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Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Laboratory-determined Phosphorus Flux from Lake Sediments as a Measure of Internal Phosphorus Loading
Published on: March 6, 2014
Phosphorus enriched effluents increase eutrophication risks for mangrove systems in northeastern Brazil
Diego Barcellos1, Hermano Melo Queiroz2, Gabriel Nuto Nóbrega3
1Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo 29075-910, Brazil; Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (ESALQ-USP), Av. P dádua Dias 11, CEP 13418-900 Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract:
Discharge of effluents loaded with phosphorus (P) from anthropogenic activities constitutes serious eutrophication risks in marine and terrestrial ecosystems, including mangroves. Three mangroves in NE-Brazil were studied to evaluate the impact of P-rich-effluents from shrimp farming and domestic sewage, in relation to a control area (natural mangrove). Soil phosphorus fractionation and water chemical analysis were performed to assess potential pollution. We observed the most labile P forms increased gradually and significantly from control to sewage to shrimp farm impacted mangroves as observed by increasingly dissolved orthophosphate (PO43-) content in water and the exchangeable/soluble P (Exch-P) extracted from soils, which is supported by the discriminant analysis. Exch-P results were correlated to Humic-Acid-P, which can release more labile P forms when mineralized. Our results demonstrate a substantial impact of aquiculture and sewage effluents in mangroves at both organic and inorganic P fractions, raising important concerns regarding pollution for these marine ecosystems.
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