Deciphering the source contribution of organic matter accumulation in an urban wetland ecosystem

Abstract

A better understanding of the organic matter (OM) dynamics is a key to successful wetland management. We established the radiocarbon chronology (14C) and vertical distribution of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), OM, and carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) in the sediment core retrieved from the Anchar Wetland, Kashmir Himalaya. The accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) assisted 14C dating of the sediment core showed 14C age reversals related to occasional disturbances. The vertical distribution of various fractions revealed increased concentrations of organic carbon (OC), OM, and nutrients (N and P) in the upper part of the sediment core, largely related to increased anthropogenic inputs from the catchment areas during recent decades. Further, the low to high C/N ratio (1.3–36.4) suggests a combination of both the autochthonous and allochthonous inputs as the major contributors of OM to the wetland ecosystem. The linear regression model showed significant (p < 0.05) positive and negative relationships among various analyzed parameters. Principal component analysis (PCA) resulted in three principal components (PCs) accounting for a cumulative variance of 83.6%. The PCA suggests that the primary production, human activities such as extraction of Lotus stems (Nadru) and fishing, and terrestrial inputs (sewage disposal and fertilizer runoff) are the major factors controlling the distribution of organic fractions and nutrients. This study provides important insights into the sources and distribution of sedimentary OM and nutrients crucial for assessing the risks of pollution and for adopting the socially, politically, and scientifically robust strategies for the management of wetlands.

Land degradation and development in India: Status quo, challenges and opportunities

“…Alternatively, it may be possible for the system to recover but the length of recovery time may not be acceptable for modern human society. In our special issue, one paper used paleo‐sciences to establish deviation from natural variation (Dar et al, 2022).…”

“…These patterns were predicted from 2021 to 2051 at a 10‐year interval (Mohabey et al, 2023). In an urban wetland system, researchers used source apportionment in a sediment core (~2500 years) to establish that nutrient contribution to the Anchar wetland had increased only in the recent decades (Dar et al, 2022).…”

Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Water, Sediment and Macrophytes of Two Drains in the Deltaic Mediterranean Coast of Egypt

“…From economic and ecological perspectives, using plants as purification systems in different aquatic ecosystems is garnering more attention (Eid et al, 2020). The ability of macrophytes to effectively absorb contaminants from soils and waterways contributes significantly to the ecosystem's capacity to store vast amounts of metals in the plant's roots and/or aerial parts (Dar et al, 2022). Phytoremediation is accomplished using a variety of techniques, including phytostabilization, phytoextraction, and rhizofiltration (Saha et al, 2017).…”