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The effects of semi-lunar spring and neap tidal change on nutrients cycling in the intertidal sediments of the Yangtze estuary

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

During a semi-lunar tidal cycle from full moon till new moon, tide is characterized by the periodic change in spring and neap tide. Under the in situ conditions of light and temperature, the influence of a semi-lunar spring and neap tidal cycle on nutrient cycling in intertidal flat of the Yangtze estuary was simulated in the laboratory in July 2002. Lab experiments showed that NH +4 and PO 3−4 were always released into overlying waters, while NO −3 was directed into sediments in the permanently waterlogged systems, suggesting that the long-term waterlogged sediment acts as a significant source for NH +4 and PO 3−4 , and a sink for NO −3 in water columns. In contrast, reflooding of intertidal sediments after long-term desiccation promoted the considerable effluxes of NH +4 , NO −3 and PO 3−4 into overlying waters, reflecting that the long-term exposed sediment is an important source for nutrients in overlying waters. In addition, the semi-lunar tidal cycle led to the intricate depth distribution patterns of nutrients in intertidal sediments. During long-term exposure, NH +4 in sediments was quickly transformed into NO −2 and NO −3 , while organic P pool might be converted to slightly adsorbed and iron-bound P. Therefore, it is considered that the semi-lunar tidal circulation has the significant influence on the biogeochemical cycle of nutrients in intertidal systems.

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Acknowledgements

This research is part of the project of the biogeochemical cycling of multi-materials in the Yangtze estuarine and coastal complex ecosystem supported by the National Natural Science Key Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40131020 and 49801018), Foundation for University Key Teacher by the Ministry of Education and Shanghai Priority Academic Discipline Project, and Shanghai Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 04R214122). The anonymous reviewers are thanked for their constructive comments on a preliminary draft of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, People’s Republic of China

    L. J. Hou & J. J. Lu

  2. Department of Geography, Key Laboratory of Geographical information Science of the Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, People’s Republic of China

    M. Liu, S. Y. Xu, D. N. Ou, J. Yu & S. B. Cheng

  3. Institute of Geoscience, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Becherweg, 55099, Germany

    Y. Yang

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  1. L. J. Hou
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  2. M. Liu
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  3. S. Y. Xu
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  4. D. N. Ou
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  5. J. J. Lu
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  6. J. Yu
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  7. S. B. Cheng
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  8. Y. Yang
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Correspondence to L. J. Hou.

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Hou, L.J., Liu, M., Xu, S.Y. et al. The effects of semi-lunar spring and neap tidal change on nutrients cycling in the intertidal sediments of the Yangtze estuary. Environ Geol 48, 255–264 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-005-1304-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-005-1304-4

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