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Controls on nitrogen loss processes in Chesapeake Bay sediments.

Andrew R Babbin1, Bess B Ward

  • 1Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Guyot Hall, Washington Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA. babbin@princeton.edu

Environmental Science & Technology
|March 9, 2013
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Summary

Estuarine sediments rapidly process organic matter, leading to nitrogen loss through denitrification and anammox. Microbial communities adapt quickly, buffering marine systems against increased nitrogen loading.

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Published on: October 7, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Marine microbial ecology
  • Biogeochemical cycles
  • Estuarine processes

Background:

  • Anthropogenic nitrogen loading increases fixed nitrogen flux into marine environments.
  • Controls on nitrogen removal mechanisms in response to increased supply are not well understood.
  • Estuarine sediments play a critical role in nutrient cycling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the fate of fixed nitrogen during organic matter decomposition in estuarine sediments.
  • To quantify nitrogen loss via denitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox).
  • To understand the microbial response to organic matter amendments and its impact on nitrogen cycling.

Main Methods:

  • Simulated organic matter (OM) settling events in mesocosms with Chesapeake Bay sediments.
  • Seven-week incubation to monitor microbial transformation of OM and nitrogen loss.
  • Inverse least-squares analysis coupled with a Michaelis-Menten model to estimate nitrogen transformation rates.
  • Measurement of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations.

Main Results:

  • Microbial communities rapidly transformed OM, leading to nitrogen loss via denitrification and anammox.
  • Estuarine sediments demonstrated a buffering capacity against sudden organic material injections.
  • While higher OM loads increased nitrogen transformation rates, the percentage of nitrogen lost via anammox remained constant (44.3 ± 0.3%).
  • Stoichiometry of OM and allochthonous ammonium supply influenced the relative contributions of anammox and denitrification.

Conclusions:

  • Estuarine sediments are crucial in regulating nitrogen loss, with anammox consistently contributing a significant portion.
  • Microbial community dynamics and substrate stoichiometry are key factors controlling nitrogen removal pathways.
  • In situ thermodynamics influence the timing and favorability of denitrification and anammox during organic matter remineralization.