Assessment of recent sediment influence in an urban polluted subantarctic coastal ecosystem. Beagle Channel (Southern Argentina)

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 62; no. 1; pp. 201 - 207
• Main Authors: Gil, M.N., Torres, A.I., Amin, O., Esteves, J.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Ammonia - analysis; ammonium; Applied sciences; Argentina; Bays; Beagle Channel; Biochemical components; carbohydrates; carbon; Carbon - analysis; Cities; Cluster Analysis; coasts; dissolved oxygen; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Ecosystem; Ecosystems; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Monitoring; Eutrophication; Exact sciences and technology; Fresh Water - chemistry; freshwater; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; humans; Marine; Multivariate Analysis; municipal wastewater; Natural water pollution; Nitrates - analysis; Northwest; nutrients; organic matter; Oxygen - analysis; Phosphates; Phosphates - analysis; Pollution; Pollution abatement; Pollution, environment geology; Porosity; proteins; seawater; Seawaters, estuaries; Sediment and water quality; Sediments; Sediment–water exchanges; Silicates - analysis; Waste water; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water pollution; Water Pollution, Chemical - statistics & numerical data; water quality; Water treatment and pollution; South America; Argentina; America; PSW, South America, Beagle Channel; PSW, Argentina; PSW, Argentina, Patagonia, Ushuaia; Biochemical components; Sediment and water quality; Beagle Channel; Sediment–water exchanges; Eutrophication; Sediment water interaction; Subpolar zone; Multivariate analysis; Coastal zone; Water quality; Urban waste water; Water pollution; Bay; Sediment-water exchanges; Seawater; Anthropogenic factor
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.10.004

► Environmental status of Ushuaia and Golondrina Bays is presented. ► Carbon equivalents in sediments were the same order as in hypertrophic ecosystems. ► Ammonium and phosphate released from sediment exceeded the allochthonous sources. ► Management of municipal wastewater is required to remediate this chronic pollution. ► Sediment–water interaction may be the main factor controlling organic enrichment. In this study, baseline information about the environmental status of Ushuaia (UB) and Golondrina (GB) bays is presented. Surface and bottom seawater and freshwater discharged from land were evaluated. Multivariate analysis identified different water quality zones within the bays, two of them located next to the north and northwest coastlines of UB, where the majority of human activities are developed. Porosity, total organic matter, biochemical components, ammonium, and phytopigments were determined in sediment samples from each quality zone. Benthic fluxes of nutrients and dissolved oxygen were assessed in situ using opaque chambers. In northwest zone of UB, carbon equivalents of proteins and carbohydrates in surficial sediments were the same order as in hypertrophic ecosystems, whereas ammonium and phosphate released from sediment greatly exceeded the allochthonous sources. Management of municipal wastewater is required to remediate this chronic pollution.