Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T13:03:50.744Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Annual Cycle of Nutrients in the Menai Straits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

P. A. Ewins  and
C. P. Spencer
P. A. Ewins
Affiliation:
Marine Science Laboratories, University College of North Wales, Menai Bridge, Anglesey
C. P. Spencer
Affiliation:
Marine Science Laboratories, University College of North Wales, Menai Bridge, Anglesey
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The annual cycle of silicate, nitrate and phosphorus in the waters of the Menai Straits is described. The concentration of all these nutrients in these waters is apparently markedly affected by occasional incursions of high-salinity low-nutrient water. The concentrations of nitrate-nitrogen tend to show a general increase throughout the winter months as a result of cumulative contributions from land drainage and run off and the absence of appreciable biological utilization. In contrast, an equilibrium concentration of reactive silicate is maintained over this period following the initial autumnal increase in the concentration of this component. The annual cycle of phosphorus in these waters is also anomalous. Relatively high equilibrium concentrations of this nutrient are maintained during the summer months and unexpectedly low concentrations occur in winter. In conjunction with the biological removal of relatively large amounts of nitrate-nitrogen, this causes anomalously high apparent N: P biological utilization ratios. It is difficult to explain the observed variations in the concentration of phosphate in these waters solely in terms of the equilibrium between biological assimilation and regeneration and advective processes.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 47 , Issue 3 , October 1967 , pp. 533 - 542
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1967

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bien, G. S., Contois, D. E. & Thomas, W. H., 1958. The removal of soluble silica from fresh water entering the sea. Geochim. cosmochim, Acta, Vol. 14, pp. 35–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buchan, S., 1965. Factors affecting the quantity of suspended inorganic material in the Menai Straits. Rep. Challenger Soc, Vol. 17, pp. 17.Google Scholar
Carritt, D. E. & Goodgal, S., 1954. Sorption reactions and some ecological implications. Deep-Sea Res., Vol. 1, pp. 224–43.Google Scholar
Harvey, J. G., 1965. Physical hydrography of the Menai Straits. Rep. Challenger Soc, Vol. 17, pp. 28Google Scholar
Harvey, J. G. & Spencer, C. P., 1962. Abnormal hydrographical conditions in the Menai Straits. Nature, Lond., Vol. 195, pp. 794–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jitts, H. R., 1959. The absorption of phosphate by estuarine bottom deposits. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res., Vol. 10, pp. 7–21CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morris, A. W. & Riley, J. P., 1963. The determination of nitrate in sea water. Analytica chim. Acta, Vol. 29, pp. 272–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mortimer, C. H., 1941. The exchange of dissolved substances between mud and water in lakes. Part 1. J. Ecol., Vol. 29, pp. 280–329.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mortimer, C. H., 1942. The exchange of dissolved substances between mud and water in lakes. Part 2. J. Ecol., Vol. 30, pp. 147–201.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murphy, J. & Riley, J. P., 1962. A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Analytica chim. Acta, Vol. 27, pp. 31–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Olsen, S., 1958. Phosphate adsorption and isotopic exchange in lake muds. Experiments with P32. Verh. int. Verein. theor. angew. Limnol., Vol. 13, pp. 915–22.Google Scholar
Parsons, T. R. & Strickland, J. D. H., 1963. Discussion of spectro-photometric determination of marine-plant pigments, with revised equations for ascertaining chlorophylls and carotenoids. J. mar. Res., Vol. 21, pp. 155–63.Google Scholar
Pomeroy, L. R., Smith, E. E. & Grant, C. M., 1965. The exchange of phosphate between estuarine water and sediments. Limnol. Oceanogr., Vol. 10, pp. 167–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riley, G. A. & Conover, S. A., 1956. Oceanography of Long Island Sound, 1952–1954. III. Chemical Oceanography. Bull. Bingham oceanogr. Coll., Vol. 15. pp. 47–61.Google Scholar
Rochford, D. J., 1951. Studies in Australian Estuarine hydrology. Aust. J. mar., Freshwat. Res., Vol. 2, pp. 1–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slinn, D. J., 1958–62. Chemical constituents of sea water off Port Erin. Rep. mar. biol. Stn Port Erin, Vols. 70–74.Google Scholar
Spencer, C. P., 1964. The estimation of phytoplankton pigments. J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer, Vol. 28, pp. 327–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stephenson, W., 1949. Certain effects of agitation upon the release of phosphate from mud. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K., Vol. 28, pp. 371–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Strickland, J. D. H. & Parsons, T. R., 1960 a. Determination of reactive silicate. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd Can., Vol. 125, pp. 55–60.Google Scholar
Strickland, J. D. H. & Parsons, T. R., 1960b. Determination of phytoplankton pigments. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd Can., Vol. 125, pp. 107–12.Google Scholar
Wild, A., 1950. The retention of phosphate by soil. A review. J. Soil Sci., Vol. 1, pp. 221–38CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williamson, D. I., 1956. The plankton in the Irish Sea (1951–52). Bull. mar. Ecol., Vol. 4, pp. 87–114Google Scholar