Phosphorus Mass Balance and Internal Load in an Impacted Subtropical Isolated Wetland

Bhadha, Jehangir H.; Jawitz, James W.; Min, Joong-Hyuk

Phosphorus Mass Balance and Internal Load in an Impacted Subtropical Isolated Wetland

2011

Bhadha, Jehangir H. | Jawitz, James W. | Min, Joong-Hyuk

Internal loading is a critical component of the phosphorus (P) budget of aquatic systems that can control trophic conditions. While diffusion across the soil–water interface is generally considered the dominant process controlling P load to the water column, advection due to water table fluctuations can also be significant. Our objective was to evaluate the role of diffusive and advective fluxes in relation to the total P (TP) loads entering and exiting an impacted wetland in the Lake Okeechobee drainage basin. The average diffusive flux of TP was 0.32 ± 0.14 mg m−2 day−1 and occurred for 240 days out of 314, while advective flux was 1.31 ± 4.03 mg m−2 day−1 and occurred for only 57 days. Phosphorus load to the wetland via internal modes was estimated to be 2.3 and 4.0 g day−1 from diffusion and advection respectively, accounting for 18% of the total P input, while overland flow (51%) was the major input pathway to the wetland. Ditch flow and groundwater outflow accounted for 49% (18.0 g day−1) and 14% (5.0 g day−1) of the total P output, respectively. This study shows the importance of advective flux in addition to diffusive flux and that the former should not be neglected when estimating internal P load of transiently flooded isolated wetlands. The monthly P budget-based retention and release patterns were consistent with previous findings, showing that intermittent flooding and drying cycling significantly reduces the P retention capacity of a wetland.

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