NUTRIENT FLUX AND BUDGET IN PATOS LAGOON ESTUARY

Numerous studies of nutrient cycling in estuarine systems have been co nducted, although few have addressed estuaries of major coastal lagoon al systems. This paper describes studies of nutrient input and cycling within such a system. The aim of the present study was to describe th e transport of nutrients to the Patos-Mirim estuary and to evaluate th e general movement of nutrients in the estuarine region, using a mass balance approach. The annual nutrient budget indicates that this syste m has more dissolved nitrogen (DIN), phosphorous (DIP) and silicate th an can be explained by inputs associated with freshwater (i.e. dissolv ed and particulate). Much of the excess of DIN and DIP appear to be ex plained by anthropogenic inputs mainly associated with fertilizer manu facture.