Abstract
Here, we quantified sediment phosphorus (P) release in relation to concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO) and sulphate, and increase in temperature in a major river of India subjected to long-term human perturbations. We found a substantial increase in sediment P release, an ecosystem feedback, at higher concentrations of sulphate, more towards the lower end of DO concentrations. A 2°C warming increased sediment P release upto 25.21% and caused a drop in DO level by 16%. Our findings reconcile the observed sulphate-driven changes in sediment P release across systems, and provide first experimental evidence of warming-induced increases. Our results imply that aquatic ecosystems will undergo self-fertilizing effect as the planet warming interacts with other human perturbations. This has implications for eutrophication linkages and ecosystem functioning.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank Head, Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University for facilities. The University Grant Commission, New Delhi, and Institute of Eminence (IoE), BHU is acknowledged for funding support.
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Gupta, B., Pandey, S. & Pandey, J. High Concentration of Sulphate Coupled with Climate Warming Generates Ecosystem Feedback Under Sub-Oxic Conditions at Sediment-Water Interface in the Ganga River. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 111, 40 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-023-03790-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-023-03790-w