title: Benthic denitrification and organic matter mineralization in intertidal flats of an enclosed coastal inlet, Ago Bay, Japan.
abstract: Denitrification (as N(2) flux) and organic matter mineralization (as O(2) uptake) were simultaneously measured in the same set of core sediments from a natural sandy and a constructed muddy tidal flat of Ago Bay, Japan. Denitrification rates at both tidal flats fluctuated between ca. 2-20 micromol N(2)m(-2)h(-1) without showing a clear seasonal pattern, and appeared to be substrate limited as NO(3)(-) enrichment (final concentration ca. 225 microM) caused prompt and similar enhancements of ca. 10-folds. Organic matter mineralization rates were markedly higher at constructed muddy flat compared to those of natural sandy flat, especially in summer, and exhibited pronounced temperature dependent (p<0.01) seasonality for both tidal flats. O(2) uptake rates were generally ca. 2-3 order greater than respective denitrification rates indicating dominance of mineralization processes over N(2) losses.
authors.affiliation: Mie Industry and Enterprise Support Center, CREATE, Core Research Laboratory, Shima shi, Ago Cho, Ugata 3098-9, Mie, Japan. patel@miesc.or.jp
authors.forename: Arun Bhai
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006812:Humic Substances; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000502:physiology; D007564:Japan; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D011156:Population Density; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014872:Water Movements
chemical_list: D006812:Humic Substances; D009566:Nitrates; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D009584:Nitrogen; C023844:potassium nitrate; D010100:Oxygen