Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T07:56:50.408Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Potential ammonia emissions from penguin guano, ornithogenic soils and seal colony soils in coastal Antarctica: effects of freezing-thawing cycles and selected environmental variables

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 October 2010

Renbin Zhu ,
Jianjun Sun ,
Yashu Liu ,
Zhijun Gong  and
Liguang Sun
Renbin Zhu*
Affiliation:
Institute of Polar Environment, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei City, Anhui Province 230026, PR China
Jianjun Sun
Affiliation:
Institute of Polar Environment, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei City, Anhui Province 230026, PR China
Yashu Liu
Affiliation:
Institute of Polar Environment, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei City, Anhui Province 230026, PR China
Zhijun Gong
Affiliation:
Institute of Polar Environment, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei City, Anhui Province 230026, PR China
Liguang Sun
Affiliation:
Institute of Polar Environment, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei City, Anhui Province 230026, PR China
*
*zhurb@ustc.edu.cn
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Very little attention has been paid to quantifying ammonia (NH3) emissions from Antarctic marine animal excreta. In this paper, penguin guano and ornithogenic soils from four penguin colonies and seal colony soils were collected in coastal Antarctica, and laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate potential NH3 emissions and effects of environmental factors on NH3 fluxes. Ammonia fluxes were extremely low from the frozen samples. Significantly enhanced NH3 emissions were observed following thawing. The mean fluxes were 7.66 ± 4.33 mg NH3 kg-1 h-1 from emperor penguin guano, 1.31 ± 0.64 mg NH3 kg-1 h-1 from Adélie penguin guano and 0.33 ± 0.39 mg NH3 kg-1 h-1 from seal colony soils during the thawing period. Ammonia emissions from penguin guano were higher than those from ornithogenic soils during freezing-thawing cycles (FTCs). The temperature, pH, total nitrogen (TN) and drying-wetting conversion had an important effect on NH3 fluxes. For the first time, we provide a quantitative relationship between NH3 flux and temperature, TN and pH. Our results show that marine animal excreta and ornithogenic soils are significant NH3 emission sources. In coastal Antarctica, FTC-induced NH3 emissions might account for a large proportion of annual flux from marine animal colonies due to high freezing-thawing frequency.

Keywords

Adélie penguin guanoNH3 emissions
Type
Biological Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , February 2011 , pp. 78 - 92
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aneja, V.P., Chauhan, J.P. Walker, J.T. 2000. Characterization of atmospheric ammonia emissions from swine waste storage and treatment lagoons. Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmosphere, 105, 11 535–11 545.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aneja, V.P., Bunton, B., Walker, J.T. Malik, B.P. 2001. Measurement and analysis of atmospheric ammonia emissions from anaerobic lagoons. Atmospheric Environment, 35, 1949–1958.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beyer, L. Bölter, M. 2000. Chemical and biological properties, formation, occurrence and classification of Spodic Cryosols in a terrestrial ecosystem of East Antarctica (Wilkes Land). Catena, 39, 95–119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blackall, T.D., Wilson, L.J., Bull, J., Theoblad, M.R., Bacon, P.J., Hamer, K.C., Wanless, S. Sutton, M.A. 2008. Temporal variation in atmospheric ammonia concentrations above seabird colonies. Atmospheric Environment, 42, 6942–6950.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blackall, T.D., Wilson, L.J., Theobald, M.R., Milford, C., Nemitz, E., Jennifer, B., Philip, J.B., Keith, C.H., Sarah, W. Mark, A.S. 2007. Ammonia emissions from seabird colonies. Geophysical Research Letters, 34, 10.1029/2006GL028928.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blunden, J. Aneja, V.P. 2008. Characterizing ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emissions from a swine waste treatment lagoon in North Carolina. Atmospheric Environment, 42, 3277–3290.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bockheim, J.G. Ugolini, F.C. 1990. A review of pedogenic zonation in the well drained soils of the south circumpolar region. Quaternary Research, 34, 47–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bouwman, A.F., van Vuuren, D.P., Derwent, R.G. Posch, M. 2002. A global analysis of acidification and eutrophication of terrestrial ecosystems. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 141, 349–382.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bouwman, A.F., Lee, D.S., Asman, W.A.H., Dentener, F.J., van Der Hoek, K.W. Oliver, J.G.J. 1997. A global high-resolution emission inventory for ammonia. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 11, 561–587.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boyd, W.L. Boyd, J.W. 1963. Soils microorganisms of the McMurdo Sound area, Antarctica. Applied Microbiology, 11, 116–121.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Campbell, I.B. Claridge, G.G.C. 1987. Antarctica: soils, weathering processes and environment. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 368 pp.Google Scholar
Cannone, N., Wagner, D., Hubberten, H.W. Guglielmin, M. 2008. Biotic and abiotic factors influencing soil properties across a latitudinal gradient in Victoria Land, Antarctica. Geoderma, 144, 50–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chadwick, D.R. 2005. Emissions of ammonia, nitrous oxide and methane from cattle manure heaps: effect of compaction and covering. Atmospheric Environment, 39, 787–799.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dasgupta, P.K. Dong, S. 1986. Solubility of ammonia in liquid water and generation of trace levels of standard gaseous ammonia. Atmospheric Environment, 20, 565–570.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dewes, T. 1996. Effect of pH, temperature, amount of litter and storage density on ammonia emissions from stable manure. Journal of Agricultural Science, 127, 501–509.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duplessis, M.C.F. Kroontje, W. 1964. The relationship between pH and ammonia equilibrium in soil. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 28, 751–754.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fangmeier, A., Hadwinger-Fangmeier, A., van der Eerden, L. Jäger, H.J. 1994. Effects of atmospheric ammonia on vegetation - a review. Environmental Pollution, 86, 43–82.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Heine, J.C. Speir, T.W. 1989. Ornithogenic soils of the Cape Bird Adélie penguin rookeries, Antarctica. Polar Biology, 10, 89–99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hofstee, E.H., Balks, M.R., Petchey, F. Campbell, D.I. 2006. Soils of Seabee Hook, Cape Hallett, northern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Antarctic Science, 18, 473–486.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ibusuki, T. Aneja, V.P. 1984. Mass transfer of NH3 into water at environmental concentrations. Chemical Engineering Science, 39, 1143–1155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kissel, D.E., Brewer, H.L. Arkin, G.F. 1977. Design and test of a sampler for ammonia volatilization. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 42, 1133–1138.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koponen, H.T., Jaakkola, T., Keinänen-Toivola, M.M., Kaipainena, S., Tuomainen, J., Servomaa, K. Martikainen, P.J. 2006. Microbial communities, biomass, and activities in soils as affected by freeze thaw cycles. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 38, 1861–1871.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Legrand, M., Ducroz, F., Wagenbach, D., Mulvaney, R. Hall, J. 1998. Ammonium in coastal Antarctic aerosol and snow: role of polar ocean and penguin emissions. Journal of Geophysical Research, 103, 11 043–11 056.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lindeboom, H.J. 1984. The nitrogen pathway in a penguin rookery. Ecology, 65, 269–277.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McCalley, C.K. Sparks, J.P. 2008. Controls over nitric oxide and ammonia emissions soils in potato production regions. Water Air Soil Pollution, 183, 115–127.Google Scholar
Michel, R.F.M., Schaefer, C.E.G.R., Dias, L., Simas, F.N.B., Benites, V. Mendonça, E.S. 2006. Ornithogenic Gelisols (Cryosols) from maritime Antarctica: pedogenesis, vegetation and carbon studies. Soil Science Society of American Journal, 70, 1370–1376.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mizutani, H. Wada, E. 1988. Nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios in seabird rookeries and their ecological implications. Ecology, 69, 340–349.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nyord, T., Schelde, K.M., Søgaard, H.T., Jensen, L.S. Sommer, S.G. 2008. A simple model for assessing ammonia emission from ammoniacal fertilisers as affected by pH and injection into soil. Atmospheric Environment, 42, 4656–4664.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Porazinska, D.L., Wall, D.H. Virginia, R.A. 2002. Invertebrates in ornithogenic soils on Ross Island, Antarctica. Polar Biology, 25, 569–574.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Premié, A. Christensen, S. 2001. Natural perturbations, drying-wetting and freezing-thawing cycles, and the emissions of nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and methane from farmed organic soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 33, 2083–2091.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ramsay, A.J. Stannard, R.E. 1986. Numbers and viability of bacteria in ornithogenic soils of Antarctica. Polar Biology, 5, 195–198.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roelle, P.A. Aneja, V.P. 2002. Characterization of ammonia emissions from soils in the upper coastal plain, North Carolina. Atmospheric Environment, 36, 1087–1097.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schaefer, C.E.G.R., Simas, F.N.B., Gilkes, R.J., Mathison, C., da Costa, L.M. Albuquerque, M.A. 2008. Micromorphology and microchemistry of selected Cryosols from maritime Antarctica. Geoderma, 144, 104–115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schimel, J.P. Clein, J.S. 1996. Microbial response to freeze-thaw cycles in tundra and taiga soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 28, 1061–1066.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seppelt, R.D., Broady, P.A., Pickard, J. Adamson, D.A. 1988. Plants and landscape in the Vestfold Hills, Antarctica. Hydrobiologia, 165, 185–196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simas, F.N.B., Schaefer, C.E.G.R., Filho, M.R.A., Francelino, M.R., Filho, E.I.F. da Costa, L.M. 2008. Genesis, properties and classification of Cryosols from Admiralty Bay, maritime Antarctica. Geoderma, 144, 116–122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simas, F.N.B., Schaefer, C.E.G.R., Melo, V.F., Albuquerque-Filho, M.R.A., Michel, R.F.M., Pereira, V.V., Gomes, M.R.M. Da Costa, L.M. 2007. Ornithogenic Cryosols from maritime Antarctica: phosphatization as a soil forming process. Geoderma, 138, 191–203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sommer, S.G. 1997. Ammonia volatilization from farm tanks containing anaerobically digested animal slurry. Atmosphenc Environment, 31, 863–868.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Speir, T.W. Cowling, J.C. 1984. Ornithogenic soils of the Cape Bird Adélie penguin rookeries, Antarctica. 1. Chemical properties. Polar Biology, 2, 199–205.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Speir, T.W. Ross, D.J. 1984. Ornithogenic soils of the Cape Bird Adélie penguin rookeries, Antarctica. 2. Ammonia evolution and enzyme activities. Polar Biology, 2, 207–212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sun, L.G., Zhu, R.B., Xie, Z.Q. Xing, G.X. 2002. Emissions of nitrous oxide and methane from Antarctic tundra: role of penguin dropping deposition. Atmospheric Environment, 36, 4977–4982.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sun, L.G., Liu, X.D., Yin, X.B., Zhu, R.B., Xie, Z.Q. Wang, Y.H. 2004a. A 1,500-year record of Antarctic seal population in response to climate change. Polar Biology, 27, 495–501.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sun, L.G., Zhu, R.B., Yin, X.B., Liu, X.D., Xie, Z.Q. Wang, Y.H. 2004b. A geochemical method for the reconstruction of the occupation history of a penguin colony in the maritime Antarctic. Polar Biology, 27, 670–678.Google Scholar
Sutton, M.A., Dragosits, U., Tang, Y.S. Fowler, D. 2000. Ammonia emissions from non-agricultural sources in the UK. Atmospheric Environment, 34, 855–869.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tatur, A. 1989. Ornithogenic soils of the maritime Antarctic. Polish Polar Research, 4, 481–532.Google Scholar
Tatur, A. Myrcha, A. 2002. Ornithogenic ecosystems in the maritime Antarctic: formation, development and disintegration. Ecological Studies, 154, 161–184.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tatur, A., Myrcha, A. Niegodzisz, J. 1997. Formation of abandoned penguin rookery ecosystems in the maritime Antarctic. Polar Biology, 17, 405–417.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Teepe, R., Brumme, R. Beese, F. 2001. Nitrous oxide emissions from soil during freezing and thawing periods. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 33, 1269–1275.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Theobald, M.R., Crittenden, P.D., Hunt, A.P., Tang, Y.S., Dragosits, U. Sutton, M.A. 2006. Ammonia emissions from a Cape fur seal colony, Cape Cross, Namibia. Geophysical Research letters, 33, 10.1029/2005GL024384.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tian, G.M., Cao, J.L., Cai, Z.C. Ren, L.T. 1998. Ammonia volatilization from winter wheat field top-dressed with urea. Pedosphere, 8, 331–336.Google Scholar
Tscherko, D., Boelter, M., Beyer, L., Chen, J., Elster, J., Kandeler, E., Kuhn, D. Blume, H.P. 2003. Biomass and enzyme activity of two soil transects at King George Island, maritime Antarctica. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 35, 34–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ugolini, F.C. 1970. Antarctic soils and their ecology. In Holdgate, M.W., ed. Antarctic ecology, vol. 2. London: Academic Press, 673–692.Google Scholar
Wada, E., Shibata, R. Torii, T. 1981. 15N abundance in Antarctica: origin of soil nitrogen and ecological implications. Nature, 292, 327–329.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whitehead, D.C. Raistrick, N. 1991. Effects of some environmental factors on ammonia volatilization from simulated livestock urine applied to soil. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 11, 279–284.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whitehead, M.D. Johnstone, G.W. 1990. The distribution and estimated abundance of Adélie penguins breeding in Prydz Bay, Antarctica. Polar Biology, 3, 91–98.Google Scholar
Wilson, L.J., Bacon, P.J., Bull, J., Dragosits, U., Blackall, T.D., Dunn, T.E., Hamer, K.C., Sutton, M.A. Wanless, S. 2004. Modelling the spatial distribution of ammonia emissions from seabirds in the UK. Environmental Pollution, 131, 173–185.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zhu, R.B., Liu, Y.S., Ma, E.D., Sun, J.J., Xu, H. Sun, L.G. 2009. Greenhouse gas emissions from penguin guanos and ornithogenic soils in coastal Antarctica: effects of freezing–thawing cycles. Atmospheric Environment, 43, 2336–2347.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhu, R.B., Liu, Y.S., Xu, H., Ma, J., Zhao, S.P. Sun, L.G. 2008. Nitrous oxide emission from sea animal colonies in the maritime Antarctic. Geophysical Research Letters, 35, 10.1029/2007GL032541.CrossRefGoogle Scholar