Benthic denitrification and organic matter mineralization in intertidal flats of an enclosed coastal inlet, Ago Bay, Japan.
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.
Patel
Arun Bhai
AB
Mie Industry and Enterprise Support Center, CREATE, Core Research Laboratory, Shima shi, Ago Cho, Ugata 3098-9, Mie, Japan. patel@miesc.or.jp
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
D006812:Humic Substances; D009566:Nitrates; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D009584:Nitrogen; C023844:potassium nitrate; D010100:Oxygen