Transformation of Particle-Bound Phosphorus at the Land-Sea Interface in a Danish Estuary

Abstract

Danish rivers carry >50% of the phosphorus (P) transport as particulate P (PP). In five of six rivers sampled in November 1998 iron-bound P made up >59% of PP and loosely adsorbed P ranged between 2% and 13%. This fraction could potentially be released in 14‰ seawater. The behaviour of dissolved and particulate P fractions was studied during seven month in a 2 km long estuary with low freshwater retention time and low tidal range. The river carried ∼10% of PP as loosely adsorbed P but increased concentrations of dissolved inorganic P (DIP) relative to the estuarine mixing line was only observed in the summer month with low freshwater flow and was more likely due to DIP release from the bottom sediment. Instead estuarine particles were always enriched with oxidized iron (ox.Fe) and iron-bound P as well as loosely adsorbed P and during May-September this coincided with increasing concentration of PP in estuary. We suggest that flocculation of ox.Fe and adsorption of DIP onto the particles with subsequent transport seawards is a major loss process for P during the summer month. During winter month where 85% of the run-off occurs the dominant process in the estuary is sedimentation of larger particles, however, a comparison of river particles with surface sediment clearly reveals that most PP is mobilized again from the bottom sediments. © 2006 Springer.