Monitoring plant tissue nitrogen isotopes to assess nearshore inputs of nitrogen to Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, Washington
Cox SE, Moran PW, Huffman RL, Fradkin SC. 2016. Monitoring plant tissue nitrogen isotopes to assess nearshore inputs of nitrogen to Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, Washington. Scientific Investigations Report. Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5054. United States Geological Society. Reston, Virginia
Mats of filamentous-periphytic algae present in some nearshore areas of Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, Washington, may indicate early stages of eutrophication from nutrient enrichment of an otherwise highly oligotrophic lake. Natural abundance ratios of stable isotopes of nitrogen (δ15N) measured in plant tissue growing in nearshore areas of the lake indicate that the major source of nitrogen used by these primary producing plants is derived mainly from atmospherically fixed nitrogen in an undeveloped forested ecosystem. Exceptions to this pattern occurred in the Barnes Point area where elevated δ15N ratios indicate that effluent from septic systems also contribute nitrogen to filamentousperiphytic algae growing in the littoral zone of that area. Near the Lyre River outlet of Lake Crescent, the δ15N of filamentous-periphytic algae growing in close proximity to the spawning areas of a unique species of trout show little evidence of elevated δ15N indicating that nitrogen from on-site septic systems is not a substantial source of nitrogen for these plants. The δ15N data corroborate estimates that nitrogen input to Lake Crescent from septic sources is comparatively small relative to input from motor vehicle exhaust and vegetative sources in undeveloped forests, including litterfall, pollen, and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. The seasonal timing of blooms of filamentous-periphytic algal near the lake shoreline is also consistent with nitrogen exported from stands of red alder trees (Alnus rubra). Isotope biomonitoring of filamentousperiphytic algae may be an effective approach to monitoring the littoral zone for nutrient input to Lake Crescent from septic sources.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Cox, Stephen; Moran, Patrick; Huffman, Raegan; Fradkin, Steven
- Date of Issue
- 2016
- Publisher
- United States Geological Society
- Units
- OLYM
- Keywords
- effluent, filamentous-periphytic green algae, isotope, Lake Crescent, littoral, NCCN External Publication, nearshore, nitrogen, nutrient, Olympic National Park, plant, plant tissue, septic, water quality
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Water | Hydrology | Surface Water Dynamics , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Nutrient Dynamics