# Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Chlorophyll Relationships in the Big Bend Numeric nutrient criteria meeting 23 February 2010

# What do we measure?

• Temperature
• Salinity
• Dissolved Oxygen
• Light Attenuation ( Kd )
• Secchi Depth
• Color
• Chlorophyll
• Total Nitrogen
• Total Phosphorus

# Average Values ( + Std Err) by System Estuary Stations

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700TN (ug/L) 

# Mean Total Nitrogen (μg/L) by System

# Average Values ( + Std Err) by System Estuary Stations

0 10 20 30 40 50 60TP (ug/L) 

# Mean Total Phosphorus (μg/L) by System

# Average Values ( + Std Err) by System Estuary Stations

0 2 4 6 8 10 12CHL (ug/L) 

# Mean Chlorophyll -a (μg/L) by System

# All Systems Estuary Stations

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08TN (ug/L) 

## All Systems Monthly Average Total Nitrogen (TN) 1996 through 2008 Estuarine Stations Anclote Aripeka Chassahowitzka Crystal Homosassa Hudson Pithlachascotee Weeki Wachee Withlacoochee Steinhatchee Suwannee Waccasassa

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08TP (ug/L) 

## All Systems Monthly Average Total Phosphorus (TP) 1996 through 2008 Estuarine Stations Anclote Aripeka Chassahowitzka Crystal Homosassa Hudson Pithlachascotee Weeki Wachee Withlacoochee Steinhatchee Suwannee Waccasassa

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Mar - 96 Aug- 97 Dec- 98 May- 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08CHL-a (ug/L) 

## All Systems Average Chlorophyll -a (CHL-a) 1996 through 2008 Estuarine Stations Anclote Aripeka Chassahowitzka Crystal Homosassa Hudson Pithlachascotee Weeki Wachee Withlacoochee Steinhatchee Suwannee Waccasassa

# Steinhatchee Estuary

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08TN (ug/L) 

# Steinhatchee Monthly Average Total Nitrogen (TN) 1997 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08TP (ug/L) 

## Steinhatchee Monthly Average Total Phosphorus (TP) 1997 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08CHL-a (ug/L) 

## Steinhatchee Average Chlorophyll -a (CHL-a) 1997 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

# Suwannee Estuary

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

Mar - 96 Aug
- 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep
- 01 Jan
- 03 Jun
- 04 Oct
- 05 Mar - 07 Jul
- 08TN (ug/L) 

## Suwannee Monthly Average Total Nitrogen (TN) 1997 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08TP (ug/L) 

## Suwannee Monthly Average Total Phosphorus (TP) 1997 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08CHL-a (ug/L) 

## Suwannee Average Chlorophyll -a (CHL-a) 1997 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

# Waccasassa Estuary

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08TN (ug/L) 

# Waccasassa Monthly Average Total Nitrogen (TN) 1997 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08TP (ug/L) 

## Waccasassa Monthly Average Total Phosphorus (TP) 1997 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08CHL-a (ug/L) 

## Waccasassa Average Chlorophyll -a (CHL-a) 1997 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

# Correlation coefficient = 0.46 p < 0.001

- 1.0

0.0 1.0 2.0

2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5log10[Chlorophyll (μg L-1)]



# Log 10 

# [Total nitrogen (μgL - 1 

# )] 

# Figure 3. Relationship between log 10 

# -transformed monthly mean chlorophyll and total nitrogen concentrations from all estuarine systems (From Jacoby et al. 2009).

# Correlation coefficient = 0.84 p < 0.001

- 1.0

0.0 1.0 2.0

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5log10[Chlorophyll (μg L-1)]



# Log 10 

# [Total phosphorus (μgL - 1 

# )] 

# Figure 2. Relationship between log 10 

# -transformed monthly mean chlorophyll and total phosphorus concentrations from all estuarine systems (From Jacoby et al. 2009).

# Withlacoochee Estuary

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08TN (ug/L) 

# Withlacoochee Monthly Average Total Nitrogen (TN) 1996 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08TP (ug/L) 

## Withlacoochee Monthly Average Total Phosphorus (TP) 1996 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08CHL-a (ug/L) 

## Withlacoochee Average Chlorophyll -a (CHL-a) 1996 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

# Crystal Estuary

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08TN (ug/L) 

# Crystal Monthly Average Total Nitrogen (TN) 1996 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08TP (ug/L) 

## Crystal Monthly Average Total Phosphorus (TP) 1996 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 5 10 15 20 25

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08CHL-a (ug/L) 

## Crystal Average Chlorophyll -a (CHL-a) 1996 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

# Homosassa Estuary

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08TN (ug/L) 

# Homosassa Monthly Average Total Nitrogen (TN) 1996 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08TP (ug/L) 

## Homosassa Monthly Average Total Phosphorus (TP) 1996 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 5 10 15 20 25

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08CHL-a (ug/L) 

## Homosassa Average Chlorophyll -a (CHL-a) 1996 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

# Chassahowitzka Estuary

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08TN (ug/L) 

# Chassahowitzka Monthly Average Total Nitrogen (TN) 1997 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08TP (ug/L) 

## Chassahowitzka Monthly Average Total Phosphorus (TP) 1997 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 5 10 15 20 25

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08CHL-a (ug/L) 

## Chassahowitzka Average Chlorophyll -a (CHL-a) 1997 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

# Weeki Wachee Estuary

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08TN (ug/L) 

# Weeki Wachee Monthly Average Total Nitrogen (TN) 1997 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08TP (ug/L) 

## Weeki Wachee Monthly Average Total Phosphorus (TP) 1997 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Mar - 96 Aug - 97 Dec - 98 May - 00 Sep - 01 Jan - 03 Jun - 04 Oct - 05 Mar - 07 Jul - 08CHL-a (ug/L) 

## Weeki Wachee Average Chlorophyll -a (CHL-a) 1997 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

# Nitrogen Phosphorus Chlorophyll

= significant positive correlation = significant negative correlation 

# Temporal correlations with TN, TP and Chlorophyll

- Wet Months
-

# = significant positive correlation = significant negative correlation 

# Temporal correlations with TN, TP and Chlorophyll

- Transitional Months
-

Nitrogen Phosphorus Chlorophyll

# Nitrogen Phosphorus Chlorophyll

= significant positive correlation = significant negative correlation 

# Temporal correlations with TN, TP and Chlorophyll

- Dry Months
-

# Primary limiting nutrient by system (Springs Coast 2000-2001)

. Limiting Nutrient (Primary) System % N % P % CO % U Weeki Wachee 0 79 6 15 Chassahowitzka 4 40 40 17 Homosassa 0 51 32 17 Crystal 29 29 29 13 Withlacoochee 50 27 15 8 P = phosphorus limited N = nitrogen limited CO =phosphorus and nitrogen limited U = not nutrient limited

# -1.0 -0.5

0.0 0.5 1.0

2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3.0 3.2 Log 10 

# [Total nitrogen (μg L -1 

# )]Log10[Chlorophyll (μg L-1)]



# Correlation coefficient = 0.48 p < 0.001



# Relationship between log 10 

# -transformed monthly mean chlorophyll and total nitrogen concentrations from all estuarine systems (From Jacoby et al. 2009).

# -1.0 -0.5

0.0 0.5 1.0

0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 Log 10 

# [Total phosphorus (μg L -1 

# )]Log10[Chlorophyll (μg L-1)]



# Correlation coefficient = 0.72 p < 0.001



# Relationship between log 10 

# -transformed monthly mean chlorophyll and total phosphorus concentrations from all estuarine systems (From Jacoby et al. 2009).

# Aripeka Estuary

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800

May - 99 Oct - 00 Feb - 02 Jun - 03 Nov - 04 Mar - 06 Aug - 07 Dec - 08TN (ug/L) 

# Aripeka Monthly Average Total Nitrogen (TN) 2000 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

May - 99 Oct - 00 Feb - 02 Jun - 03 Nov - 04 Mar - 06 Aug - 07 Dec - 08TP (ug/L) 

## Aripeka Monthly Average Total Phosphorus (TP) 2000 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

May - 99 Oct - 00 Feb - 02 Jun - 03 Nov - 04 Mar - 06 Aug - 07 Dec - 08CHL-a (ug/L) 

## Aripeka Average Chlorophyll -a (CHL-a) 2000 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

# Hudson Estuary

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800

May - 99 Oct - 00 Feb - 02 Jun - 03 Nov - 04 Mar - 06 Aug - 07 Dec - 08TN (ug/L) 

# Hudson Monthly Average Total Nitrogen (TN) 2000 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 5 10 15 20 25

May - 99 Oct - 00 Feb - 02 Jun - 03 Nov - 04 Mar - 06 Aug - 07 Dec - 08TP (ug/L) 

## Hudson Monthly Average Total Phosphorus (TP) 2000 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

May - 99 Oct - 00 Feb - 02 Jun - 03 Nov - 04 Mar - 06 Aug - 07 Dec - 08CHL-a (ug/L) 

## Hudson Average Chlorophyll -a (CHL-a) 2000 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

# Pithlachascotee Estuary

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

May - 99 Oct - 00 Feb - 02 Jun - 03 Nov - 04 Mar - 06 Aug - 07 Dec - 08TN (ug/L) 

# Pithlachascotee Monthly Average Total Nitrogen (TN) 2000 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

May - 99 Oct - 00 Feb - 02 Jun - 03 Nov - 04 Mar - 06 Aug - 07 Dec - 08TP (ug/L) 

## Pithlachascotee Monthly Average Total Phosphorus (TP) 2000 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

May - 99 Oct - 00 Feb - 02 Jun - 03 Nov - 04 Mar - 06 Aug - 07 Dec - 08CHL-a (ug/L) 

## Pithlachascotee Average Chlorophyll -a (CHL-a) 2000 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

# Anclote Estuary

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800

May - 99 Oct - 00 Feb - 02 Jun - 03 Nov - 04 Mar - 06 Aug - 07 Dec - 08TN (ug/L) 

# Anclote Monthly Average Total Nitrogen (TN) 2000 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

May - 99 Oct - 00 Feb - 02 Jun - 03 Nov - 04 Mar - 06 Aug - 07 Dec - 08TP (ug/L) 

## Anclote Monthly Average Total Phosphorus (TP) 2000 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

May - 99 Oct - 00 Feb - 02 Jun - 03 Nov - 04 Mar - 06 Aug - 07 Dec - 08CHL-a (ug/L) 

## Anclote Average Chlorophyll -a (CHL-a) 2000 through 2008 Estuarine Stations

# = significant positive correlation = significant negative correlation 

# Temporal correlations with TN, TP and Chlorophyll

- Wet Months
-

Nitrogen Phosphorus Chlorophyll

# = significant positive correlation = significant negative correlation 

# Temporal correlations with TN, TP and Chlorophyll

- Transitional Months
-

Nitrogen Phosphorus Chlorophyll

# = significant positive correlation = significant negative correlation 

# Temporal correlations with TN, TP and Chlorophyll

- Dry Months
-

Nitrogen Phosphorus Chlorophyll