FONDECYT-BM). JLB was supported by the University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership Endowed Fellowship in Coastal Science. We also are grateful to Dr. Bruno G. Libardoni, who provided us with invaluable suggestions.
WM is supported by research grants from the Brazilian Research Council (CNPq). CJS is supported by the Australian Research Council (DE160100443), in cooperation with Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF, Brazil). HM received a research grant from the Research Support Foundation of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ, “Programa Jovem Cientista do Nosso Estado”) and the Brazilian Research Council (CNPq, Programa Universal). WM and AP thank the financial support from CAPES (Finance Code 001).
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Pérez, A., Machado, W., Gutierrez, D. et al. Carbon and nutrient accumulation in mangrove sediments affected by multiple environmental changes. J Soils Sediments 20, 2504–2509 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-020-02612-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-020-02612-4