Nitrogen and Phosphorous Excretion Rates by Tubificids from the Prahova River (Romania) |
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Authors: | Carmen Postolache Geta Rî?noveanu Anghelu?? V?dineanu |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Systems Ecology and Sustainable Development, University of Bucharest, Spl. Independentei 91–95, 76201 Bucharest, Romania |
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Abstract: | Nitrogen and phosphorous exchange at the water–sediment interface is controlled both by complex physico-chemical factors and
biological processes. Zoobenthos excretion is one of the most important processes in the mineralization of sedimented organic
mater. In polluted freshwaters, tubificid worms are among the dominant components of the benthic community. Rates of ammonium
and inorganic phosphate excretion by tubificids were experimentally assessed. They were related to the tubificid abundance
in a stream ecosystem polluted with municipal and industrial wastewater. The relationship between these rates and temperature
were investigated within the range of 4–23 °C. Relatively constant excretion rates were obtained for both nutrients in the
first 8 h of excretion, ranging between 0.076 and 0.226 μg N mg d.w.−1 h−1 and 0.0065–0.01 μg P mg d.w.−1 h−1, respectively. Q10 values of 2.52 for ammonium and 1.31 for phosphate were calculated. If we presume that all excreta eventually enters the
water column, then we can calculate that these invertebrates potentially add 39.17 mg N m−2 day−1 and 0.49 mg P m−2 day−1. These values accounts for 17.16 and 7.56% of the nutrient load in the river water, respectively. |
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Keywords: | excretion rates nitrogen phosphorous tubificids |
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