The Role of Macrophytes in the Retention of Phosphorus in the River Thame, England

Abstract

The effects of the growth of the dominant species of macrophytes on phosphorus transport in the River Thame, a nutrient enriched lowland clay catchment in southern England, were assessed using a mass-balance approach. Macrophyte abundance was estimated between late March and early June at three sites along the river. the plant biomass of phosphorus and the total phosphorus content of sediments in the main part of the river channel and sediments associated with the plant roots were measured on each occasion. Total phosphorus concentrations in the river water were measured at weekly intervals at a gauging station at the lower end of the study reach.

The results showed that the phosphorus content of plants at the site most impacted by sewage derived phosphorus was < 1% of the flux of total phosphorus estimated for the water column in April and May. Phosphorus contained in the total standing crop of macrophytes at the least impacted site was estimated as approximately 3% of the mean daily flux of total phosphorus in the water. Although no trends were found in the total phosphorus contents of the roots, shoots or sediments through the season, differences in the phosphorus content of the sediments were found between sites with different phosphorus loading. Higher porewater and Equilibrium Phosphate Concentrations (EPC_oS) were recorded at the site most impacted by sewage effluent when compared to an upstream sampling site.

Key Words:

• Phosphorus
• Eutrophication
• Macrophytes
• Rivers
• Chemical fluxes