Change in N and P Concentrations in Antarctic Streams as a Response to Change in Penguin Populations

ABSTRACT This study presents changes in the concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in two streams in Western Antarctica (Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetlands) that differ in trophic status. The results suggest a decline in concentrations of the determined forms of N and P between 20...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Papers on Global Change IGBP
Main Author: Nędzarek, Arkadiusz
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: Walter de Gruyter GmbH 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10190-010-0006-2
http://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/igbp/17/1/article-p67.xml
https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/igbp.2010.17.issue-1/v10190-010-0006-2/v10190-010-0006-2.pdf
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Summary:ABSTRACT This study presents changes in the concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in two streams in Western Antarctica (Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetlands) that differ in trophic status. The results suggest a decline in concentrations of the determined forms of N and P between 2001 and 2005. The decrease ranged from 9.3% for reactive phosphorus to 73.2% for ammonium-nitrogen. Such inferred declines in N and P concentrations are considered to reflect reduced deposition on land of organic matter brought in from the seas by the penguins nesting in the area. The ultimate cause of this is in turn the steady decline in abundance that is being noted for these penguins.