Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS08 Processes at the Benthic Interface (Environmental Connections)

Date: Monday, February 12, 2001, Time: 11:15:00 AM

Location: Ruidoso/Pecos

Schaefer, J, E, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA, jschaefe@mindspring.com

Ward, A, K, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA, award@biology.as.ua.edu

UTILIZATION OF ALDER LEACHATE IN AN ALABAMA WETLAND

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) has frequently been regarded as a relatively recalcitrant form of utilizable nitrogen for aquatic microorganisms. In this ongoing study, we have investigated the removal rate of DON within the Talladega Wetland Ecosystem (TWE) located in west central Alabama. Leaf leachate from a common wetland alder shrub, Alnus serrulata, was added to open cylindrical chambers during the summer of 2000. Three treatments (amended, control, and killed control) were applied during each experiment, which lasted 24-72 hours. Nutrient concentrations, bacterial protein production (BPP), and bacterial abundance were monitored throughout each experiment. DON removal rates were variable, but the concentrations decreased by 43.9% and 62.9% during the first 24 hours of experiments conducted in mid-July and the beginning of September, respectively. BPP was typically lower in amended versus control samples, but productivity did increase over the incubation period.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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