Zoe Ruben , Dorina Murgulet , Cody V. Lopez , Ismael Marino-Tapia , Arnoldo Valle-Levinson , Kathleen E. Matthews
{"title":"Influence of submarine groundwater discharge on the nutrient dynamics of a fringing-reef lagoon","authors":"Zoe Ruben , Dorina Murgulet , Cody V. Lopez , Ismael Marino-Tapia , Arnoldo Valle-Levinson , Kathleen E. Matthews","doi":"10.1016/j.ejrh.2024.101956","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Study region</h3><p>This study investigates nutrient distribution and flux dynamics in a coral reef lagoon in Quintana Roo, Mexico, located on a permeable limestone coast of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.</p></div><div><h3>Study Focus</h3><p>Emphasis is placed on submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) as a crucial contributor to nutrient pathways, including ammonium (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>), nitrate and nitrite (NO<sub>x</sub><sup>-</sup>), hydrogen silicate (HSiO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>), hydrogen phosphate (HPO<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup>), and urea. Inputs vary with SGD magnitudes and sources and by proximity to active spring discharges. Groundwater multi-tracer analysis and multiple linear regression identify <sup>226</sup>Ra as explaining NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> variability due to long-term groundwater processes, while <sup>223</sup>Ra predicts NO<sub>x</sub><sup>-</sup>, HSiO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>, and urea due to short-term inputs. No significant relationship was found between HPO<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup> and any radium isotope, indicating complex behavior in coastal karst aquifers.</p></div><div><h3>New hydrological insights for the region</h3><p>The findings highlight complex nutrient dynamics in coastal karst settings, with SGD-derived fluxes primarily consisting of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and HSiO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>. Although lower in concentration, HPO<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup> and urea fluxes are significant compared to other karst environments. Radium isotopes distinguish between short-term and long-term, as well as new and recycled nutrient inputs. Groundwater inputs transport fresh nutrients to healthier reefs, whereas processed, recycled inputs were detected near degraded reefs. These insights are essential for understanding global nutrient cycles and coral health, particularly in the context of global change and anthropogenic disturbances affecting coral reef ecosystems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48620,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hydrology-Regional Studies","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 101956"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824003057/pdfft?md5=0bea6e8ae64e3b7154ecb14a62c77702&pid=1-s2.0-S2214581824003057-main.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Hydrology-Regional Studies","FirstCategoryId":"89","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824003057","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"WATER RESOURCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Study region
This study investigates nutrient distribution and flux dynamics in a coral reef lagoon in Quintana Roo, Mexico, located on a permeable limestone coast of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.
Study Focus
Emphasis is placed on submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) as a crucial contributor to nutrient pathways, including ammonium (NH4+), nitrate and nitrite (NOx-), hydrogen silicate (HSiO3-), hydrogen phosphate (HPO42-), and urea. Inputs vary with SGD magnitudes and sources and by proximity to active spring discharges. Groundwater multi-tracer analysis and multiple linear regression identify 226Ra as explaining NH4+ variability due to long-term groundwater processes, while 223Ra predicts NOx-, HSiO3-, and urea due to short-term inputs. No significant relationship was found between HPO42- and any radium isotope, indicating complex behavior in coastal karst aquifers.
New hydrological insights for the region
The findings highlight complex nutrient dynamics in coastal karst settings, with SGD-derived fluxes primarily consisting of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and HSiO3-. Although lower in concentration, HPO42- and urea fluxes are significant compared to other karst environments. Radium isotopes distinguish between short-term and long-term, as well as new and recycled nutrient inputs. Groundwater inputs transport fresh nutrients to healthier reefs, whereas processed, recycled inputs were detected near degraded reefs. These insights are essential for understanding global nutrient cycles and coral health, particularly in the context of global change and anthropogenic disturbances affecting coral reef ecosystems.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies publishes original research papers enhancing the science of hydrology and aiming at region-specific problems, past and future conditions, analysis, review and solutions. The journal particularly welcomes research papers that deliver new insights into region-specific hydrological processes and responses to changing conditions, as well as contributions that incorporate interdisciplinarity and translational science.