Flamingo footsteps enhance nutrient release from the sediment to the water column

Comín, F. A. and Herrera-Silveira, J. A. and Martin, M. (1997) Flamingo footsteps enhance nutrient release from the sediment to the water column. MAGYAR VÍZIVAD KÖZLEMÉNYEK, 3. pp. 211-227. ISSN 1416-1389 (nyomtatott); 1419-6107 (elektronikus)

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Abstract

A two phases experiment was carried out in a shallow coastal lagoon in the Ebro Delta (NE Spain) in order to know the potential effect of flamingo footsteps on nutrient release from the sediment to the water column. The experiments consisted of artificial simulation of repeated footsteps in microcosms located in the lagoon. The amounts of particulate matter and nutrients (nitrate, ammonium, total nitrogen, soluble reactive phosphorus, total phosphorus and soluble reactive silica) in the water column of the disturbed microcosms were much higher than in the water column of the undisturbed (no footsteps) microcoms and than in the water column of the lagoon (neither enclosure nor y footsteps). The amounts of particulate matter and nutrients are significantly higher in sediment with a higher proportion of fine particles than in sediment with a lower proportion of fine particles. The amounts of particulate matter and nutrients in the water column of disturbed sediments were directly related to the number of footsteps and inversely related to the time passed after the footsteps.

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