Résumés
Abstract
Epilithon is a complex community of autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms that includes inert, organic and inorganic material and is attached to the surface of submersed rocks. Water samples collected in the Grand River (southwestern Ontario) in April 2011 showed that ammonium concentrations decreased downstream, whereas nitrate varied, largely dependent on weather conditions (concentrations of both chemical species were higher during winter). Epilithon δ15N-TN downstream from the Kitchener wastewater treatment plant oscillated between 0.4 to 23.2‰, and δ13C-TC around -27‰. The wastewater treatment plant effluent consisted of δ15N-NO3- between 12 and 16‰, with a decreasing trend as it traveled downstream; δ15N-NH4+ became enriched downstream (as high as 31‰). Average values for δ13C-DIC were -10.1‰ and δ13C-DOC -26.8‰. It is proposed that the nitrogen and carbon isotope composition of epilithon could be used as a short- or medium-term environmental archive, as it reflects in-stream processes, such as ammonia oxidation, in a river impacted by treated wastewater. The interpretation provided here was limited due to the ample range of events and potential sources, specifically when the nitrogen isotopic composition of nitrate and ammonium was similar. Epilithon is easily collected, processed and analysed and proved to be valuable tool to describe changes in river and stream geochemistry.
Keywords:
- Epilithon,
- isotope composition,
- wastewater,
- rivers,
- environmental archive
Résumé
L’épilithon est une communauté complexe d'organismes autotrophes et hétérotrophes, qui vit conjointement avec des matériaux organiques et inorganiques attachés à la surface de rochers submergés. Des échantillons d’eau collectés dans la rivière Grand (sud de l’Ontario) en avril 2011 ont montré une diminution des concentrations d'ammonium vers l’aval, alors que les concentrations de nitrate variaient, principalement en fonction des conditions météorologiques (les concentrations des deux espèces chimiques furent plus élevées pendant l'hiver). La composition isotopique de l’épilithon en aval de l’usine de traitement des eaux usées a varié entre 0,4 et 23,2 ‰ pour l’azote ((d15N-TN) alors que pour le carbone (d13C-TC) la valeur était autour de -27 ‰. L'effluent de l'usine de traitement des eaux usées montrait des valeurs de δ15N-NO3- entre 12 et 16 ‰, avec une tendance à la baisse vers l'aval; les valeurs pour δ15N-NH4+ avait une tendance à augmenter vers l’aval (aussi élevé que 31 ‰). Les valeurs moyennes de δ13C pour le carbone inorganique étaient de 10,1 ‰ et celles pour le carbone organique (δ13C-DOC) étaient de -26,8 ‰. On propose que la composition isotopique de l’épilithon puisse être utilisée comme archive de l'environnement à court ou à moyen terme, étant donné que l’épilithon reflète les processus ayant lieu en amont, comme l’oxydation de l'ammoniac, dans une rivière touchée par le rejet d’eaux usées. Donc, δ15N-TN et δ13C-TC pourraient être utilisés comme un indicateur environnemental à court terme pour les rivières touchées par l’activité humaine, comme constaté dans la rivière Grand. L’interprétation des données actuelles était limitée en raison de la grande gamme de sources potentielles, en particulier lorsque les compositions isotopiques de l’azote étaient similaires pour le nitrate et l’ammonium. L'épilithon est facile à recueillir, à traiter et à analyser et il s'est révélé un outil précieux pour décrire les changements géochimiques se produisant dans la rivière.
Mots-clés :
- épilithon,
- composition isotopique,
- eaux usées,
- rivières,
- indicateur environnemental
Parties annexes
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