NITROGEN CYCLING AND CONTROLS ON DENITRIFICATION IN MESOHALINE SEDIMENTS OF CHESAPEAKE BAY
NITROGEN CYCLING AND CONTROLS ON DENITRIFICATION IN MESOHALINE SEDIMENTS OF CHESAPEAKE BAY
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Date
2009
Authors
Owens, Michael Sean
Advisor
Cornwell, Jeffrey C
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Abstract
Nitrogen is a key nutrient in the eutrophication of coastal and estuarine systems. In shallow water systems, sediment recycling can be an important source of nutrients for phytoplankton growth. The balance between nitrogen recycling and denitrification regulates the importance of sediments as a nitrogen source. To assess controls on denitrification, we conducted intensive seasonal measurements of sediment water exchange and denitrification using sediment core incubations. Peak rates of denitrification were observed in fall and spring (>100 μmol N<sub2</sub>-N m<super>-2</super> h<super-1</super>) followed by a decrease to 10 μmol N m<super>-2</super> h<super-1</super> in summer. Although denitrification rates were stimulated by labile organic carbon additions from the water column, the overall efficiency of the process sharply declined as temperature increased and bottom water O<sub>2</sub> declined. Macrofauna activity was shown to enhance sediment transport of O<sub>2</sub> by >5 fold, increase organic matter decomposition and maintain a high rate of denitrification efficiency.