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The effects of urban hydrology and elevated atmospheric deposition on nitrate retention and loss in urban wetlands
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Title
The effects of urban hydrology and elevated atmospheric deposition on nitrate retention and loss in urban wetlands
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Stander
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Emilie
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Emilie Stander
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Ehrenfeld
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Joan
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Advisory Committee
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Joan G Ehrenfeld
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chair
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Barkay
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Tamar
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Advisory Committee
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Tamar Barkay
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Groffman
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Peter
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Advisory Committee
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Peter M Groffman
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internal member
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Zhu
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Wei-Xing
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Advisory Committee
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Wei-Xing Zhu
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outside member
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Rutgers University
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degree grantor
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Graduate School - New Brunswick
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theses
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2007
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2007
Language
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English
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electronic
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xi, 206 pages
Abstract
Wetlands are known for their ability to process nitrate inputs from uplands and groundwater and thus prevent nitrate discharge to sensitive waters. Wetlands in urban landscapes are subjected to numerous disturbances which may prevent them from serving as N sinks. The objective of this dissertation is to document N cycling in urban wetlands in the context of altered hydrology and elevated atmospheric N deposition, and to determine whether urban wetlands serve as sinks or sources of nitrate to receiving waters.
This study was conducted in palustrine, forested wetlands in northeastern New Jersey. In situ rates of net N mineralization, net nitrification, and denitrification were measured monthly for one year. Water table levels were monitored over five years, and soil and vegetation properties were characterized. Weekly nitrate inputs as throughfall and outputs as leachate were measured for one year and analyzed for stable isotopes of nitrogen and oxygen.
Due to altered hydrology, natural hydrogeomorphic setting was not an effective predictor of N cycling rates in urban wetlands. Many assumptions of functional assessment models used to make wetland management decisions were not met. Alternative models I developed using indicators of specific N functions successfully predicted nitrification rates, but they did not predict denitrification rates. Assessment of biogeochemical functions and reference standard site selection should be based on long-term monitoring of water table levels. Assessment models should be targeted to specific functions and may need to utilize intensive field or laboratory techniques. Local scale factors are better descriptors of N cycling rates than indicators of landscape scale urbanization.
Nitrate inputs were higher in more urban sites, but there was no urban effect in nitrate outputs. Urban wetlands generally retained nitrate, as demonstrated by higher nitrate inputs than outputs. However, two sites did demonstrate overall loss of nitrate. Two other sites exhibited direct leaching of atmospherically-derived nitrate, suggesting a lower capacity for N retention. Nitrate retention is not universal in urban wetlands.
This study was conducted in palustrine, forested wetlands in northeastern New Jersey. In situ rates of net N mineralization, net nitrification, and denitrification were measured monthly for one year. Water table levels were monitored over five years, and soil and vegetation properties were characterized. Weekly nitrate inputs as throughfall and outputs as leachate were measured for one year and analyzed for stable isotopes of nitrogen and oxygen.
Due to altered hydrology, natural hydrogeomorphic setting was not an effective predictor of N cycling rates in urban wetlands. Many assumptions of functional assessment models used to make wetland management decisions were not met. Alternative models I developed using indicators of specific N functions successfully predicted nitrification rates, but they did not predict denitrification rates. Assessment of biogeochemical functions and reference standard site selection should be based on long-term monitoring of water table levels. Assessment models should be targeted to specific functions and may need to utilize intensive field or laboratory techniques. Local scale factors are better descriptors of N cycling rates than indicators of landscape scale urbanization.
Nitrate inputs were higher in more urban sites, but there was no urban effect in nitrate outputs. Urban wetlands generally retained nitrate, as demonstrated by higher nitrate inputs than outputs. However, two sites did demonstrate overall loss of nitrate. Two other sites exhibited direct leaching of atmospherically-derived nitrate, suggesting a lower capacity for N retention. Nitrate retention is not universal in urban wetlands.
Note
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Ph.D.
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Includes bibliographical references.
Subject
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Topic
Ecology and Evolution
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Topic
Wetland ecology
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Topic
Hydrology
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Graduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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rucore19991600001
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http://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.2/rucore10001600001.ETD.16783
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doi:10.7282/T3PK0GJ4
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ETD doctoral
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Open
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Emilie Stander
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Rutgers University. Graduate School - New Brunswick
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Non-exclusive ETD license
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Author Agreement License
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I hereby grant to the Rutgers University Libraries and to my school the non-exclusive right to archive, reproduce and distribute my thesis or dissertation, in whole or in part, and/or my abstract, in whole or in part, in and from an electronic format, subject to the release date subsequently stipulated in this submittal form and approved by my school. I represent and stipulate that the thesis or dissertation and its abstract are my original work, that they do not infringe or violate any rights of others, and that I make these grants as the sole owner of the rights to my thesis or dissertation and its abstract. I represent that I have obtained written permissions, when necessary, from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis or dissertation and will supply copies of such upon request by my school. I acknowledge that RU ETD and my school will not distribute my thesis or dissertation or its abstract if, in their reasonable judgment, they believe all such rights have not been secured. I acknowledge that I retain ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use all or part of this thesis or dissertation in future works, such as articles or books.
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