Influence of altered freshwater discharge on the seasonality of nutrient distributions near La Grande River, northeastern James Bay, Québec
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19568683 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Alessia C Guzzi (0009-0003-3858-8866, University of Manitoba), Jens K Ehn (0000-0002-8885-7441, University of Manitoba), Christine Michel (0000-0001-6150-4825, Fisheries and Oceans Canada), Jean-Éric Tremblay, Jean‐Éric Tremblay (0000-0003-0319-5723, Université Laval), Joel P Heath (The Arctic Eider Society), Zou Zou A Kuzyk (0000-0002-6891-6125, University of Manitoba) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2024-09-20 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Elementa Science of the Anthropocene (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2325-1026 • E-ISSN: 2325-1026 |
| Publisher | University of California Press (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1525/elementa.2023.00133 |
| OpenAlex | W4403020304 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 68 |
In subarctic marine environments, nutrient stocks are replenished through physical and biogeochemical processes in winter, largely setting an upper limit on new primary production for the next growing season. In spring, marine nutrient stocks are modified by freshwater-associated additions, especially in coastal areas. Hydroelectric development of the La Grande River (LGR) in northern Québec has shifted the timing of peak freshwater discharge from spring into winter, producing 10 times the natural winter discharge. Here, we considered salinity, oxygen isotope ratio (δ18O), and nutrient (nitrate, phosphate) data from coastal waters of northeast James Bay in different seasons of 2016 and 2017. We quantified two main freshwater sources, LGR and sea-ice melt, established by freshwater tracers, and their influence on coastal nutrient distributions. Our results show that LGR is the dominant source of freshwater to coastal waters throughout the year, especially during winter, and an important source of nitrate to nitrogen-limited coastal waters (winter concentrations of 4.53 μM versus 3.18 μM in ambient seawater). Despite being a poor phosphate source (0.11 μM versus 0.66 μM in ambient seawater), LGR provides the largest portion of the phosphate stock in surface waters near its mouth. LGR regulation has changed the pattern of natural fluvial nitrate inputs: what was observed in spring (pre-development) is now observed in winter (post-development). Thus, high winter surface nitrate stocks (22.5 mmol m−2) are available to support primary production, but are dispersed to offshore areas prior to the onset of the growing season, which begins only after the return of light. In northeast James Bay, the timing and magnitude of primary production, dependent on nutrients in the water column, is expected to have been impacted by altered freshwater input, reducing overall production in local areas and potentially increasing production further downstream with cascading effects on the marine ecosystem
Bay · Biology · Cartography · Discharge · Drainage basin · Geography · Nutrient · Seasonality · Environmental Science · Fish Ecology and Management Studies · Isotope Analysis in Ecology · Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics · Ecology · Geology · Oceanography
Landfast sea ice in Hudson Bay and James Bay
Nutrient inputs from subarctic rivers into Hudson Bay
Climate change and sea ice
Environmental drivers of under-ice phytoplankton bloom dynamics in the Arctic Ocean
Sediment-laden sea ice in southern Hudson Bay
Simulated impacts of relative climate change and river discharge regulation on sea ice and oceanographic conditions in the Hudson Bay Complex
Ice-Cover and Ice-Ridge Contributions to the Freshwater Contents of Hudson Bay and Foxe Basin
Browning of freshwaters
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |