Abstract
Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus inputs through atmospheric deposition, surface runoff and point sources were measured in the Ganga River along a gradient of increasing human pressure. Productivity variables (chlorophyll a, gross primary productivity, biogenic silica and autotrophic index) and heterotrophy (respiration, substrate induced respiration, biological oxygen demand and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis) showed positive relationships with these inputs. Alkaline phosphatase (AP), however, showed an opposite trend. Because AP is negatively influenced by available P, and eutrophy generates a feedback on P fertilization, the study implies that the alkaline phosphatase can be used as a high quality criterion for assessing river health.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to the Coordinator, Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Banaras Hindu University for facilities and to Banaras Hindu University-University Grants Commission, New Delhi for funding support as fellowship to A.Y.
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Yadav, A., Pandey, J. Water Quality Interaction with Alkaline Phosphatase in the Ganga River: Implications for River Health. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 99, 75–82 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-017-2108-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-017-2108-4