Eutrophication and the rate of denitrification and N/sub 2/O production in coastal marine sediments

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1985 · Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1985.30.6.1332· OSTI ID:5418332

Seitzinger, S P; Nixon, S W

Large (13 m/sup 3/, 5 m deep) microcosms with coupled pelagic and benthic components were used to measure the effect of nutrient loading and eutrophication in coastal marine ecosystems on the rates of benthic denitrification (N/sub 2/) and N/sub 2/O production. After 3 months or daily nutrient addition, average denitrification rates ranged from about 300 ..mu..mol N m/sup -2/ h/sup -1/ in the sediments of the control microcosm to 880 in the most enriched microcosm, which received 65 times the nutrient input of the control. Increases in the production of N/sub 2/O were more dramatic and increased by a factor of about 100, from 0.56 ..mu..mol N m/sup -2/ h/sup -1/ in the control to 51 in the most enriched microcosm. Although there was a clear increase in the denitrification rate in the more eutrophic systems, the amount of fixed nitrogen removed was a constant or progressively smaller fraction of the nitrogen input. Even in the most enriched microcosm, at least 16% of the N input was removed by denitrification.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Rhode Island, Narragansett
• OSTI ID: 5418332
• Journal Information: Limnol. Oceanogr.; (United States), Vol. 30:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COASTAL WATERS
EUTROPHICATION
NITROGEN CYCLE
DENITRIFICATION
MARINE DISPOSAL
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
SEAWATER
SEDIMENTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MANAGEMENT
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)