Skip to main content

The application of the ecotone concept in defining nutrient management requirements for the upper Potomac River basin

  • Chapter
  • 307 Accesses

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 82))

Abstract

The utility of the ecotone concept in nutrient management studies of the Potomac River basin, a large USA watershed, is examined. The MAB hypothesis suggesting that ‘the influence of an ecotone or adjacent system is proportional to the length and scope of the interfaces’ (Naiman et al., 1989) is the major focus of this paper.

The land-riverine ecotone appears to have a major influence on the total nitrogen balance and river export flux of nitrogen for the upper Potomac River basin. A method of converting conventional areal flux units into linear flux rates is suggested.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Bachman, R. W., W. G. Crumpton & G. R. Hallburg, 1989.Nitrogen losses in an agricultural stream. Verh. int. Ver.Limnol. 24:1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curtis, M., 1987. Potomac River Fall-line loading dynamics:January 1983-April 1987, Metropolitan Council of Gov.,Washington, D.C., 43 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • di Castri, F., A. J. Hansen & M. M. Holland (eds), 1988. A new look at ecotones: emerging international projects on landscape boundaries. Biol. Int. 17: 1–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donigian, A. S., B. R. Bicknell, L. C. Linker, J. Hannawold, C. H. Chang & C. Reynolds, 1991. Watershed model application to calculate bay nutrient loadings: Preliminary Phase 1 findings and recommendations. Rep. prepared for US EPA Chesapeake Bay Program, Annapolis, MD, 274 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faafeng, B. & R. Roseth, 1993. Retention of nitrogen in small streams artificially polluted with nitrate. In A. Hillbricht-Ilkowska & E. Pieczyńska (eds), Nutrient Dynamics and Retention in Land/Water Ecotones of Lowland, Temperate Lakes and Rivers. Developments in Hydrobiology 82. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht: 113–122. Reprinted from Hydrobiologia 251.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, D. C. & M. Oppenheimer, 1991. Atmospheric nitrogen deposition and the Chesapeake Bay estuary. AMBIO 20: 102–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forest Research Institute Bulletin 202, 1990. What’s new in forest research. Box 31011, Christchurch, New Zealand, 4 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groffman, P. M. & N. A. Jaworski, 1991. Watershed nitrogen management: upper Potomac River basin case study. Chesapeake Bay Res. Conf. Proc.: 47–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groffman, P. M. & J. M. Tiedje, 1989. Denitrification in north temperate forest soils: spatial and temporal patterns at the landscape and seasonal sinks. Soil Biol. & Biochem. 21: 613–620.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haith, D. H., & L. L. Shoemaker, 1987. Generalized watershed loading functions for stream-flow nutrients. Wat. Res. Bull. 23: 471–478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holland, M. M., 1988. SCOPE/MAB technical consultations on landscape boundaries: report of a SCOPE/MAB workshop on ecotones. Biology Int. 17: 47–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland, M. M., P. G. Risser & R. J. Naiman, 1991. Ecotones: the role of landscape boundaries in the management and restoration of changing environments. U.S. Man and Biosphere Program and the Ecol. Soc. of Am., Washington, D.C., 143 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howarth, R. W., J. R. Frucia & D. Sherman, 1991. Inputs of sediment and carbon to an estuarine ecosystem: Influence of land use. Ecol. Appl. 1: 27–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaworski, N. A., 1990. Retrospective study of the water quality issues of the upper Potomac estuary. Reviews Aquat. Sci. 3: 11–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaworski, N. A. & L. Linker, 1991. Uncertainties in nitrogen mass loadings in coastal watershed. Chesapeake Bay Research Conference proceedings: 693–705.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowrance, R. & R. A. Leonard, 1988. Streamflow nutrient dynamics on coastal plain watersheds. J. Envir. Qual. 17: 734–740.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lowrance, R. R., R. A. Leonard & L. E. Asmussen, 1985. Nutrient budgets for agricultural watershed in the southeastern coastal plain. Ecology 66: 287–296.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lowrance, R., R. Todd, J. Fail, Jr., O. Hendrickson, R. Leonard & L. Asmussen, 1984. Riparian forests as nutrient filters in agricultural watersheds. Bioscience 34: 374–377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lugbill, J., 1990. Potomac River basin inventory. Metropolitan Council of Gov., Washington, D.C., 145 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Naiman, R. J., H. Decamps & F. Fournier, 1989 (eds), The role of land/inland water ecotones in landscape management and restoration: a proposal for collaborative research. MAB Digest 4, UNESCO, Paris, 94 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Officer, C. B., R. B. Biggs, J. L. Taft, a L. E. Cronin, M. A. Tyler & W. R. Boynton, 1984. Chesapeake Bay anoxia: origins, development, significance. Science 223: 22– 27.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ryszkowski, L., 1989. Control of energy and matter fluxes in agricultural landscapes. Agr., Ecosys. and Envir., Amsterdam 27: 107–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smullen, J. I., J. L. Taft & J. Mathew, 1982. Nutrients and sediment loads to the tidal Chesapeake Bay system. U.S. Env. Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., 150–265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, B. A., D. A. Wollhiser,W. H. Wischmeier, J. J. Caro & M. H. Frere, 1976. Control of water pollution from cropland. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., USA. Vol. 1. EPA/600/2–75/026 a manual for guideline development. 118 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tuttle, J. H., R. B. Jonus, T. C. Malone, 1987. Origin, development and significance of the Chesapeake Bay anoxia. Contaminants problems and management of living Chesapeake Bay Research. Pa. Acad. of Sci., Philadelphia, PA, 442–472.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

A. Hillbricht-Ilkowska E. Pieczyńska

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Jaworski, N.A. (1993). The application of the ecotone concept in defining nutrient management requirements for the upper Potomac River basin. In: Hillbricht-Ilkowska, A., Pieczyńska, E. (eds) Nutrient Dynamics and Retention in Land/Water Ecotones of Lowland, Temperate Lakes and Rivers. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 82. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1602-2_36

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1602-2_36

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4698-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-1602-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics