An assessment of the annual mass balance of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in Narragansett Bay

摘要: Narragansett Bay is a relatively well-mixed, high salinity coastal embayment and estuary complex in southern New England (USA). Much of the shoreline urban watershed densely developed. We have combined our data on C, N, P inputs to this system, accumulation sediments, denitrification with extensive work by others develop approximate annual mass balances for these elements. The results show that primary production within bay major source organic carbon (4 times greater than other sources), land drainage upstream sewage fertilizer are sources landward flowing bottom water from offshore may be dissolved inorganic phosphorus. Most nutrients entering arrive form, though DON significant component N carried rivers. About 40% DIN rivers form ammonia. Sedimentation rates low most Bay, it appears less 20% total input each elements retained system. A very small amount removed fisheries landings, sediments removes perhaps 10–25% input, fixed system respired it. Stoichiometric calculations suggest some 10–20% matter formed exported an autotrophic enters is, however, waters form. This assessment overall biogeochemical behavior consistent more rigorously constrained obtained using large living models or mesocosms at Marine Ecosystem Research Laboratory (MERL).