Journal article
Bivalve shells reflect 15N enrichment in a fertilizer-dominated estuary
Marine pollution bulletin, v 207, 116902
Oct 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.
•Spatial patterns of higher δ15Nshell values reflect watershed nitrogen inputs.•δ18Oshell and δ 13Cshell values support interpretations of water source.•Museum and subfossil shells reveal changes in nutrient source over 1000 years.•Fertilizer N inputs to the estuary drove enrichment in 15N over time.
Metrics
10 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Bivalve shells reflect 15N enrichment in a fertilizer-dominated estuary
- Creators
- Lena K. Champlin - Drexel UniversityMichelle Gannon - Drexel UniversityJocelyn A. Sessa - Drexel UniversityElizabeth B. Watson - Stony Brook University
- Publication Details
- Marine pollution bulletin, v 207, 116902
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- NSF/GSA Graduate Student Geoscience Research Grant: 13600-22
This was supported by the Drexel University William L. McLean Fellowship; an NSF/GSA Graduate Student Geoscience Research Grant (#13600-22) ; and the Western Society of Malacologists James H. McLean Grant.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES); Environmental Biogeochemistry
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001310858300001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85203267255
- Other Identifier
- 991021902516904721
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences
- Marine & Freshwater Biology