NDLI: Atmospheric concentrations of ammonia and nitrogen dioxide at a tropical coral cay with high seabird density

Content Provider	World Health Organization (WHO)-Global Index Medicus
Author	Schmidt, Susanne Mackintosh, Katrina Gillett, Rob Pudmenzky, Alex Allen, Diane E. Rennenberg, Heinz Mueller, Jochen F.
Spatial Coverage	Queensland
Description	Country affiliation: Australia Author Affiliation: Schmidt S ( School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia. Susanne.Schmidt@uq.edu.au)
Abstract	Ecosystems with high seabird densities can receive extremely high inputs of nitrogen ( N ) from bird guano . Seabirds deposit up to 1000 kg N ha $^{−1}$ $y^{−1}$ on Heron Island, a tropical coral cay of the Great Barrier Reef. We quantified atmospheric concentrations of ammonia $(NH_{3})$ and nitrogen dioxide $(NO_{2})$ with passive air samplers at beach, woodland and forest along a gradient of low, intermediate and high bird densities, respectively. $NO_{2}$ concentrations at all studied sites were generally low (average 0.2–2.3 µg $NO_{2}$ $m^{−3})$ and similar to other ecosystems. An exception was the main traffic zone of helicopter and barge traffic which had elevated concentrations (average 6.2, maximum 25 µg $NO_{2}$ $m^{−3})$ comparable to traffic-intense urban areas elsewhere. Increasing average $NH_{3}$ concentrations from 0.7 to 17 µg $NH_{3}$ $m^{−3}$ was associated with greater seabird nesting density. In areas of intermediate and high bird density, $NH_{3}$ concentrations were substantially higher than those typically detected in natural and agricultural systems, supporting the notion that seabird guano is a major source of $NH_{3}.$ The steep decline of $NH_{3}$ concentrations in areas with low bird density indicates that trans-island transport of $NH_{3}$ is low. $NH_{3}$ may not only be re-deposited in close vicinity of the source but is also transported vertically as concentrations above the tree canopy averaged 7.5 µg $NH_{3}$ $m^{−3}.$ How much guano -derived $NH_{3}$ contributes to reefal waters via the possible transfer path water → land → water remains to be established. We discuss atmospheric concentrations of $NH_{3}$ and $NO_{2}$ in context of N -based gaseous pollutants and effects on vegetation.
File Format	HTM / HTML
ISSN	14640325
Issue Number	2
Volume Number	12
e-ISSN	14640333
Journal	Journal of Environmental Monitoring
Language	English
Publisher	Royal Society of Chemistry
Publisher Date	2010-02-01
Publisher Place	Great Britain (UK)
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Subject Keyword	Discipline Environmental Health Ammonia Analysis Anthozoa Ecosystem Environmental Monitoring Methods Nitrogen Dioxide Water Pollutants, Chemical Chemistry Animals Birds Queensland Seasons Tropical Climate Journal Article Research Support, Non-u.s. Gov't
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

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