Initial estuarine response to inorganic nutrient inputs from a legacy mining facility adjacent to Tampa Bay, Florida

Authors

Marcus W. Beck, Tampa Bay Estuary Program
Andrew Altieri, University of Florida
Christine Angelini, University of Florida
Maya C. Burke, Tampa Bay Estuary Program
Jing Chen, University of South FloridaFollow
Diana W. Chin, University of Florida
Jayne Gardiner, New College of Florida
Chuanmin Hu, University of South FloridaFollow
Katherine A. Hubbard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
Yonggang Liu, University of South FloridaFollow
Cary Lopez, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
Miles Medina, University of Florida
Elise Morrison, University of Florida
Edward J. Phlips, University of Florida
Gary E. Raulerson, Tampa Bay Estuary Program
Sheila Scolaro, Tampa Bay Estuary Program
Edward T. Sherwood, Tampa Bay Estuary Program
David Tomasko, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
Robert H. Weisberg, University of South FloridaFollow
Joseph Whalen, Tampa Bay Estuary Program

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2022

Keywords

Macroalgae, Nitrogen, Phosphate mining, Piney Point, Seagrass, Tampa Bay

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113598

Abstract

Legacy mining facilities pose significant risks to aquatic resources. From March 30th to April 9th, 2021, 814 million liters of phosphate mining wastewater and marine dredge water from the Piney Point facility were released into lower Tampa Bay (Florida, USA). This resulted in an estimated addition of 186 metric tons of total nitrogen, exceeding typical annual external nitrogen load estimates to lower Tampa Bay in a matter of days. An initial phytoplankton bloom (non-harmful diatoms) was first observed in April. Filamentous cyanobacteria blooms (Dapis spp.) peaked in June, followed by a bloom of the red tide organism Karenia brevis. Reported fish kills tracked K. brevis concentrations, prompting cleanup of over 1600 metric tons of dead fish. Seagrasses had minimal changes over the study period. By comparing these results to baseline environmental monitoring data, we demonstrate adverse water quality changes in response to abnormally high and rapidly delivered nitrogen loads.

Rights Information

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 178, article 113598.

Scholar Commons Citation

Beck, Marcus W.; Altieri, Andrew; Angelini, Christine; Burke, Maya C.; Chen, Jing; Chin, Diana W.; Gardiner, Jayne; Hu, Chuanmin; Hubbard, Katherine A.; Liu, Yonggang; Lopez, Cary; Medina, Miles; Morrison, Elise; Phlips, Edward J.; Raulerson, Gary E.; Scolaro, Sheila; Sherwood, Edward T.; Tomasko, David; Weisberg, Robert H.; and Whalen, Joseph, "Initial estuarine response to inorganic nutrient inputs from a legacy mining facility adjacent to Tampa Bay, Florida" (2022). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 2535.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/2535