Response of estuarine nekton to the regulated discharge of treated phosphate-production process water
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Author
Switzer, Theodore S.Tyler-Jedlund, Amanda J.
Rogers, Kristen R.
Grier, Harry
McMichael, Robert H., Jr.
Fox, Sondra
Date
2011
Metadata
Show full item recordAlternative Title
Nekton response to discharged PO4 process H2O: Response of estuarine nekton to the regulated discharge of treated phosphate-production process waterAbstract
Florida is one of the world’s leading producers of phosphate. The mining and processing of phosphate produce a large volume of nutrient-rich, highly acidic process water that must either be stored or be treated and then discharged into the environment. Environmental effects of the regulated discharge of treated phosphate-production process water have not been well studied; however, eutrophication has been shown to negatively affect estuarine systems. We characterized the nekton community in Bishop Harbor during the discharge of treated process water (November 2003–October 2004) and compared these data with data collected during a nondischarge period (January 1993–December 1993) to identify possible effects of the discharged water on nekton communities. Overall fish community structure and species composition during the nondischarge and discharge time periods did not markedly differ. Several taxa exhibited subtle shifts in spatial distribution in Bishop Harbor; these shifts may be partially attributable to altered salinity from the combined effects of wastewater discharge and enhanced precipitation during the active 2004 hurricane season. Although we did not discern any effects of the discharge of treated process water on nekton communities, regulated discharges might have contributed to a large macroalgal bloom, which was harvested to reduce the possibility of decomposition-related hypoxia. Such an approach was practical only because Bishop Harbor is relatively small (~ 200 ha), and would not have been cost-effective for a larger system. Given the importance of Florida’s phosphate industry, it is critical that better alternatives to the treatment and disposal of process water be developed.Issue/Article Nr
TR-16Pages
22Publisher or University
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research InstituteSeries : Nr
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Technical Report