Neuse River Estuary

Microorganisms readily able to degrade hydrocarbons were found in the Neuse River estuary in North Carolina. Although the estuary was relatively free of hydrocarbon contamination, 63% of the bacteria and 71% of the fungi isolated from surface water samples were able to utilize kerosene as the sole carbon source (Buckley et al. 1976). Weathered kerosene (volatile components were allowed to escape prior to testing) was spiked with four marker hydrocarbons, and the degradation of the markers was monitored. 

Boyer, J. N., R. R. Christian, and D. W. Stanley. 1993. Patterns of phytoplankton primary productivity in the Neuse River estuary, North Carolina, USA. Marine Ecology Progress Series 97 287-297. 

Balthis, W.L., Hyland, J.L., Scott, G.I., Fulton, M.H., Bearden, D.W. and Greene, M.D. (2002) Sediment quality of the Neuse River estuary, North Carolina an integrated assessment of sediment contamination, toxicity, and condition of benthic fauna, Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery 9, 213-225. 

Figure 9.42 The relative importance of different microalgal groups (cryptomonads, dinoflagellates, diatoms, cyanobacteria, and chlorophytes) based on group-specific chlorophyll-a (kg) to total biomass, in the Neuse River estuary (USA) from 1994 to 1996. (Modified from Pinckney et al., 1998.)...

Pinckney, J.L., Paerl, H.W., Harrington, M.B., and Howe, K.E. (1998) Annual cycles of phytoplankton community-structure and bloom dynamics in the Neuse River estuary, North Carolina. Mar. Biol. 131, 371-381. 

Reckhow, K.H., and Gray, J. (2000) Neuse River Estuary modeling and monitoring project stage 1 stage 1 executive summary and long-term modeling recommendations. Report no. 325-A of the Water Resources Research Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C. 

Aiiburtit, J., Zehr, J. P., and Paerl, H. W. (2001). Distribution of nitrogen-iixing microorganisms along the Neuse River Estuary, North Carohna. Microb. Ecol. 41, 114—123. 

Burns, J. A., Zehr, J., and Capone, D. G. (2002). Nitrogen fixing phylotypes of Chesapeake Bay and Neuse River Estuary sediments Trends in phylotype correlate with sediment characteristics. 

Neuse River Estuary North Carolina croatan... 

Figure 11.6 Results from seasonal in situ bioassays in the southwest basin of Pamlico Sound. Bars are means of 5 replicates and error bars are on standard deviation.The top panel shows the response of primary productivity of the natural phytoplankton community to the addition of nitrate (+N, 20 pM-N), phosphate (+P, 5 pM-P), nitrate and phosphate (+NP), and the un-amended control.The bottom panel shows the response of chlorophyll a to the same treatments. Relative to controls, strong N limitation was observed in Pamlico Sound despite high load of N to the upstream Neuse River Estuary.

Figure ll.ll Results from a set of in situ nutrient addition bioassays conducted at three locations along the axis of the Neuse River Estuary that was routinely monitored for ambient nutrient (ammonium, nitrate, phosphate) concentrations and chlorophyll a as an indicator phytoplankton biomass. All nitrogen forms were added at 20 jlM-N, while phosphate was added at 5 pM-P. The locations of bioassays are shown (symbols) on the map (A) just upstream of the chlorophyll a maximum (Cniax)l ( ) the Cmax i d (C) downstream of the Cmax- Strong N limitation was encoun-... 

Harrington, M. B. (1999). Responses of Natural Phytoplankton Communities from the Neuse River Estuary, NC to Changes in Nitrogen Supply and Incident Irradiance. MSc. Thesis. Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC. 89pp. 

Paerl, H. W., MaUin, M. A., Donahue, C. A., Go, M., and Peierls, B. L. (1995). Nitrogen loading sources and eutrophication of the Neuse River estuary, NC Direct and indirect roles of atmospheric deposition. UNC Water Resources Research Institute Report No. 291. 119p. NC. State Univ., Raleigh, NC. 

Paerl, H. W., Valdes, L. M., Piehler, M. P., and Lebo, M. E. (2004). Solving problems resulting from solutions The evolution of a nutrient management strategy for the eutrophying Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina, USA. Environ. Sci. Tech. 38, 3068—3073. 

Piehler, M. F., Dyble, J., Moisander, P. H., Pinckney,. L., and Paerl, H. W. (2002). Effects of modified nutrient concentrations and ratios on the structure and function of the native phytoplankton community in the Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina, USA. Aquat. Ecol. 36, 371—385. Piehler, M. F., Twomey, L.., Hall, N. S., and Paerl, H. W. (2004). Impacts of inorganic nutrient enrichment on the phytoplankton commimity structure and function in Pamlico Sound, NC, USA. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 61(2), 197—209. 

Estuary, AU Neuse River Estuary, 0-6.62 MIMS 2005 Fear et at, 2005... 

WhitaH, D., Hendrickson, B., and Paerl, H. (2003). Importance of atmospherically deposited nitrogen to the annual nitrogen budget of the Neuse River estuary. North Carolina. Environ. Int. 29, 393-399. 

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