Tracing nitrate sources in one of the world’s largest eutrophicated bays (Hangzhou Bay): insights from nitrogen and oxygen isotopes

Zhi Yang; Jianfang Chen; Haiyan Jin; Hongliang Li; Zhongqiang Ji; Yangjie Li; Bin Wang; Zhenyi Cao; Qianna Chen

doi:10.1007/s13131-024-2375-y

Volume 43 Issue 6

Jun. 2024

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Acta Oceanologica Sinica > 2024 > 43(6): 86-95

Zhi Yang, Jianfang Chen, Haiyan Jin, Hongliang Li, Zhongqiang Ji, Yangjie Li, Bin Wang, Zhenyi Cao, Qianna Chen. Tracing nitrate sources in one of the world’s largest eutrophicated bays (Hangzhou Bay): insights from nitrogen and oxygen isotopes[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2024, 43(6): 86-95. doi: 10.1007/s13131-024-2375-y

Citation:

Zhi Yang, Jianfang Chen, Haiyan Jin, Hongliang Li, Zhongqiang Ji, Yangjie Li, Bin Wang, Zhenyi Cao, Qianna Chen. Tracing nitrate sources in one of the world’s largest eutrophicated bays (Hangzhou Bay): insights from nitrogen and oxygen isotopes[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2024, 43(6): 86-95. doi: 10.1007/s13131-024-2375-y

Citation:

Zhi Yang, Jianfang Chen, Haiyan Jin, Hongliang Li, Zhongqiang Ji, Yangjie Li, Bin Wang, Zhenyi Cao, Qianna Chen. Tracing nitrate sources in one of the world’s largest eutrophicated bays (Hangzhou Bay): insights from nitrogen and oxygen isotopes[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2024, 43(6): 86-95. doi: 10.1007/s13131-024-2375-y

PDF( 3078 KB)

Tracing nitrate sources in one of the world’s largest eutrophicated bays (Hangzhou Bay): insights from nitrogen and oxygen isotopes

doi: 10.1007/s13131-024-2375-y

1.
Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China
2.
State Key Laboratory of Satellite Ocean Environment Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China

Funds: The Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No. LZ22D060002; the Key R&D Program of Zhejiang under contract No. 2022C03044; the National Key Research and Development Program of China under contract No. 2021YFC3101702.

More Information

Corresponding author: E-mail: jfchen@sio.org.cn
Received Date: 2023-02-27
Accepted Date: 2023-06-06

Available Online: 2024-07-10

Publish Date: 2024-06-30

Abstract

Abstract

Eutrophication caused by inputs of excess nitrogen (N) has become a serious environmental problem in Hangzhou Bay (China), but the sources of this nitrogen are not well understood. In this study, the August 2019 distributions of salinity, nutrients [nitrate (${{\rm {NO}}_3^-} $), nitrite, ammonium, and phosphate], and the stable isotopic composition of ${{\rm {NO}}_3^-} $ (δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O) were used to investigate sources of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) to Hangzhou Bay. Spatial distributions of nitrate, salinity, and nitrate δ¹⁸O indicate that the Qiantang River, the Changjiang River, and nearshore coastal waters may all contribute nitrate to the bay. Based on the isotopic compositions of nitrate in these potential source waters and conservative mixing of nitrate in our study area, we suggest that the ${{\rm {NO}}_3^-} $ in Hangzhou Bay was likely derived mainly from soils, synthetic N fertilizer, and manure and sewage. End-member modeling indicates that in the upper half of the bay, the Qiantang River was a very important DIN source, possibly contributing more than 50% of DIN in the bay head area. In the lower half of the bay, DIN was sourced mainly from strongly intruding coastal water. DIN coming directly from the Changjiang River made a relatively small contribution to Hangzhou Bay DIN in August 2019.
- nitrogen isotopes,
- oxygen isotopes,
- nitrogen cycle,
- nitrate sources,
- Hangzhou Bay

FullText(HTML)

References(43)

References

Anderson D M, Glibert P M, Burkholder J M. 2002. Harmful algal blooms and eutrophication: nutrient sources, composition, and consequences. Estuaries, 25(4): 704–726, doi: 10.1007/BF02804901

Böhlke J K, Mroczkowski S J, Coplen T B. 2003. Oxygen isotopes in nitrate: New reference materials for ¹⁸O: ¹⁷O: ¹⁶O measurements and observations on nitrate-water equilibration. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 17(16): 1835–1846, doi: 10.1002/rcm.1123

Casciotti K L, Sigman D M, Hastings M G, et al. 2002. Measurement of the oxygen isotopic composition of nitrate in seawater and freshwater using the denitrifier method. Analytical Chemistry, 74(19): 4905–4912, doi: 10.1021/ac020113w

Chang P H, Isobe A. 2003. A numerical study on the Changjiang diluted water in the Yellow and East China seas. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 108(C9): 3299

Che Yue, He Qing, Lin Weiqing. 2003. The distributions of particulate heavy metals and its indication to the transfer of sediments in the Changjiang Estuary and Hangzhou Bay, China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 46(1): 123–131, doi: 10.1016/S0025-326X(02)00355-7

Chen Fajin, Chen Jianfang, Jia Guodong, et al. 2013. Nitrate δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O evidence for active biological transformation in the Changjiang Estuary and the adjacent East China Sea. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 32(4): 11–17, doi: 10.1007/s13131-013-0294-4

Chen Fajin, Deng Ziyun, Lao Qibin, et al. 2022. Nitrogen cycling across a salinity gradient from the Pearl River Estuary to offshore: insight from nitrate dual isotopes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 127(5): e2022JG006862, doi: 10.1029/2022JG006862

Dähnke K, Bahlmann E, Emeis K. 2008. A nitrate sink in estuaries? An assessment by means of stable nitrate isotopes in the Elbe Estuary. Limnology and Oceanography, 53(4): 1504–1511, doi: 10.4319/lo.2008.53.4.1504

Dai Zhijun, Du Jinzhou, Zhang Xiaoling, et al. 2011. Variation of riverine material loads and environmental consequences on the Changjiang (Yangtze) Estuary in recent decades (1955− 2008). Environmental Science & Technology, 45(1): 223–227

Deutsch B, Mewes M, Liskow I, et al. 2006. Quantification of diffuse nitrate inputs into a small river system using stable isotopes of oxygen and nitrogen in nitrate. Organic Geochemistry, 37(10): 1333–1342, doi: 10.1016/j.orggeochem.2006.04.012

Diaz R J, Rosenberg R. 2008. Spreading dead zones and consequences for marine ecosystems. Science, 321(5891): 926–929, doi: 10.1126/science.1156401

Dong Henglin, Jiang Guochang, Wang Yuheng. 1986. Distribution of reactive silicate, nitrate and phosphate in the water near the mouth of the Hangzhou Bay. Donghai Marine Science (in Chinese), 4(4): 95–104

Galloway J N, Dentener F J, Capone D G, et al. 2004. Nitrogen cycles: past, present, and future. Biogeochemistry, 70(2): 153–226, doi: 10.1007/s10533-004-0370-0

Gao Shengquan, Yu Guohui, Wang Yuhen. 1993. Distributional features and fluxes of dissolved nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon in the Hangzhou Bay. Marine Chemistry, 43(1–4): 65–81, doi: 10.1016/0304-4203(93)90216-B

Glibert P M. 2017. Eutrophication, harmful algae and biodiversity—Challenging paradigms in a world of complex nutrient changes. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 124(2): 591–606, doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.04.027

Gonfiantini R, Stichler W, Rozanski K. 1995. Standards and intercomparison materials distributed by the International Atomic Energy Agency for stable isotope measurements. In: Reference and Intercomparison Materials for Stable Isotopes of Light Elements, Proceedings of a Consultants Meeting. Vienna: IAEA, 13–29

Granger J, Sigman D M. 2009. Removal of nitrite with sulfamic acid for nitrate N and O isotope analysis with the denitrifier method. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 23(23): 3753–3762, doi: 10.1002/rcm.4307

Gruber N, Galloway J N. 2008. An Earth-system perspective of the global nitrogen cycle. Nature, 451(7176): 293–296, doi: 10.1038/nature06592

Han Aiqin, Dai Minhan, Kao S J, et al. 2012. Nutrient dynamics and biological consumption in a large continental shelf system under the influence of both a river plume and coastal upwelling. Limnology and Oceanography, 57(2): 486–502, doi: 10.4319/lo.2012.57.2.0486

Hansen H P, Koroleff F. 2009. Determination of nutrients. In: Grasshoff K, Kremling K, Ehrhardt M, eds. Methods of Seawater Analysis. 3rd ed. Weinheim, New York, Chichester, Brisbane, Singapore, Toronto: Wiley-VCH, 159–228

He Zhiguo, Huangfu Kailong, Yuan Yeping, et al. 2016. Variations of temperature, salinity and current in the southern tidal passage of the Hangzhou Bay, China. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 35(3): 30–37, doi: 10.1007/s13131-016-0819-8

Jia Haibo, Shao Junbo, Cao Liuyan. 2014. Analysis of the changes and development trend of ecological environment in Hangzhou Bay. Environmental Pollution and Control (in Chinese), 36(3): 14–19, 25

Jiang Shan, Jin Jie, Zhang Guosen, et al. 2021. Nitrate in the Changjiang diluted water: an isotopic evaluation on sources and reaction pathways. Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 39(3): 830–845, doi: 10.1007/s00343-020-0149-8

Kendall C. 1998. Tracing nitrogen sources and cycling in catchments. In: Kendall C, McDonnel J J, eds. Isotope Tracers in Catchment Hydrology. Amsterdam: Elsevier Press, 519–576

Kendall C, Aravena R. 2000. Nitrate isotopes in groundwater systems. In: Cook P G, Herczec A L, eds. Environmental Tracers in Subsurface Hydrology. Boston, MA: Springer US, 261–297

Kendall C, Elliott E M, Wankel S D. 2007. Tracing anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen to ecosystems. In: Michener R, Lajtha K, eds. Stable Isotopes in Ecology and Environmental Science. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 375–449

Li Yan, Li Jing, Su Jilan, et al. 1993. Study on fluctuations of plume front and turbidity maximum in the Hangzhou Bay by remote sensing data. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 12(1): 51–62

Li Siliang, Liu Congqiang, Li Jun, et al. 2010. Assessment of the sources of nitrate in the Changjiang River, China using a nitrogen and oxygen isotopic approach. Environmental Science & Technology, 44(5): 1573–1578

Liu Xiujuan, Yu Zhiming, Song Xiuxian, et al. 2009. The nitrogen isotopic composition of dissolved nitrate in the Yangtze River (Changjiang) Estuary, China. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 85(4): 641–650

Mayer B, Boyer E W, Goodale C, et al. 2002. Sources of nitrate in rivers draining sixteen watersheds in the northeastern U. S.: Isotopic constraints. Biogeochemistry, 57(1): 171–197, doi: 10.1023/A:1015744002496

Middelburg J J, Nieuwenhuize J. 2001. Nitrogen isotope tracing of dissolved inorganic nitrogen behaviour in tidal estuaries. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 53(3): 385–391

Rabalais N N, Turner R E, Wiseman W J Jr. 2002. Gulf of Mexico hypoxia, A. K. A. “The dead zone”. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 33(1): 235–263, doi: 10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.33.010802.150513

Shi J Z. 2011. Tide-induced fine sediment resuspension in the well-mixed Hangzhou Bay, East China Sea, China. Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 102(1): 25–34, doi: 10.1017/S1755691011010061

Sigman D M, Casciotti K L, Andreani M, et al. 2001. A bacterial method for the nitrogen isotopic analysis of nitrate in seawater and freshwater. Analytical Chemistry, 73(17): 4145–4153, doi: 10.1021/ac010088e

Tang R. 1990. Biogeochemical behavior of nitrogen and phosphate in the Changjiang Estuary and its adjacent waters. In: Yu G, Martin J M, Zhou J, et al, eds. Biogeochemical Study of the Changjiang Estuary. Beijing: China Ocean Press, 322–334

Wang Kui, Chen Jianfang, Jin Haiyan, et al. 2014. Summer nutrient dynamics and biological carbon uptake rate in the Changjiang River plume inferred using a three end-member mixing model. Continental Shelf Research, 91: 192–200, doi: 10.1016/j.csr.2014.09.013

Wang Hongjie, Dai Minhai, Liu Jinwen, et al. 2016. Eutrophication-driven hypoxia in the East China Sea off the Changjiang Estuary. Environmental Science & Technology, 50(5): 2255–2263

Wu Bin, Jin Haiyan, Gao Shengquan, et al. 2019. Nutrient budgets and recent decadal variations in a highly eutrophic estuary: Hangzhou Bay, China. Journal of Coastal Research, 36(1): 63–71, doi: 10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-18-00071.1

Xue Dongmei, Botte J, De Baets B, et al. 2009. Present limitations and future prospects of stable isotope methods for nitrate source identification in surface- and groundwater. Water Research, 43(5): 1159–1170, doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2008.12.048

Yan Xiuli, Xu Minnina, Wan Xianhui, et al. 2017. Dual isotope measurements reveal zoning of nitrate processing in the summer Changjiang (Yangtze) River plume. Geophysical Research Letters, 44(24): 12289–12297

Yang Zhi, Chen Jianfang, Li Hongliang, et al. 2018. Sources of nitrate in Xiangshan Bay (China), as identified using nitrogen and oxygen isotopes. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 207: 109–118

Ye Feng, Jia Guodong, Xie Luhua, et al. 2016. Isotope constraints on seasonal dynamics of dissolved and particulate N in the Pearl River Estuary, South China. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 121(12): 8689–8705

Zhou Feng, Xuan Jiliang, Ni Xiaobo, et al. 2009. A preliminary study of variations of the Changjiang Diluted Water between August of 1999 and 2006. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 28(6): 1–11

Relative Articles

Supplements(0)

Cited By

Proportional views