Phosphorus and nitrogen retention in five Precambrian shield wetlands

Abstract

Phosphorus and nitrogen mass balances of five wetlands (two beaver ponds, two conifer-Sphagnum swamps and one sedge fen) situated in three catchments in central Ontario, Canada, were measured. Monthly and annual input-output budgets of total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), total organic nitrogen (TON), total inorganic nitrogen (TIN), ammonium ion (NH₄ ⁺ -N), nitrate (NO ⁻₃ -N) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were estimated for the five wetlands during the 1982–83 and 1983–84 water years. Except for the deepest beaver pond (3.2 m) which had annual TP retention of −44% (−0.030 ± 0.015 g m⁻² yr⁻¹), the wetlands retained < 0.001 to 0.015 g M⁻² yr⁻¹ ; however, this wasless than 20% of the inputs and the estimated budget uncertainties were equal to or greater than the retention rates. Annual TN retentions ranged from −0.44 to 0.56 g m⁻² yr⁻¹ (−12 to 4%) but were not significantly different from zero. The wetlands transformed nitrogen by retaining TIN (16 to 80% RT) and exporting an equivalent amount as TON (−7 to 102% RT). The beaver ponds, however, retained NO ⁻₃ while NH ⁺₄ was passed through or the outputs exceeded the inputs. In contrast, the conifer swamps retained both NH ⁺₄ and NO ⁻₃ . DOC fluxes into and out of the beaver ponds were equal (−18 and 4% RT) but output from the conifer swamps exceeded input by > 90%. Marked seasonal trends in nutrient retention were observed. Nutrient retention coincided with low stream flow, increased evapotranspiration and biotic uptake during the summer. Net nutrient export occurred during the winter and spring when stream flows were highest and biotic uptake was low.