Abstract
Few studies have examined long-term ecological effects of sustained low-level nutrient enhancement on wetland biota. To determine sustained effects of phosphorus (P) addition on Everglades marshes we added P at low levels (5, 15, and 30 μg L-1 above ambient) for 5 yr to triplicate 100-m flow-through channels in pristine marsh. A cascade of ecological responses occurred in similar sequence among treatments. Although the rate of change increased with dosing level, treatments converged to similar enriched endpoints, characterized most notably by a doubling of plant biomass and elimination of native, calcareous periphyton mats. The full sequence of biological changes occurred without an increase in water total P concentration, which remained near ambient levels until Year 5. This study indicates that Everglades marshes have a near-zero assimilative capacity for P without a state change, that ecosystem responses to enrichment accumulate over time, and that downstream P transport mainly occurs through biota rather than the water column.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 717-723 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Environmental Quality |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| State | Published - Mar 2005 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Chemistry
Cite this
Cascading ecological effects of low-level phosphorus enrichment in the Florida Everglades. / Gaiser, Evelyn E.; Trexler, Joel C.; Richards, Jennifer H.; Childers, Daniel; Lee, David; Edwards, Adrienne L.; Scinto, Leonard J.; Jayachandran, Krish; Noe, Gregory B.; Jones, Ronald D.
In: Journal of Environmental Quality, Vol. 34, No. 2, 03.2005, p. 717-723.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cascading ecological effects of low-level phosphorus enrichment in the Florida Everglades
AU - Gaiser, Evelyn E.
AU - Trexler, Joel C.
AU - Richards, Jennifer H.
AU - Childers, Daniel
AU - Lee, David
AU - Edwards, Adrienne L.
AU - Scinto, Leonard J.
AU - Jayachandran, Krish
AU - Noe, Gregory B.
AU - Jones, Ronald D.
PY - 2005/3
Y1 - 2005/3
N2 - Few studies have examined long-term ecological effects of sustained low-level nutrient enhancement on wetland biota. To determine sustained effects of phosphorus (P) addition on Everglades marshes we added P at low levels (5, 15, and 30 μg L-1 above ambient) for 5 yr to triplicate 100-m flow-through channels in pristine marsh. A cascade of ecological responses occurred in similar sequence among treatments. Although the rate of change increased with dosing level, treatments converged to similar enriched endpoints, characterized most notably by a doubling of plant biomass and elimination of native, calcareous periphyton mats. The full sequence of biological changes occurred without an increase in water total P concentration, which remained near ambient levels until Year 5. This study indicates that Everglades marshes have a near-zero assimilative capacity for P without a state change, that ecosystem responses to enrichment accumulate over time, and that downstream P transport mainly occurs through biota rather than the water column.
AB - Few studies have examined long-term ecological effects of sustained low-level nutrient enhancement on wetland biota. To determine sustained effects of phosphorus (P) addition on Everglades marshes we added P at low levels (5, 15, and 30 μg L-1 above ambient) for 5 yr to triplicate 100-m flow-through channels in pristine marsh. A cascade of ecological responses occurred in similar sequence among treatments. Although the rate of change increased with dosing level, treatments converged to similar enriched endpoints, characterized most notably by a doubling of plant biomass and elimination of native, calcareous periphyton mats. The full sequence of biological changes occurred without an increase in water total P concentration, which remained near ambient levels until Year 5. This study indicates that Everglades marshes have a near-zero assimilative capacity for P without a state change, that ecosystem responses to enrichment accumulate over time, and that downstream P transport mainly occurs through biota rather than the water column.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=20144379524&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=20144379524&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 15758124
AN - SCOPUS:20144379524
VL - 34
SP - 717
EP - 723
JO - Journal of Environmental Quality
JF - Journal of Environmental Quality
SN - 0047-2425
IS - 2
ER -