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Biogenic silica in wetlands and their relationship with soil and groundwater biogeochemistry in the Southeastern of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

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Abstract

Although phytoliths constitute part of the wetland suspended load, there are few studies focused on the quantification of them in the biogenic silica (BSi) pool. So, the aim of this paper is both to determine BSi content (diatoms and phytoliths) and its relationship with dissolved silica in surface waters, and the influence of soil and groundwater Si biogeochemistry in Los Padres wetland (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). In the basin of the Los Padres wetland, dissolved silica (DSi) concentration is near 840 ± 232 μmol/L and 211.83 ± 275.92 μmol/L in groundwaters and surface waters, respectively. BSi represents an 5.6–22.1% of the total suspension material, and 8–34% of the total mineralogical components of the wetland bottom sediments. DSi and BSi vary seasonally, with highest BSi content (diatoms specifically) during the spring–summer in correlation to the lowest DSi concentration. DSi (660–917.5 μmol/L) and phytolith (3.35–5.84%) concentrations in the inflow stream are higher than in the wetland and its outflow stream (19.1–113 µmol/L; 0.45–3.2%, respectively), probably due to the high phytolith content in soils, the high silica concentration in the soil solution, and the groundwater inflow. Diatom content (5–16.8%) in the wetland and its outflow stream is higher than in the inflow stream (0.45–1.97%), controlling DSi in this system. The understanding of the groundwater–surface water interaction in an area is a significant element for determining the different components and the role that they play on the local biogeochemical cycle of Si.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by Mar del Plata National University (EXA 465/09, ARQ 168/07, EXA 388/08 projects) and National Agency for Science and Technology Promotion (ANPCyT, BID 1728/OC-AR PICT N°1700/06). The authors are also indebted to Mr. A. Ferrante and Mr. M. Grazziani for technical assistance, Mr. G. Bernava for chemical analysis, Dra. Marcela Espinosa for diatom genera determination, La Isla Fishing Club and Atlántico Fishing Club for allow ingress and sampling. Some of the authors (Borrelli, Romanelli and Alvarez) are indebted to the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) for fellowship support. The authors thank anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and criticisms.

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  1. Instituto de Geología de Costas y del Cuaternario (IGCyC), FCEyN, UNMdP, CC 722, 7600, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Natalia Borrelli, M. Osterrieth, A. Romanelli, M. F. Alvarez, J. L. Cionchi & H. Massone

  2. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Mar del Plata, Argentina

    Natalia Borrelli, A. Romanelli & M. F. Alvarez

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  1. Natalia Borrelli
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Borrelli, N., Osterrieth, M., Romanelli, A. et al. Biogenic silica in wetlands and their relationship with soil and groundwater biogeochemistry in the Southeastern of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Environ Earth Sci 65, 469–480 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1010-3

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