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Journal article
The contribution of benthic nutrient regeneration to primary production in a shallow eutrophic estuary, Weeks Bay, Alabama
Estuaries and Coasts, Vol.35(3), pp.862-877
35
2012
Web of Science ID: WOS:000302481200014
Abstract
Benthic oxygen, dinitrogen, and nutrient fluxes (NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻, and PO₄⁻³) were measured monthly during a 1-year period at two locations in Weeks Bay, a shallow (1.4 m) and eutrophic estuary in Alabama. Gross primary productivity (GPP), ecosystem respiration (R), and net ecosystem metabolism were determined from high-frequency dissolved oxygen measurements. Peak water column NO₃⁻ (55 μM) and chlorophyll a (138 μg/l) concentrations were measured during spring and fall, respectively. Sediments were a net source of NH₄⁺
(102 μmol m⁻² h⁻¹) and PO₄⁻³ (0.9 μmol m⁻² h⁻¹) but a sink for NO₃⁻ (−30 μmol m⁻² h⁻¹). Benthic N₂ fluxes indicated net N fixation (12 μmol N m⁻² h⁻¹). Sediment oxygen demand (0.55 g O₂ m⁻² h⁻¹) accounted for <10% of R (7.3 g O₂ m⁻² h⁻¹). Despite high
GPP rates (4.7 g O₂ m⁻² h⁻¹), the estuary was net heterotrophic. Benthic regeneration supplied, on average, 7.5% and 4% of primary productivity N and P demands, respectively. These results contrast with the conventional view that benthic regeneration accounts for a large fraction of phytoplankton nutrient demand in shallow estuaries.
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Details
- Title
- The contribution of benthic nutrient regeneration to primary production in a shallow eutrophic estuary, Weeks Bay, Alabama
- Publication Details
- Estuaries and Coasts, Vol.35(3), pp.862-877
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Estuarine Research Federation; Port Republic, Md
- Series
- 35
- Copyright
- Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation 2012
- Identifiers
- WOS:000302481200014; 99380090339106600
- Academic Unit
- Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation ; Biology; Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English