Limiting Nutrients in the East River, Korea |
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Abstract |
The purpose of this study was to identify the potential limiting factors in the East River based on nutrient ratio and nutrient enrichment bioassay. In addition, physicochemical characteristics including heavy metal concentrations of the East River were identified. Water samples were collected from 16 main streams and 7branches from May to November in 2008, and the heavy metals and nutrients concentration of the water samples were analyzed. Nutrient enrichment bioassay tests were also carried out with them. Nitzschia pungens were used in bioassay tests due to their prevalence in the sampling area. This three-season study showed that the ratio of TN/TP was higher than 65, and phosphorus was the limiting factor for algal growth. ìmax was observed at concentration of 1 ppm. The chemical analysis of the water samples showed that the concentrations of Fe and Al were much higher than the others. Based on nutrient ratio measured in the stream data and nutrients enrichment bioassay tests, phosphorus (P) was found to be the limiting factor. |
Key Words:
Limiting nutrients, nutrients enrichment bioassay, heavy metal |
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