This study used an energy budget approach to record changes in the biology of the Antarctic sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri in relation to environmental seasonality (i. e changes in chlorophyll standing stock and seawater temperature) over an unbroken two year period. Chlorophyll standing stock showed a brief but intense bloom each austral summer which contrasted with prolonged winter minima. Benthic chlorophyll standing stock, as recorded from sediment cores showed a similar cycle. Seawater temperature varied between -1.8°C and +1.2°C. Feeding activity was highly seasonal and closely correlated to chlorophyll standing stock. Feeding ceased during the austral winter of 1997 and 1998 for 6 and 4 months respectively. Metabolism, as measured by oxygen consumption and also ammonia excretion showed strong seasonality, with relatively brief 3 to 4 month periods of elevated activity in the austral summer contrasting with prolonged winter dormancy. Laboratory studies indicated that only 10-15% of the 3 fold seasonal rise in metabolism was caused directly by temperature (Q10=2.5) and that 80- 85% was related to increased physiological activity associated with feeding. Growth rate was measured over one year and was very slow. Comparison with other studies indicated that echinoid growth rate is strongly dependent on food availability, but that maximal growth rate is limited by seawater temperature, or by a co-varying factor. S. neumayeri is an annual spawner and histology was used to describe both the vitellogenic cycle and also to calculate reproductive output. Comparison with other published studies worldwide indicated that reproductive output is highly dependent on food availability, and that maximal reproductive output is not limited by temperature. Although the overall P: B ratio was low, the ratio of reproductive production to total production was higher than expected. These results indicated that due to the low metabolic rate only 12-16% of total body energy levels were used to endure the prolonged non-feeding polar winter. The overall annual growth efficiency was greater than for warmer water species, due to the larger relative contribution to reproductive output.

Seagrass ecosystems are intense carbon sinks, but they can also emit greenhouse gases (GHG), such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), to the atmosphere. Yet, GHG emissions by seagrasses are not considered when estimating global CH4 production rates by natural sources, although these estimations will help predict future scenarios and potential changes in CH4 emissions. In addition, the effect of warming on GHG emissions by seagrasses has not yet been reported. The present study aims to assess the CO2 and CH4 production rates by vegetated and adjacent bare sediment of a monospecific seagrass meadow (Halophila stipulacea) located in the central Red Sea. We measured CH4 and CO2 fluxes and their isotopic signatures by cavity ringdown spectroscopy on chambers containing vegetated and bare sediment. The fluxes were measured at temperatures from 25 °C (winter seawater temperature) to 37 °C to cover the natural thermal range and future seawater temperatures in the Red Sea. Additional parameters analyzed included changes in the sediment microbial community composition, sediment organic matter, organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentration. We detected up to 100-fold higher CH4 (up tp 571.65 µmol CH4 m−2 d−1) and up to six-fold higher CO2 (up to 13,930.18 µmol CO2 m−2 d−1) fluxes in vegetated sediment compared to bare sediment, and an increase in CH4 and CO2 production with increasing temperature. In contrast, CH4 and CO2 production rates decreased in communities that were maintained at 25 °C, while communities that were exposed to prolonged darkness showed a decrease in CH4 and an increase in CO2 production rates. However, only minor changes were seen in the microbial community composition with increasing temperatures. These results show that GHG emissions by seagrasses might be affected by natural temperature extremes and warming due to climate change in the Red Sea. The findings will have critical implications for the estimation of natural GHG sources, especially when predicting future changes in the global CH4 budget.

The main source of water vapor in the terrestrial climatic system is in the oceans. Warm waters favor the evaporation processes and air vertical movements, while cold waters brings decrements of the processes and the air remains stratified.Much research has been made to show the importance of the atmosphere-ocean interaction in generating the atmospheric fluctuations responsible for the rains and droughts on the continents. Northwestern Argentina is closer to the Pacific Ocean than the Atlantic. However, mostwater vapor comes from the latter due to the orographic conditions: there are mountain chains that affect significantly the regional climate, especially the geographic distribution of rainfall. In this paper I want to investigate the influence of thermic fluctuations of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans surface waters in rainfall variation. To do this, I used monthly data of the thermic anomalies in the coastal stations: Lima, Río de Janeiro, and Rio Gallegos in the period 1951-1980. It was also considered the regional drought index of that period. A contingency and correlation analysis was used for each month per year, the month in itself (diagnostic) and six months before (prognostic) between the drought index of the NOA (IS) with the thermic indexes of the Pacific and Atlantic continental borderlands in two latitudes: tropical and sub-polar.It was found that the regional droughts of the NOA are related mainly to the thermic negative anomalies of the coastal oceanic waters. / La principal fuente de vapor de agua del sistema climático terrestre se encuentra en las superficies oceánicas. Las aguas cálidas favorecen los procesos de evaporación y ascensos de aire, mientras que con las frías decrece este proceso y el aire superficial se estratifica. Numerosas investigaciones se realizaron para demostrar la importancia de la interacción atmósfera-océano en la generación de fluctuaciones atmosféricas que darían lugar a períodos de lluvias o sequías sobre los continentes.Por su posición geográfica el Noroeste Argentino (NOA) se encuentra más cerca del océano Pacífico que del Atlántico. Sin embargo, recibe de este último el principal aporte de vapor de agua, pues la configuración del relieve no ofrece obstáculos para la llegada del mismo a la región; en cambio está aislada del océano Pacífico por la Cordillera de los Andes Occidentales, que a esta latitud muestra una configuración compacta. Una impronta de la región del NOA es la presencia de cordones montañosos, que influyen en forma decisiva en el clima regional, específicamente en la distribución espacial de las precipitaciones. Uno de los papeles que les toca desempeñar es el de inducir a las masas de aire a elevarse por efecto orográfico, obligándolas a ascender.En este trabajo se quiere averiguar la influencia que ejercen sobre la variación de las precipitaciones, en una región mediterránea como la del NOA, las fluctuaciones térmicas de lasaguas superficiales de los flancos oceánicos atlántico y pacífico. Fueron utilizados datos mensuales de las anomalías térmicas de las estaciones costeras: Lima, Río de Janeiro y Río Gallegos como indicadoras de las temperaturas del mar adyacente, correspondiente al período 1951-1980. También se consideró el índice de sequía regional para igual período.Fueron empleados análisis de contingencia y correlación para cada mes del año, del mes consigo mismo (diagnóstico) y seis meses hacia atrás (pronóstico) entre el índice de sequía del NOA (IS) con los índices térmicos del borde continental pacífico y atlántico, este último en dos latitudes, tropical y subpolar.Se ha encontrado que las sequías regionales del NOA se relacionan preferentemente con anomalías térmicas negativas de las aguas oceánicas costeras.

Among many seawater desalination processes, the multistage flash (MSF) desalination process is a major source of fresh water around the world. The most costly design and operation problem in seawater desalination is due to scale formation and corrosion problems. Fouling factor is one of the many important parameters that affect the operation of MSF processes. This thesis therefore focuses on determining the optimal design and operation strategy of MSF desalinations processes under fouling which will meet variable demand of freshwater. First, a steady state model of MSF is developed based on the basic laws of mass balance, energy balance, and heat transfer equations with supporting correlations for physical properties. gPROMS software is used to develop the model which is validated against the results reported in the literature. The model is then used in further investigations. Based on actual plant data, a simple dynamic fouling factor profile is developed which allows calculation of fouling factor at different time (season of the year). The role of changing brine heater fouling factor with varying seawater temperatures (during the year) on the plant performance and the monthly operating costs for fixed water demand and fixed top brine temperature are then studied. The total monthly operation cost of the process are minimised while the operating parameters such as make up, brine recycle flow rate and steam temperature are optimised. It was found that the seasonal variation in seawater temperature and brine heater fouling factor results in significant variations in the operating parameters and operating costs. The design and operation of the MSF process are optimized in order to meet variable demands of freshwater with changing seawater temperature throughout the day and throughout the year. On the basis of actual data, the neural network (NN) technique has been used to develop a correlation for calculating dynamic freshwater demand/consumption profiles at different times of the day and season. Also, a simple polynomial based dynamic seawater temperature correlation is developed based on actual data. An intermediate storage tank between the plant and the client is considered. The MSF process model developed earlier is coupled with the dynamic model for the storage tank and is incorporated into the optimization framework within gPROMS. Four main seasons are considered in a year and for each season, with variable freshwater demand and seawater temperature, the operating parameters are optimized at discrete time intervals, while minimizing the total daily costs. The intermediate storage tank adds flexible scheduling and maintenance opportunity of individual flash stages and makes it possible to meet variable freshwater demand with varying seawater temperatures without interrupting or fully shutting down the plant at any-time during the day and for any season. Finally, the purity of freshwater coming from MSF desalination plants is very important when the water is used for industrial services such as feed of boiler to produce steam. In this work, for fixed water demand and top brine temperature, the effect of separation efficiency of demister with seasonal variation of seawater temperatures on the final purity of freshwater for both cleaned and fouled demister conditions is studied. It was found that the purity of freshwater is affected by the total number of stages. Also to maintain the purity of freshwater product, comparatively large number of flash stage is required for fouled demister.

Yes / Scale formation of carbonates and sulphates is one of the most well-known types of crystallization fouling in heat exchangers. Tackling crystallization fouling in Once-Through Multistage Flash Desalination (MSF-OT) is one of the most challenging tasks in the desalination industry. In this paper, a fouling model is developed and then incorporated into a MSF model to investigate the fouling behaviour under variable seawater temperature. The proposed dynamic model investigates the crystallization of calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide at the inside tube surface areas by considering the attachment and removal mechanisms. The results show that the fouling rate is higher at high constant seawater temperature. Overall, the fouling rate is lower at the seasonal variation of the seawater temperature, resulting in a higher performance ratio (PR). The results also show that although the brine heater duty increases in winter due to low seawater temperature, the drop of fouling rate in cold months may save some energy.

Among many seawater desalination processes, the multistage flash (MSF) desalination process is a major source of fresh water around the world. The most costly design and operation problem in seawater desalination is due to scale formation and corrosion problems. Fouling factor is one of the many important parameters that affect the operation of MSF processes. This thesis therefore focuses on determining the optimal design and operation strategy of MSF desalinations processes under fouling which will meet variable demand of freshwater. First, a steady state model of MSF is developed based on the basic laws of mass balance, energy balance, and heat transfer equations with supporting correlations for physical properties. gPROMS software is used to develop the model which is validated against the results reported in the literature. The model is then used in further investigations. Based on actual plant data, a simple dynamic fouling factor profile is developed which allows calculation of fouling factor at different time (season of the year). The role of changing brine heater fouling factor with varying seawater temperatures (during the year) on the plant performance and the monthly operating costs for fixed water demand and fixed top brine temperature are then studied. The total monthly operation cost of the process are minimised while the operating parameters such as make up, brine recycle flow rate and steam temperature are optimised. It was found that the seasonal variation in seawater temperature and brine heater fouling factor results in significant variations in the operating parameters and operating costs. The design and operation of the MSF process are optimized in order to meet variable demands of freshwater with changing seawater temperature throughout the day and throughout the year. On the basis of actual data, the neural network (NN) technique has been used to develop a correlation for calculating dynamic freshwater demand/consumption profiles at different times of the day and season. Also, a simple polynomial based dynamic seawater temperature correlation is developed based on actual data. An intermediate storage tank between the plant and the client is considered. The MSF process model developed earlier is coupled with the dynamic model for the storage tank and is incorporated into the optimization framework within gPROMS. Four main seasons are considered in a year and for each season, with variable freshwater demand and seawater temperature, the operating parameters are optimized at discrete time intervals, while minimizing the total daily costs. The intermediate storage tank adds flexible scheduling and maintenance opportunity of individual flash stages and makes it possible to meet variable freshwater demand with varying seawater temperatures without interrupting or fully shutting down the plant at any-time during the day and for any season. Finally, the purity of freshwater coming from MSF desalination plants is very important when the water is used for industrial services such as feed of boiler to produce steam. In this work, for fixed water demand and top brine temperature, the effect of separation efficiency of demister with seasonal variation of seawater temperatures on the final purity of freshwater for both cleaned and fouled demister conditions is studied. It was found that the purity of freshwater is affected by the total number of stages. Also to maintain the purity of freshwater product, comparatively large number of flash stage is required for fouled demister.

no / The optimal operation policy of flexible RO systems is studied in this work. The design and operation of RO process is optimized and controlled considering variations in water demands and changing seawater temperature throughout the day. A storage tank is added to the system layout to provide additional operational flexibility and to ensure the availability of freshwater to customer at all times. A steady state model for the RO process is developed and linked with a dynamic model for the storage tank. The membrane modules are divided into a number of groups to add flexibility in operation to RO network. The total operating cost of the RO process is minimized in order to find the optimal layout and operating variables at discreet time intervals for three design scenarios. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The following research has focused on the utility of Ulva as an indicator of seawater nitrogen loading. Evaluation was made in three ways: 1) Observation of large-scale geographic variation in nitrogen status in natural populations around New Zealand in summer and winter, 2) Laboratory-based experimental assessment of the biochemical responses of N-indices in Ulva to nitrogen enrichment, and 3) Culturing standardized test-Ulva under low nutrient conditions which could be deployed into a variety of field situations. Seawater inorganic nutrient (nitrate, nitrite, ammonium and phosphate) concentrations and nitrogen (N)-indices (free amino acids, chlorophyll and total tissue nitrogen) in natural Ulva populations from 32 sites around New Zealand were compared. Sites were divided into 6 environmental categories: sheltered rural, exposed rural, rock pools, sheltered urban, exposed urban, and nitrogen-enriched urban sites. Seawater nutrient concentrations were highly variable between all sites in summer and winter. However, in the summer enriched urban sites had the highest mean total inorganic nitrogen concentrations and Ulva with the highest mean levels of all N-indices compared with any other environmental category. In the winter, Ulva contained more nitrogen (reflected in all N-indices) compared with Ulva in the summer, particularly in populations growing in colder southern seawater on more exposed coasts. The increase in Ulva N-status was not explained by increased seawater inorganic nitrogen concentrations. With univariate and multivariate statistical approaches it was shown that there was a significant effect of seawater temperature and site exposure on N-status in Ulva. Compared with other N-indices, stable nitrogen isotopes (δ15N) from Ulva growing in enriched urban sites had the widest range (4.77 ± 0.04 ‰ to 15.16 ± 0.03 ‰) of values compared with all other categories in both summer and winter. Conversely, Ulva from exposed rural sites had the lowest range of δ15N values compared with any other category (6.7 ± 0.1 to 8.8 ± 0.1 ‰) and showed no seasonal change in mean values (7.8 ‰ and 7.6 ‰ for summer and winter, respectively). In addition, δ15N values in Ulva were the only N-index that showed a significant difference between urban and rural categories. To test the relationship between inorganic nitrogen concentration in seawater and the responses of biochemical nitrogen indices in Ulva pertusa, several experiments were conducted in an outdoor, flow-through culture apparatus, in summer and winter. In this apparatus effects of ammonium concentration, nitrogen source (nitrate and ammonium), light and seawater motion were investigated. Of the same three N-indices examined in natural Ulva populations (free amino acids, chlorophyll and total tissue nitrogen), increases in free amino acids, particularly asparagine, provided the strongest indicator of increases in nitrogen availability. In addition, while tissue nitrogen and chlorophyll also increased with seawater nitrogen concentration, it was apparent that these indices were also strongly influenced by light, and probably season. Rates of ammonium assimilation provided no overall measure of the availability of nitrogen in seawater and were clearly affected by season. Similarly, growth rates in Ulva only showed a response to nitrogen addition in summer months. Stable isotopes of nitrogen (δ15N) in Ulva provided a clear distinction between natural and synthetic nitrogen sources, but more importantly, showed only minor fractionation (ranging from 1.3 ‰ to -1.9 ‰) of 15N supplied from synthetic nitrate and ammonium under both light-saturating and light-limiting conditions. To further develop Ulva as a standardized test-organism it was cultured in low-nutrient (non-polluted) seawater to deplete internal storage pools of nitrogen. Each month the resulting test-Ulva was then placed in surface-moored growth enclosures at a range of coastal sites around Auckland and then monitored for one year. In winter there were increases in seawater inorganic nitrogen concentrations and concomitant increases in free amino acid content. However, tissue nitrogen and chlorophyll content in test-Ulva showed similar increases (possibly saturating) across all sites suggesting that seasonal increases in these N-indices were also due to other seasonal factors (e.g., surface irradiance and / or seawater temperature). On the other hand, the total free amino acid pool showed strong differences between a low-nitrogen reference site and the other study sites all year round. It was probable that test-Ulva was integrating differences in tidally-averaged nitrogen loading that were not reliably detected in instantaneous seawater samples. In addition to N-indices in test-Ulva, levels of tissue heavy metals and stable isotopes of nitrogen showed strong differences with higher values of both typically found in urban environments compared with values found in non-polluted reference sites. It is concluded that several abiotic and biotic factors affect nitrogen status in Ulva, but the average nitrogen concentration in seawater, and the physical factors of temperature, light and water motion, appear to be the overarching determinants. It is further suggested that in combination with Ulva tissue δ15N values, tissue nitrogen and the free amino acid pool, as quantitative biochemical measures of nitrogen availability, are likely to provide useful information on both the amount and composition of nitrogen entering coastal environments. / Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. Auckland Regional Council.

The following research has focused on the utility of Ulva as an indicator of seawater nitrogen loading. Evaluation was made in three ways: 1) Observation of large-scale geographic variation in nitrogen status in natural populations around New Zealand in summer and winter, 2) Laboratory-based experimental assessment of the biochemical responses of N-indices in Ulva to nitrogen enrichment, and 3) Culturing standardized test-Ulva under low nutrient conditions which could be deployed into a variety of field situations. Seawater inorganic nutrient (nitrate, nitrite, ammonium and phosphate) concentrations and nitrogen (N)-indices (free amino acids, chlorophyll and total tissue nitrogen) in natural Ulva populations from 32 sites around New Zealand were compared. Sites were divided into 6 environmental categories: sheltered rural, exposed rural, rock pools, sheltered urban, exposed urban, and nitrogen-enriched urban sites. Seawater nutrient concentrations were highly variable between all sites in summer and winter. However, in the summer enriched urban sites had the highest mean total inorganic nitrogen concentrations and Ulva with the highest mean levels of all N-indices compared with any other environmental category. In the winter, Ulva contained more nitrogen (reflected in all N-indices) compared with Ulva in the summer, particularly in populations growing in colder southern seawater on more exposed coasts. The increase in Ulva N-status was not explained by increased seawater inorganic nitrogen concentrations. With univariate and multivariate statistical approaches it was shown that there was a significant effect of seawater temperature and site exposure on N-status in Ulva. Compared with other N-indices, stable nitrogen isotopes (δ15N) from Ulva growing in enriched urban sites had the widest range (4.77 ± 0.04 ‰ to 15.16 ± 0.03 ‰) of values compared with all other categories in both summer and winter. Conversely, Ulva from exposed rural sites had the lowest range of δ15N values compared with any other category (6.7 ± 0.1 to 8.8 ± 0.1 ‰) and showed no seasonal change in mean values (7.8 ‰ and 7.6 ‰ for summer and winter, respectively). In addition, δ15N values in Ulva were the only N-index that showed a significant difference between urban and rural categories. To test the relationship between inorganic nitrogen concentration in seawater and the responses of biochemical nitrogen indices in Ulva pertusa, several experiments were conducted in an outdoor, flow-through culture apparatus, in summer and winter. In this apparatus effects of ammonium concentration, nitrogen source (nitrate and ammonium), light and seawater motion were investigated. Of the same three N-indices examined in natural Ulva populations (free amino acids, chlorophyll and total tissue nitrogen), increases in free amino acids, particularly asparagine, provided the strongest indicator of increases in nitrogen availability. In addition, while tissue nitrogen and chlorophyll also increased with seawater nitrogen concentration, it was apparent that these indices were also strongly influenced by light, and probably season. Rates of ammonium assimilation provided no overall measure of the availability of nitrogen in seawater and were clearly affected by season. Similarly, growth rates in Ulva only showed a response to nitrogen addition in summer months. Stable isotopes of nitrogen (δ15N) in Ulva provided a clear distinction between natural and synthetic nitrogen sources, but more importantly, showed only minor fractionation (ranging from 1.3 ‰ to -1.9 ‰) of 15N supplied from synthetic nitrate and ammonium under both light-saturating and light-limiting conditions. To further develop Ulva as a standardized test-organism it was cultured in low-nutrient (non-polluted) seawater to deplete internal storage pools of nitrogen. Each month the resulting test-Ulva was then placed in surface-moored growth enclosures at a range of coastal sites around Auckland and then monitored for one year. In winter there were increases in seawater inorganic nitrogen concentrations and concomitant increases in free amino acid content. However, tissue nitrogen and chlorophyll content in test-Ulva showed similar increases (possibly saturating) across all sites suggesting that seasonal increases in these N-indices were also due to other seasonal factors (e.g., surface irradiance and / or seawater temperature). On the other hand, the total free amino acid pool showed strong differences between a low-nitrogen reference site and the other study sites all year round. It was probable that test-Ulva was integrating differences in tidally-averaged nitrogen loading that were not reliably detected in instantaneous seawater samples. In addition to N-indices in test-Ulva, levels of tissue heavy metals and stable isotopes of nitrogen showed strong differences with higher values of both typically found in urban environments compared with values found in non-polluted reference sites. It is concluded that several abiotic and biotic factors affect nitrogen status in Ulva, but the average nitrogen concentration in seawater, and the physical factors of temperature, light and water motion, appear to be the overarching determinants. It is further suggested that in combination with Ulva tissue δ15N values, tissue nitrogen and the free amino acid pool, as quantitative biochemical measures of nitrogen availability, are likely to provide useful information on both the amount and composition of nitrogen entering coastal environments. / Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. Auckland Regional Council.

The following research has focused on the utility of Ulva as an indicator of seawater nitrogen loading. Evaluation was made in three ways: 1) Observation of large-scale geographic variation in nitrogen status in natural populations around New Zealand in summer and winter, 2) Laboratory-based experimental assessment of the biochemical responses of N-indices in Ulva to nitrogen enrichment, and 3) Culturing standardized test-Ulva under low nutrient conditions which could be deployed into a variety of field situations. Seawater inorganic nutrient (nitrate, nitrite, ammonium and phosphate) concentrations and nitrogen (N)-indices (free amino acids, chlorophyll and total tissue nitrogen) in natural Ulva populations from 32 sites around New Zealand were compared. Sites were divided into 6 environmental categories: sheltered rural, exposed rural, rock pools, sheltered urban, exposed urban, and nitrogen-enriched urban sites. Seawater nutrient concentrations were highly variable between all sites in summer and winter. However, in the summer enriched urban sites had the highest mean total inorganic nitrogen concentrations and Ulva with the highest mean levels of all N-indices compared with any other environmental category. In the winter, Ulva contained more nitrogen (reflected in all N-indices) compared with Ulva in the summer, particularly in populations growing in colder southern seawater on more exposed coasts. The increase in Ulva N-status was not explained by increased seawater inorganic nitrogen concentrations. With univariate and multivariate statistical approaches it was shown that there was a significant effect of seawater temperature and site exposure on N-status in Ulva. Compared with other N-indices, stable nitrogen isotopes (δ15N) from Ulva growing in enriched urban sites had the widest range (4.77 ± 0.04 ‰ to 15.16 ± 0.03 ‰) of values compared with all other categories in both summer and winter. Conversely, Ulva from exposed rural sites had the lowest range of δ15N values compared with any other category (6.7 ± 0.1 to 8.8 ± 0.1 ‰) and showed no seasonal change in mean values (7.8 ‰ and 7.6 ‰ for summer and winter, respectively). In addition, δ15N values in Ulva were the only N-index that showed a significant difference between urban and rural categories. To test the relationship between inorganic nitrogen concentration in seawater and the responses of biochemical nitrogen indices in Ulva pertusa, several experiments were conducted in an outdoor, flow-through culture apparatus, in summer and winter. In this apparatus effects of ammonium concentration, nitrogen source (nitrate and ammonium), light and seawater motion were investigated. Of the same three N-indices examined in natural Ulva populations (free amino acids, chlorophyll and total tissue nitrogen), increases in free amino acids, particularly asparagine, provided the strongest indicator of increases in nitrogen availability. In addition, while tissue nitrogen and chlorophyll also increased with seawater nitrogen concentration, it was apparent that these indices were also strongly influenced by light, and probably season. Rates of ammonium assimilation provided no overall measure of the availability of nitrogen in seawater and were clearly affected by season. Similarly, growth rates in Ulva only showed a response to nitrogen addition in summer months. Stable isotopes of nitrogen (δ15N) in Ulva provided a clear distinction between natural and synthetic nitrogen sources, but more importantly, showed only minor fractionation (ranging from 1.3 ‰ to -1.9 ‰) of 15N supplied from synthetic nitrate and ammonium under both light-saturating and light-limiting conditions. To further develop Ulva as a standardized test-organism it was cultured in low-nutrient (non-polluted) seawater to deplete internal storage pools of nitrogen. Each month the resulting test-Ulva was then placed in surface-moored growth enclosures at a range of coastal sites around Auckland and then monitored for one year. In winter there were increases in seawater inorganic nitrogen concentrations and concomitant increases in free amino acid content. However, tissue nitrogen and chlorophyll content in test-Ulva showed similar increases (possibly saturating) across all sites suggesting that seasonal increases in these N-indices were also due to other seasonal factors (e.g., surface irradiance and / or seawater temperature). On the other hand, the total free amino acid pool showed strong differences between a low-nitrogen reference site and the other study sites all year round. It was probable that test-Ulva was integrating differences in tidally-averaged nitrogen loading that were not reliably detected in instantaneous seawater samples. In addition to N-indices in test-Ulva, levels of tissue heavy metals and stable isotopes of nitrogen showed strong differences with higher values of both typically found in urban environments compared with values found in non-polluted reference sites. It is concluded that several abiotic and biotic factors affect nitrogen status in Ulva, but the average nitrogen concentration in seawater, and the physical factors of temperature, light and water motion, appear to be the overarching determinants. It is further suggested that in combination with Ulva tissue δ15N values, tissue nitrogen and the free amino acid pool, as quantitative biochemical measures of nitrogen availability, are likely to provide useful information on both the amount and composition of nitrogen entering coastal environments. / Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. Auckland Regional Council.