Impact of elevated copper on the rate and gaseous products of denitrification in freshwater sediments.
Application of Cu-containing algicides to water reservoirs for algal control leads to sediment Cu enrichment, but the impact of Cu accumulation on the NO(3)(-)-attenuation capacity of these ecosystems is uncertain. With the knowledge that the reduction of N(2)O to N(2) is mediated by a Cu-dependent enzyme, it is hypothesized that an inverse variation exists between Cu availability and the mole fraction of N(2)O (F(N2O)) in denitrification products. A study was conducted to test this hypothesis and also to assess the impact of elevated Cu on nitrification and denitrification. Sediments were collected from areas untreated (NCT) and treated (CT) with the algicide cutrine (Cu ethanolamine) in three central Indiana reservoirs, and were assayed at both in situ Cu content and after amendment with CuSO(4). Results showed that Cu addition had a depressive, but short-lived effect on the processes investigated, with nitrification being most sensitive. Past cutrine treatments did not significantly affect either denitrification or F(N2O). However, a significant difference (P < 0.04) among reservoirs was found with respect to denitrification (Eagle Creek: 3.2; Geist: 1.6 and Morse: 4.2 mg N kg(-1) h(-1)) and F(N2O) (0.51, 0.24, and 0.31, respectively). Negative relationships (r(2): 0.30-0.64) between F(N2O) and water extractable Cu were found only when the analysis was conducted separately for each reservoir, suggesting that Cu solubility is controlled by sediment properties specific to each reservoir. Overall, results of this study indicate that neither the NO(3)(-)-removal capacity of sediments nor the composition of denitrification N gases is affected by past treatments with cutrine.
Jacinthe
Pierre-Andre
PA
Dep. of Earth Sciences, Indiana Univ. Purdue Univ. Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. pjacinth@iupui.edu
Tedesco
Lenore P
LP
D000605:Amino Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry*; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D019327:Copper Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D007196:Indiana; D009566:Nitrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014835:Volatilization
D000605:Amino Alcohols; D009566:Nitrates; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C046504:cutrine-plus; D003300:Copper; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D019327:Copper Sulfate