Nutrient, oxygen and plankton dynamics in Bellingham Bay and the connectivity between surface algal communities and bottom water hypoxia.
Presentation Abstract
Coastal eutrophication and bottom water hypoxia are stressors in many coastal and marine ecosystems, including the fjords and embayments of the Salish Sea. Recent work by researchers at Western Washington University and Northwest Indian College has identified a relatively large area (>10km2) of low dissolved oxygen (DO) in bottom waters of Bellingham Bay (Bellingham, WA) that returns predictably each summer. Direct measurements of water column respiration indicate that incoming oceanic deep water exhibits moderate rates of oxygen consumption (~100ug O2/L/d), yet manipulative experiments reveal that rates of respiration are carbon (rather than temperature) limited and respond quickly to additions of organic matter. This observation was corroborated by changes in bottom water respiration and DO in response to export of Pseudo nitzschia from surface blooms. Our research reveals the coupling between algal productivity and bottom water hypoxia, but also that this response is rapid and short lived. Further, we found that low DO water masses in Bellingham Bay are highly dynamic and appear to respond to upwelling events and high volumes of tidal flushing characteristic of many west coast estuaries.
Session Title
Session S-03A: Changes in Salish Sea Water Quality
Conference Track
Marine Water Quality
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
30-4-2014 3:30 PM
End Date
30-4-2014 5:00 PM
Location
Room 615-616-617
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Marine eutrophication--Washington (State)--Bellingham Bay; Hypoxia (Water)--Washington (State)--Bellingham Bay; Algal communities--Washington (State)--Bellingham Bay
Geographic Coverage
Bellingham Bay (Wash.); Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Nutrient, oxygen and plankton dynamics in Bellingham Bay and the connectivity between surface algal communities and bottom water hypoxia.
Room 615-616-617
Coastal eutrophication and bottom water hypoxia are stressors in many coastal and marine ecosystems, including the fjords and embayments of the Salish Sea. Recent work by researchers at Western Washington University and Northwest Indian College has identified a relatively large area (>10km2) of low dissolved oxygen (DO) in bottom waters of Bellingham Bay (Bellingham, WA) that returns predictably each summer. Direct measurements of water column respiration indicate that incoming oceanic deep water exhibits moderate rates of oxygen consumption (~100ug O2/L/d), yet manipulative experiments reveal that rates of respiration are carbon (rather than temperature) limited and respond quickly to additions of organic matter. This observation was corroborated by changes in bottom water respiration and DO in response to export of Pseudo nitzschia from surface blooms. Our research reveals the coupling between algal productivity and bottom water hypoxia, but also that this response is rapid and short lived. Further, we found that low DO water masses in Bellingham Bay are highly dynamic and appear to respond to upwelling events and high volumes of tidal flushing characteristic of many west coast estuaries.
