Flax Pond ecosystem study: exchanges of inorganic nitrogen between an estuarine marsh and Long Island Sound

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Ecology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1936606· OSTI ID:5277833

Woodwell, G M ^[1]; Hall, C A.S.; Whitney, D E; Houghton, R A

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1. Ecosystems Center, Woods Hole, MA

The concentrations of inorganic nitrogen ions were measured in the tidal water flushing Flax Pond, an estuarine marsh on the north shore of Long Island, New York, USA. The basic sampling unit was one tidal cycle during which eight subsamples were taken, four on the flood and four on the ebb. The sampling was approximately weekly during 20 mo. Concentrations of the three forms of nitrogen (nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium) varied seasonally and with the periodic occurrence of algal blooms. Concentrations were highest in winter and lowest in spring and early summer, but details of the patterns of abundance differed among the ions. There was a net discharge of nitrogen in the ammonium form from Flax Pond during summer and fall and a net input from the Sound in winter and spring. The net exchanges during 1 yr were zero for nitrite, an influx of nitrate of about 1 g N/m/sup 2/ to the marsh, and a release of about 2 g ammonium-N/m/sup 2/ into the Sound. The net total exchange was a release into Long Island Soud of approximately 1 g N/m/sup 2/ of marsh, an amount not statistically different from zero. Crude estimations of the total inorganic N-budget of Long Island Sound suggest that estuaries, precipitation, and rivers each contributed approximately equal inputs in earlier times.

• OSTI ID: 5277833
• Journal Information: Ecology; (United States), Journal Name: Ecology; (United States) Vol. 60:4; ISSN ECOLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520100* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
COASTAL WATERS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ECOLOGY
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
ESTUARIES
FLUIDS
MASS TRANSFER
NITROGEN
NITROGEN CYCLE
NONMETALS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SURFACE WATERS
VARIATIONS