Oyster δ15N as a Bioindicator of Potential Wastewater and Poultry Farming Impacts and Degraded Water Quality in a Subestuary of Chesapeake Bay

摘要: Fertig, B.; Carruthers, T.J.B., and Dennison, W.C., 2014. Oyster d 15 N as a bioindicator of potential wastewater poultry farming impacts degraded water quality in subestuary Chesapeake Bay. Journal Coastal Research, 30(5), 881–892. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Anthropogenic nitrogen contributes to degradation, but it is difficult distinguish sources once they are mixed coastal ecosystems. Natural abundances stable isotopes (d N) were measured oyster (Crassostrea virginica) tissues (muscle, gills, mantle) during summer 2006 2008 identify Monie Bay (a Bay) receiving freshwater inputs from three tributary creeks. The creeks (estimated flushing times: 3.5, 5.7, 37.2 d) vary size sources: septic systems operations (Monie Creek), crop fertilizer (Little wetlands, forest, or both Creek). Grand mean tissue values (11.8 6 0.4% muscle, 10.4 10.5 0.3% indicated mixture human animal sources. Potential loss denitrification (15.1–24.5%) likely did not substantially modify isotopic values, greater than would be expected atmospheric sources, refuting these alternative explanations. Though dilute, spatial patterns supported the inference that waste, entered its watershed adjacent Wicomico River (via mixing). Calculated generation manure (containing 2.5 3 10 people) was 2.9 4 1.0 kg total (TN) per year (equivalent 6.8 –2.3 5 people), whereas throughout Delmarva Peninsula 1.2 3.9 1.3 8 TN y � 1 9.0 –3.1 people). Conservatively estimated (based on 0.038 chicken ), generated an amount equivalent by 263% population. Throughout Peninsula, 76% Estuaries commonly receive nutrients inside outside their watersheds, elucidated this process locally.