Emerging Data on Link between Acid Mine Drainage and Nutrient Processing

Start Date

23-9-2019 9:15 AM

End Date

23-9-2019 9:15 AM

Description

Stream ecosystems provide a myriad of important services to humans. Examples include providing clean drinking water for municipalities, detoxifying pesticides, and offering recreational fishing opportunities. One often overlooked “ecosystem service”, however, is the processing and retention of excess phosphorus and nitrogen from sewage and agricultural runoff. The ability of small streams to process and retain nitrogen and phosphorus has important implications for the greater Susquehanna River watershed and ultimately the health of Chesapeake Bay. In healthy streams, bottom-dwelling microorganisms actively remove nitrogen and phosphorous from the water and transfer it up the food chain before recycling it back into the water where it is displaced downstream. This process slows the downstream progression of nitrogen and phosphorous and consequently decreases nutrient loading rates to large bodies of water, such as Chesapeake Bay. However, impairments such as acid mine drainage (AMD) might interfere with a stream’s ability to retain these nutrients. Our current research focuses on how AMD in the upper Susquehanna River basin might impair normal stream functions, such as nutrient retention, and how this might contribute to the nutrient loading problem to Chesapeake Bay. Furthermore, we are investigating the effectiveness of AMD remediation efforts in restoring this vital ecosystem service. Preliminary results suggest that the microbial communities involved in stream nutrient dynamics and nitrogen retention are seriously impaired by AMD. However, much more work needs to be completed before we fully understand the effects of AMD on nutrient retention in streams and the ultimate implications for nutrient loading to Chesapeake Bay.

Keywords

stream ecosystem, acid mine drainage, nutrient loading, Chesapeake Bay, Susquehanna River

Type

Presentation

Session

Environmental Science on the River, Matthew McTammany

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Sep 23rd, 9:15 AM Sep 23rd, 9:15 AM

Emerging Data on Link between Acid Mine Drainage and Nutrient Processing

Elaine Langone Center

Stream ecosystems provide a myriad of important services to humans. Examples include providing clean drinking water for municipalities, detoxifying pesticides, and offering recreational fishing opportunities. One often overlooked “ecosystem service”, however, is the processing and retention of excess phosphorus and nitrogen from sewage and agricultural runoff. The ability of small streams to process and retain nitrogen and phosphorus has important implications for the greater Susquehanna River watershed and ultimately the health of Chesapeake Bay. In healthy streams, bottom-dwelling microorganisms actively remove nitrogen and phosphorous from the water and transfer it up the food chain before recycling it back into the water where it is displaced downstream. This process slows the downstream progression of nitrogen and phosphorous and consequently decreases nutrient loading rates to large bodies of water, such as Chesapeake Bay. However, impairments such as acid mine drainage (AMD) might interfere with a stream’s ability to retain these nutrients. Our current research focuses on how AMD in the upper Susquehanna River basin might impair normal stream functions, such as nutrient retention, and how this might contribute to the nutrient loading problem to Chesapeake Bay. Furthermore, we are investigating the effectiveness of AMD remediation efforts in restoring this vital ecosystem service. Preliminary results suggest that the microbial communities involved in stream nutrient dynamics and nitrogen retention are seriously impaired by AMD. However, much more work needs to be completed before we fully understand the effects of AMD on nutrient retention in streams and the ultimate implications for nutrient loading to Chesapeake Bay.