Dataset
Data from: Bivalve shells reflect 15N enrichment in a fertilizer-dominated estuary
03 Sep 2024
Abstract
Agricultural nitrogen (N) contributes a dominant percentage to global N
pollution in the coastal zone. Emerging research on N isotopes in bivalve
shells has shown value for reconstructing historical increases in
estuarine wastewater inputs. However, applications for fertilizer N are
understudied. Here, we integrate the study of organic N isotopes, in
concert with δ18O and δ13C, in estuarine bivalve shells to investigate
spatial and long-term change in nitrogen inputs and sources. Modern,
museum collection, and subfossil specimens of the genera Mytilus and
Ostrea were profiled in a California estuary with an intensely
agricultural watershed. Spatial patterns in bivalve isotopic composition
reflected gradients in watershed nutrient inputs and productivity
parameters. Furthermore, comparison of modern and historical periods
revealed changes in nutrient source or processing over the last 1000
years. The N isotope values from shells offer perspective on agricultural
pollution in estuaries.
Metrics
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Details
- Title
- Data from: Bivalve shells reflect 15N enrichment in a fertilizer-dominated estuary
- Creators
- Lena Champlin - Drexel UniversityMichelle Gannon - Drew UniversityJocelyn Sessa - Drexel UniversityElizabeth Watson - Stony Brook University
- Publisher
- Dryad
- Grant note
- Drexel University (https://ror.org/04bdffz58) Western Society of Malacologists (https://doi.org/10.13039/100026847) Geological Society of America (https://ror.org/0029f7m05)
- Resource Type
- Dataset
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES); Environmental Biogeochemistry
- Other Identifier
- 991021903303804721