Investigating Bermuda's pollution history through stable isotope analyses of modern and museum-held gorgonian corals.
For centuries, Bermuda has been challenged with wastewater management for the protection of human and environmental health. By quantifying the δ15N of the common sea fan Gorgonia ventalina sampled from 30 sites throughout Bermuda we show that sewage-derived nitrogen is detectable on nearshore coral reefs and declines across the lagoon to the outer rim. We also sampled gorgonians from two museum collections representing a 50y time-series (1958-2008). These samples revealed an increase in δ15N of >4.0‰ until the mid-1970s, after which δ15N values slowly declined by ~2.0‰. A δ15N chronology from a gorgonian skeleton exhibited a similar decline over the last 30-40years of approximately 0.6‰. We conclude that policies have been effective in reducing sewage impacts to Bermudian reefs. However, significant sources of sewage pollution persist and are likely have a strong impact on harbor and nearshore coral communities and human health.
Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC, USA; School of Biological Sciences, Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China. Electronic address: dmbaker@hku.hk.
David M
DM
Baker
B.R.E.A.M: Bermuda Reef Ecosystem Analysis and Monitoring Programme, Murdoch Marine Ltd., 15 Front St., Hamilton, HM 11, Bermuda; Bermuda Zoological Society, P.O. Box FL 145, Flatts FL BX, Bermuda.
Thaddeus J T
TJT
Murdoch
School of Biological Sciences, Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China.
Inga
I
Conti-Jerpe
Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC, USA.
Marilyn
M
Fogel
D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000737:chemistry*; D001605:Bermuda; D057894:Coral Reefs; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D007554:Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D009144:Museums; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D007554:Isotopes; D009584:Nitrogen; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater