Carbon and nitrogen cycling in intertidal sediments near Doel, Scheldt Estuary
Middelburg, J.J.; Klaver, G.; Nieuwenhuize, J.; Vlug, T. (1995). Carbon and nitrogen cycling in intertidal sediments near Doel, Scheldt Estuary. Hydrobiologia 311(1-3): 57-69. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00008571
Related to:Middelburg, J.J.; Klaver, G.; Nieuwenhuize, J.; Vlug, T. (1995). Carbon and nitrogen cycling in intertidal sediments near Doel, Scheldt Estuary, in: Heip, C.H.R. et al. Major biological processes in European tidal estuaries. Developments in Hydrobiology, 110: pp. 57-69, more
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| Keywords |
Chemical compounds > Carbon compounds > Atmospheric gases > Carbon dioxide
Chemical compounds > Organic compounds > Hydrocarbons > Saturated hydrocarbons > Acyclic hydrocarbons > Methane
Chemical compounds > Oxygen compounds > Oxides > Nitrogen compounds > Nitrous oxide
Chemistry > Geochemistry > Sediment chemistry
Cycles > Chemical cycles > Geochemical cycle > Biogeochemical cycle
Cycles > Chemical cycles > Geochemical cycle > Biogeochemical cycle > Nutrient cycles > Carbon cycle
Cycles > Chemical cycles > Geochemical cycle > Biogeochemical cycle > Nutrient cycles > Nitrogen cycle
Environments > Aquatic environment > Marine environment > Intertidal environment
Estuarine chemistry
Mineralization
Organic matter > Carbon > Organic carbon
Sedimentary structures > Mud flats
Water bodies > Coastal waters > Coastal landforms > Coastal inlets > Estuaries
Belgium, Zeeschelde, Doel [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal; Brackish water |
| Authors | | Top |
- Middelburg, J.J., more
- Klaver, G.
- Nieuwenhuize, J.
- Vlug, T.
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| Abstract |
Carbon and nitrogen cycling in intertidal mud flat sediments in the Scheldt Estuary was studied using measurements of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emission rates and pore-water profiles of ΣCO2, ammonium and nitrate. A comparison between chamber measured carbon dioxide fluxes and those based on ΣCO2 pore-water gradients using Fick's First law indicates that apparent diffusion coefficients are 2 to 28 times higher than bulk sediment diffusion coefficients based on molecular diffusion. Seasonal changes in gaseous carbon fluxes or ΣCO2 pore water concentrations cannot be used directly, or in a simple way, to determine seasonal rates of mineralization, because of marked seasonal changes in pore-water storage and exchange parameters.The annual amount of carbon delivered to the sediment is 42 mol m−2, of which about 42% becomes buried, the remaining being emitted as methane (7%) or carbon dioxide (50%). Each year about 2.6 mol N m−2 of particulate nitrogen reaches the sediment; 1.1 mol m−2 is buried and 1.6 mol m−2 is mineralized to ammonium. Only 0.42 mol m−2 yr−1 of the ammonium produced escapes from the sediments, the remaining being first nitrified (1.2 mol m−2 yr−1) and then denitrified (1.7 mol m−2 yr−1). Simple calculations indicate that intertidal sediments may account for about 14% and 30% of the total estuarine retention of nitrogen and carbon, respectively. |
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