Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Sediment phosphorus speciation and retention process affected by invasion time of Spartina alterniflora in a subtropical coastal wetland of China

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In coastal wetland ecosystems, most phosphorus (P) accumulates in the sediments and becomes a major pollutant causing eutrophication by recycling to the water column in estuary areas, especially exotic plant invasions will change the nutrient cycling. In this study, a large wetland invaded by exotic species Spartina alterniflora for over 15 years was selected to study the sediment P fractionation and its retention for different plant invasion periods. The samples were collected from east to west in September and the sediment P was fractionated into total P (TP), inorganic P (IP), iron/aluminum-bound P (Fe/Al-P), calcium-bound P (Ca-P), and organic P (OP). Additionally, the effect of the invasion period on the wetland P fractionation based on space–time reciprocal principle was investigated. For different S. alterniflora invasion periods, the average TP concentration was 675.37 mg kg−1 with a range of 160.33–1071 mg kg−1. The IP concentration was in the range of 107.33–813.33 mg kg−1 (accounting for 54.4–79.5% of TP), of which Fe/Al-P and Ca-P represented up to 99.4%. In addition, the P retention (RP) was within 41.67–329.67 mg kg−1. We also found that TP, IP, Fe/Al-P, Ca-P, OP, and RP in sediments were negatively correlated with pH (p < 0.05), and were also significantly positively correlated (p < 0.01) with water content and electrical conductivity. There were positive correlations between the various forms of P in the sediments (p < 0.01). However, the most important finding was that invasion time of S. alterniflora had a direct effect on the P speciation and three stages were determined. In the first stage, S. alterniflora mainly consumed the OP of the sediment. In the second stage, S. alterniflora showed great vitality and biological immobilization led to the transforming of IP to OP. In the third stage, all P fractions greatly decreased to values even lower than for the bare beach which indicated that S. alterniflora growth had begun to degenerate. These three stages well explained the P seemingly contradictory increases and decreases apparent in previous studies and provide important information for understanding the effect of S. alterniflora invasion.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrams MM, Jarrell WM (1995) Soil phosphorus as a potential nonpoint source for elevated stream phosphorus levels. J Environ Qual 24:132–138

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andrieux F, Aminot A (1997) A two-year survey of phosphorus speciation in the sediments of the bay of seine (France). Cont Shelf Res 17:1229–1245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bai J, Wang Q, Deng W, Gao H, Tao W, Xiao R (2012) Spatial and seasonal distribution of nitrogen in marsh soils of a typical floodplain wetland in northeast china. Environ Monit Assess 184:1253–1263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen H, Li Y, Li B, Chen J, Wu J (2005) Impacts of exotic plant invasions on soil biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Chinese Biodiversity 13:555–565 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coelho JP, Flindt MR, Jensen HS, Lillebø AI, Pardal MA (2004) Phosphorus speciation and availability in intertidal sediments of a temperate estuary: relation to eutrophication and annual p-fluxes. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 61:583–590

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrenfeld JG (2004) Implications of invasive species for belowground community and nutrient processes. Weed Technol 18:1232–1235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elgersma KJ, Ehrenfeld JG, Yu S, Vor T (2011) Legacy effects overwhelm the short-term effects of exotic plant invasion and restoration on soil microbial community structure, enzyme activities, and nitrogen cycling. Oecologia 167:733–745

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flower H, Rains M, Lewis D, Zhang JZ, Price R (2016) Saltwater intrusion as potential driver of phosphorus release from limestone bedrock in a coastal aquifer. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 184:166–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • HJ/T 166–2004 (2004) The technical specification for soil environmental monitoring. Standard Press of China, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hou L, Lu J, Liu M (2006) Species and bioavailability of phosphorus in surface sediments from the shoals in the Yangtze estuary. Acta Sci Circumst 26:488–494 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu M, Zou F, Tong C, Zhang W, Gao D (2014) Fractions and spatial distribution of phosphorus in sediments of the Cyperus malaccensis marshes in the Min river estuary. Acta Sci Circumst 34:2815–2822 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jilbert T, Slomp CP (2013) Iron and manganese shuttles control the formation of authigenic phosphorus minerals in the euxinic basins of the Baltic Sea. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 107:155–169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jin B, Gao D, Yang P, Wang W, Zeng C (2016) Change of soil organic carbon with different years of Spartina alterniflora invasion in wetlands of Minjiang river estuary. Journal of Natural Resources 31:608–619 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordan TE, Correll DL (1991) Continuous automated sampling of tidal exchanges of nutrients by brackish marshes. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 32:527–545

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • King GM, Klug MJ, Wiegert RG, Chalmers AG (1982) Relation of soil water movement and sulfide concentration to Spartina alterniflora production in a Georgia salt marsh. Science 218:61–63

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kraal P, Slomp CP, Reed DC, Reichart GJ, Poulton SW (2012) Sedimentary phosphorus and iron cycling in and below the oxygen minimum zone of the northern Arabian Sea. Biogeosciences 9:2603–2624

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laakso J, Uusitalo R, Yli-Halla M (2016) Phosphorus speciation in agricultural catchment soils and in fresh and dried sediments of five constructed wetlands. Geoderma 271:18–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lambers H, Raven JA, Shaver GR, Smith SE (2008) Plant nutrient-acquisition strategies change with soil age. Trends Ecol Evol 23:95–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Zhang Q, Zhang L, Tong C (2016) Effect of Spartina alterniflora invasion sequence on soil carbon and nitrogen distribution in a Cyperus malaccensis marsh of the Min River estuary in spring. Acta Ecol Sin, 3628–3638 (in Chinese).

  • Liang W, Shao X, Wu M, Li W, Ye X, Jiang K (2012) Phosphorus fraction in the sediments from different vegetation type in Hangzhou bay coastal wetlands. Acta Ecol Sin 32:5025–5033 (in Chinese)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liao C, Luo Y, Jiang L, Zhou X, Wu X, Fang C, Chen J, Li B (2007) Invasion of Spartina alterniflora enhanced ecosystem carbon and nitrogen stocks in the Yangtze estuary, China. Ecosystems 10:1351–1361

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez-Hernandez D, Lavelle P, Fardeau JC, Niño M (1993) Phosphorus transformations in two p-sorption contrasting tropical soils during transit through Pontoscolex corethrurus, (glossoscolecidae: oligochaeta). Soil Biol Biochem 25:789–792

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osborne TZ, Reddy KR, Ellis LR, Aumen NG, Surratt DD, Zimmerman MS (2014) Evidence of recent phosphorus enrichment in surface soils of Taylor Slough and northeast everglades national park. Wetlands 3:37–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pan Q, Luo Z, Yan C, Zhang D (2010) Phosphorus fractions and theirs correlation analysis in surface sediment of urban coastal wetland. Ecology & Environmental Sciences 19:2117–2122

    Google Scholar 

  • Priest B (2011) Effects of elevation and nutrient availability on the primary production of Spartina alterniflora and the stability of southeastern coastal salt marshes relative to sea level rise. Dissertations & Theses - Gradworks.

  • Qin S, Liu J, Wang G, Wang J (2007) Seasonal changes of soil phosphorus fractions under Calamagrostis angustifolia wetlands in Sanjiang plain, China. Acta Ecol Sin:3844–3851 (in Chinese)

  • Ren H (2015) Emissions of methane and carbon dioxide at Cyperus malaccensis marsh with freshwater and brackish water in the Minjiang River estuary. Master Dissertation of Fujian Normal University: 24 (in Chinese).

  • Rhoades JD, Chanduvi F, Lesch S (1999) Soil salinity assessment: methods and interpretation of electrical conductivity measurements. FAO Irrigation & Drainage Paper 54:165

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruban V, López-Sánchez JF, Pardo P, Rauret G, Muntau H, Quevauviller P (2001) Harmonized protocol and certified reference material for the determination of extractable contents of phosphorus in freshwater sediments—a synthesis of recent works. Anal Bioanal Chem 370:224–228

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Samanta S, Debnath D, Maitra N, Banerjee M, Chowdhury AN, Sharma AP, Manna SK (2015) Sediment phosphorus forms and levels in two tropical floodplain wetlands. Aquat Ecosyst Health Manag 18:467–474

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Slomp CP, Epping EHG, Helder W, Raaphorst WV (1996) A key role for iron-bound phosphorus in authigenic apatite formation in north Atlantic continental platform sediments. J Mar Res 54:1179–1205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith CJ, Delaune RD (1984) Effect of sediment moisture on carbon dioxide exchange in Spartina alterniflora. Plant Soil 79:291–293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ternus RZ, Souza-Franco GMD, Anselmini MEK, Mocellin DJC, Magro JD (2011) Influence of urbanisation on water quality in the basin of the upper Uruguay River in western Santa Catarina, Brazil Influência da urbanização sobre a qualidade da água na bacia do alto Rio Uruguai no oeste de Santa Catarina, Brasi. Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia 23:189–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas MB, Reid AM (2007) Are exotic natural enemies an effective way of controlling invasive plants? Trends Ecol Evol 22:447–453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tong C, Jia R, Wang W, Zeng C (2010) Spatial variations of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous in tidal salt marsh soils of the Minjiang river estuary. Geogr Res 29:1203–1213 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vilar CC, Costa ACSD, Hoepers A, Souza Junior IGD (2010) Maximum phosphorus adsorption capacity as related to iron and aluminum forms in subtropical soils. Revista Brasileira De Ciência Do Solo 34:1059–1068

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang N, Mitsch WJ (1998) Estimating phosphorus retention of existing and restored coastal wetlands in a tributary watershed of the Laurentian great lakes in Michigan, USA. Wetl Ecol Manag 6:69–82

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang P, He M, Lin C, Men B, Liu R, Quan X, Yang Z (2009) Phosphorus distribution in the estuarine sediments of the Daliao river, China. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 84:246–252

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Li Y, Zhang W, Wang L, Fu X, Le Y (2010) Distribution characteristics and environmental effect of wetland soil nutrients in Chongming Dongtan. Environ Sci Technol 33:1–5 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang L, Mei Y, Qusheng LI, Hang Z, Zhou Y (2013) Phosphorus speciation in wetland sediments of Zhujiang (Pearl) river estuary, China. Chin Geogr Sci 23:574–583 (in Chinese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao R, Bai J, Gao H, Huang L, Deng W (2012) Spatial distribution of phosphorus in marsh soils of a typical land/inland water ecotone along a hydrological gradient. Catena 98:96–103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xie R, Pang Y, Luo B, Li J, Wu C, Zheng Y, Sun Q, Zhang P, Wang F (2017) Spatiotemporal variability in salinity and hydraulic relationship with salt intrusion in the tidal reaches of the Minjiang River, Fujian province, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24:11847–11,855

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang W, Yan Y, Jiang F, Leng X, Cheng X, An S (2016) Response of the soil microbial community composition and biomass to a short-term Spartina alterniflora, invasion in a coastal wetland of eastern China. Plant Soil:1–14

  • Yang W, Qiao Y, Li N, Zhao H, Yang R, Leng X, Cheng X, An S (2017a) Seawall construction alters soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics and soil microbial biomass in an invasive Spartina alterniflora, salt marsh in Eastern China. Appl Soil Ecol 110:1–11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang W, Zhao H, Leng X, Cheng X, An S (2017b) Soil organic carbon and nitrogen dynamics following Spartina alterniflora, invasion in a coastal wetland of eastern china. Catena 156:281–289

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhai J, Zeng C, Tong C, Wang W, Liao J (2010) Organic and inorganic phosphorus in sediments of the Min river estuarine wetlands: contents and profile distribution. Journal of Subtropical Resources and Environment:9–14 (in Chinese)

  • Zhang X, Shi S, Pan G, Li L, Zhang X, Li Z (2008) Changes in eco-chemical properties of a mangrove wetland under Spartina invasion from Zhangjiangkou, Fujian, China. Adv Earth Science 23:974–981 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Ding W, Luo J, Andrea D (2010) Changes in soil organic carbon dynamics in an eastern Chinese coastal wetland following invasion by a c4 plant Spartina alterniflora. Soil Biol Biochem 42:1712–1720

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W, Zeng C, Tong C, Zhang Z, Huang J (2011) Analysis of the expanding process of the Spartina alterniflora salt marsh in Shanyutan wetland, Minjiang river estuary by remote sensing. Procedia Environ Sci 10:2472–2477

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W, Zeng C, Tong C, Lin W, Chen X (2014) Comparison of characteristics of phosphorus speciation in soils of Phragmites australis and Cyperus malaccensis marshes in min river estuary. Wetland Science 12:683–689 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W, Zeng C, Tong C, Zhai S, Lin X, Gao D (2015) Spatial distribution of phosphorus speciation in marsh sediments along a hydrologic gradient in a subtropical estuarine wetland, China. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 154:30–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, He F, Kong L, Liu B, Zhou Q, Wu Z (2016) Release characteristics of sediment p in all fractions of Donghu lake, Wuhan, China. Desalin Water Treat 57:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhi Y, Li H, An S, Lei Z, Zhou C, Deng Z (2007) Inter-specific competition: Spartina alterniflora is replacing Spartina anglica in coastal China. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 74:437–448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou A, Tang H, Wang D (2005) Phosphorus adsorption on natural sediments: modeling and effects of pH and sediment composition. Water Res 39:1245–1254

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou H, Liu J, Zhou J, Qin P (2008) Effect of an alien species Spartina alterniflora loisel on biogeochemical processes of intertidal ecosystem in the Jiangsu coastal region, China. Pedosphere 18:77–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zuo P, Zhao S, Liu C, Wang C, Liang Y (2012) Distribution of Spartina, spp. along China’s coast. Ecol Eng 40:160–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Part of this work was supported by the Provincial Science Foundation of Fujian (JK2017011 & 2016J05096), Special Research Project of Public Institutes of Fujian Province (2016R1032-1), and Provincial College Students’ Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program (201810394065). We are grateful to the journal experts for valuable comments on this paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rongrong Xie.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, J., Lai, Y., Xie, R. et al. Sediment phosphorus speciation and retention process affected by invasion time of Spartina alterniflora in a subtropical coastal wetland of China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 35365–35375 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3447-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3447-3

Keywords

Navigation