
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Harris, Graham P. 
T1  - Biogeochemistry of nitrogen and phosphorus in Australian catchments, rivers and estuaries: effects of land use and flow regulation and comparisons with global patterns
JF  - Marine and Freshwater Research
JO  - Mar. Freshwater Res.
Y1  - 2001
VL  - 52
IS  - 1
SP  - 139
EP  - 149
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/MF00031 
N2  - This paper reviews the factors influencing the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) exports from Australian catchments. Pristine, forested catchments export little N and P and the predominant form of N is dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). As catchments are cleared, exports increase and the predominant form of N changes from DON to dissolved inorganic N (DIN). Soluble reactive P (SRP) represents a roughly constant fraction of total P in these systems. As catchments are cleared, DIN:SRP export ratios increase sharply and DIN comes to represent a larger and larger fraction of the total N. The ratios of total N:P and DIN:SRP in rivers reflect land use and the residence times of the water. In Australian lakes and reservoirs, DON and total Kjeldahl N (TKN)are consumed and DIN is exported downstream. Australian freshwater systems with long residence times show stoichiometric evidence of N limitation, and the frequent occurrence of N-fixing cyanobacterial blooms. Despite TN:TP loading ratios equalling or exceeding Redfield stoichiometry, many Australian estuaries and coastal lagoons also show extensive evidence of rapid denitrification and N limitation. Coastal lagoons also have long water residence times (up to 1 year) and a high proportion of the N load is denitrified. 
ER  -

