Point-source pollution effects on nutrient retention in tropical streams: experimental manipulation of stoichiometry rate of nitrogen and phosphorus

• Grant number: 18/13171-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2018
• End date: January 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Environmental Sanitation
• Principal Investigator: Davi Gasparini Fernandes Cunha
• Grantee: Nícolas Reinaldo Finkler
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Aquatic ecosystems are responsible for key Ecosystems Services (ES), providing direct and indirect benefits to the living beings. Hydrographic basins located in urban areas are unique environments with gradients of characteristic disturbances that can alter the natural biogeochemical cycles and consequently the offering of SE. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) inputs from the Wasterwater Treatment Plants (WWTP) are one of the main sources of nutrients in aquatic systems, producing short and long term implications for the cycling of several elements. The main objective of this research is to assess the effect of WWTP on macronutrient retention in streams located in the Cerrado biome (SP), using the manipulation of the stoichiometric ratio DIN:SRP in nutrient addition experiments. In addition to physic-chemical and biological parameters, we will evaluate nitrate, ammonium and phosphate retention rates in different reaches of four streams under WWTP influence and two, whose anthropic presence is minimal (control streams) to test hypotheses related to the land use and the role of the stoichiometric ratio on nutrient retention. These data will be associated with metabolism estimates (respiration, gross and net primary production), water column and benthic substrate variables, as well as physics variables of each stream. We expected that the results will contribute to different areas of knowledge (Engineering, Biology and Environmental Management); through the identification of the most important drivers of the role of the streams are sinks or sources of macronutrients. In addition to promoting internationalization, as the project involves the development of activities in a North American institution, papers will be published in specialized peer-reviewed journals. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FERNANDES CUNHA, DAVI GASPARINI; FINKLER, NICOLAS REINALDO; LAMPARELLI, MARTA CONDE; CALIJURI, MARIA DO CARMO; DODDS, WALTER K.; CARLSON, ROBERT E.. haracterizing Trophic State in Tropical/Subtropical Reservoirs: Deviations among Indexes in the Lower Latitude. Environmental Management, v. 68, n. 4, AUG 2021. (18/21412-9, 18/13171-1)

FINKLER, NICOLAS REINALDO; GUCKER, BJORN; BOECHAT, IOLA GONCALVES; TROMBONI, FLAVIA; THOMAS, STEVEN ARNOLD; MENDES, LUDMILSON ABRITTA; LIMA, DANIEL MOURA FONTES; COVINO, TIM; EMANUELSON, KARIN; PONCE DE LEON, CLAUDIA; et al. Comparing spiraling- and transport-based approaches to estimate in-stream nutrient uptake length from pulse additions. ECOHYDROLOGY, v. 14, n. 7, JUL 2021. (18/21412-9, 18/13171-1)

FINKLER, N. R.; GUCKER, B.; BOECHAT, I. G.; FERREIRA, M. S.; TANAKA, M. O.; CUNHA, D. G. F.. Riparian Land Use and Hydrological Connectivity Influence Nutrient Retention in Tropical Rivers Receiving Wastewater Treatment Plant Discharge. FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, v. 9, SEP 22 2021. (18/13171-1, 18/21412-9)

FERNANDES CUNHA, DAVI GASPARINI; FINKLER, NICOLAS REINALDO; GOMEZ, NORA; COCHERO, JOAQUIN; DONADELLI, JORGE LUIS; SALTARELLI, WESLEY APARECIDO; CALIJURI, MARIA DO CARMO; POLI MIWA, ADRIANA CRISTINA; TROMBONI, FLAVIA; DODDS, WALTER K.; et al. Agriculture influences ammonium and soluble reactive phosphorus retention in South American headwater streams. ECOHYDROLOGY, v. 13, n. 2, DEC 2019. (16/14176-1, 18/13171-1, 17/50397-5, 17/18519-3)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

FINKLER, Nícolas Reinaldo. Nutrient transport and retention in tropical rivers receiving wastewater treatment plant discharges. 2022. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD) São Carlos.