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DYNAMICS OF NUTRIENTS AND HYDROLOGY IN A LAKE SUPERIOR COASTAL WETLAND
Citation:
Morrice, J A., J. R. Kelly, A S. Trebitz, A M. Cotter, AND M L. Knuth. DYNAMICS OF NUTRIENTS AND HYDROLOGY IN A LAKE SUPERIOR COASTAL WETLAND. Presented at International Association for Great Lakes Research Conference, Superior: State-of-the-Lake, Michigan Tech Univ., Houghton MI, May 22-24, 2002.
Description:
Coastal wetlands are hydrologically complex ecosystems situated at the interface of upland catchments and oligotrophic Lake Superior. Little is known about nutrient dynamics within coastal wetlands or their role in modifying or contributing to nutrient fluxes from watersheds to Lake Superior. We conducted an intensive study of in Lost Creek Wetland (LCW) (Cornucopia WI) with the objective of determining influences of temporal variability in hydrology on nutrient dynamics and retention. We measured hydrologic inputs and distributions of inorganic and organic forms of nitrogen and phosphorous within LCW under hydrologic conditions ranging from summer base flow to spring snow melt. The strength of hydrologic linkage of LCW to lake, and tributary varied greatly among seasons, resulting in shifts in the relative importance of these nutrient sources and influencing spatial distribution of nutrients within the wetland. Water residence time ranged from <1day during snow melt to 26 days in summer and was positively related to retention of inorganic nitrogen which ranged from 11% to 94%. This study confirms that hydrologic setting strongly influences internal nutrient dynamics of coastal wetlands and shapes their biogeochemical role in Great Lakes basins. This abstract does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.