Output details

Catchment source contributions to the sediment-bound organic matter degrading salmonid spawning gravels in a lowland river, southern England

Significance of output:

Identification and quantification of organic and inorganic sediment impacts on riverine and estuarine catchments is critical to the sustainability of the resident biota, particularly in the preservation of commercial fish stocks such as salmonids. Previous studies have utilised expensive procedures such as stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes as fingerprints of potential organic pollutants such as those derived from septic tanks. The novelty of this study is the use of near infrared reflectance spectra (NIR), which can be used cheaply and more extensively in catchment management, to identify source pollutant materials.