We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Isotopically labelled macroalgae: A new method for determining sources of excess nitrogen pollution.
- Authors
Bailes, Imogen R.; Gröcke, Darren R.
- Abstract
Rationale: Stable nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N) can be used to discern sources of excess nitrogen pollution in water. The δ15N values of nitrate in water often do not reflect the true δ15N source value owing to high temporal variation, and there are high analytical costs associated with obtaining δ15N values from water nitrate. To find alternative solutions, we isotopically labelled macroalgae (i.e. seaweed) beyond natural variation as a new method for determining sources of excess nitrogen pollution in seawater. Methods: Fucus vesiculosus (bladder wrack) non‐fertile tips were collected from Easington Colliery, County Durham, UK, and cultured in two isotopically enriched solutions containing ammonium sulphate with δ15N values of 170 ± 5‰ and –60 ± 3‰ for a period of 19 days. The macroalgae were cultured in separate opened glass jars in an incubator with set temperature (11°C) and light (125 μmol photons m−2 s−2 on a light/dark rhythm of 16 h/8 h). The oven‐dried tips were analysed for δ15N over the 19‐day experiment. Results: The macroalgal tips incorporated the isotopically enriched solutions rapidly, reaching 50% of the isotopically enriched seawater after ca 11 days for the 15N‐enriched solution and ca 15 days for the 14N‐enriched solution. δ15N values were incorporated more into the torn base of the macroalgal tips than into the middle and apex regions. Conclusions: F. vesiculosus rapidly incorporates the isotopic ratio of the artificial seawater solution to which it is translocated. The laboratory‐developed isotopically labelled macroalgae can be manufactured to generate ‘unnatural’ δ15N values for translocation into coastal environments. This approach can provide an efficient, low‐cost alternative to current analytical methods for determining and monitoring nitrogen pollution.
- Publication
Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry: RCM, 2020, Vol 34, Issue 24, p1
- ISSN
0951-4198
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/rcm.8951