Using stable isotopes to trace the flow of nitrogen and the role of denitrification in a restored prairie wetland complex receiving wastewater effluent

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dc.contributor.authorPalle Rankoth Gedara, Kasuni Tharushika Rankoth
dc.contributor.authorUniversity of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
dc.contributor.supervisorFlanagan, Larry B.
dc.date.accessioned2024-09-20T17:36:53Z
dc.date.available2024-09-20T17:36:53Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.degree.levelMasters
dc.description.abstractWetlands play a crucial role in reducing nitrogen concentrations in wastewater effluent before it is discharged into public waterways. This study aims to trace the inorganic nitrogen input from treated industrial wastewater effluent into the Frank Lake wetland complex in southern Alberta, Canada, its uptake and subsequent movement through the Little Bow River to the Twin Valley Reservoir by analyzing the stable isotope composition of nitrogen in sediment and leaf tissue samples of Typha latifolia and Schoenoplectus acutus. In addition, this study analyzes the magnitude of denitrification, which removes nitrogen in the wastewater effluent as water moves through the wetland, using nitrogen isotopic compositions of nitrate molecules in the water. The study identified significant nitrogen uptake and processing within Basins of Frank Lake wetland, primarily due to emergent aquatic vegetation uptake and phytoplankton assimilation leading to sediment deposition and denitrification. Although the wetland effectively processed nitrogen, downstream effects on the Little Bow River system were observed, as evidenced by increased δ15N levels in T. latifolia samples. The Twin Valley reservoir also showed elevated δ15N values, likely due to wastewater discharge from Nanton through Mosquito Creek. Moreover, there was a substantial reduction in nitrate levels in the wastewater effluent within Basin 1, with denitrification removing 27.6 % to 43.7 % of nitrates in June, 12.6 % to 17.0 % in July, and 8.4 % to 14.0 % in August 2023. The study offers valuable insights into the ecosystem service of nutrient uptake provided by the wetland complex.
dc.embargoNo
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/6907
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Biological Sciences
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciences
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Science
dc.relation.ispartofseriesThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)
dc.subjectwetland ecology
dc.subjectnutrient cycling
dc.subjectnitrogen removal
dc.subjectnitrogen cycling
dc.subjectFrank Lake wetland complex
dc.subjectwetlands
dc.subjectLittle Bow River
dc.subjectplant bioindicators
dc.subject.lcshDissertations, Academic
dc.subject.lcshWetland ecology--Alberta--Frank Lake
dc.subject.lcshNutrient cycles
dc.subject.lcshSewage--Purification--Nitrogen removal
dc.subject.lcshFrank Lake (Alta.)
dc.subject.lcshWetlands--Alberta--Frank Lake
dc.subject.lcshLittle Bow River (Alta.)
dc.subject.lcshDenitrification
dc.subject.lcshStable isotopes in ecological research
dc.subject.lcshNitrogen--Isotopes--Research
dc.subject.lcshNitrogen--Metabolism--Research
dc.subject.lcshSchoenoplectus--Metabolism--Research
dc.subject.lcshTypha latifolia--Metabolism--Research
dc.subject.lcshTypha latifolia--Metabolism--Research
dc.subject.lcshTypha latifolia--Metabolism--Research
dc.subject.lcshWetland restoration--Monitoring
dc.titleUsing stable isotopes to trace the flow of nitrogen and the role of denitrification in a restored prairie wetland complex receiving wastewater effluent
dc.typeThesis
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