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Biogeochemical processes in land-ocean interfaces, surface estuaries, subterranean estuaries and sediment-water interface
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Exploring impact of seasonal nutrient influx on sedimentary organic carbon and its relationship with a benthic foraminifera genus in a shallow tropical coastal lagoon
P-C2-01
Punyasloke Bhadury* , Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for Climate and Environmental Studies, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur-741246, Nadia, West Bengal, India.
Areen Sen, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur-741246, Nadia, West Bengal, India.
Presenter Email: pbhadury@gmail.com |
| Nutrient loading from land masses can affect coastal lagoons located at the land-ocean boundary. This type of ecosystem is particularly vulnerable to nutrient enrichment and associated changes in environmental condition due to its limited marine connection and longer water residence time. Benthic foraminifera are widely used as proxy for tracking nutrient enrichment as organic carbon produced in the water column is sequestered through sediment compartment. In the present study, seasonal nutrient loading in a shallow tropical coastal lagoon and its contribution to the generation of sedimentary organic carbon (Corg) was investigated. Moreover, the relationship between Corg and dominant benthic foraminiferal genus Ammonia has been also investigated. Concentrations of dissolved nutrients were measured from water in Chilika, Asia's largest coastal lagoon along with sedimentary organic carbon which was characterized by estimating ratio between stable isotopes of carbon (¦Ä13C) across twelve months. Ammonia population was also enumerated from the surface of sediment column. The investigation revealed that concentration of dissolved nitrate was extremely high along with increased values of sedimentary organic carbon. The ¦Ä13C measurement from sedimentary carbon revealed it to largely autochthonous in nature and thus supported the idea of nutrient driven increased primary production. Moreover, assemblages of Ammonia spp. also displayed significant correlation with sedimentary organic carbon. |
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