Journal
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
Volume 124, Issue 1, Pages 376-387Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.07.061
Keywords
Eutrophication; Denitrification; Nitrogen fixation; Coastal filter; Groundwater; Stoichiometry
Funding
- National Science Foundation [MRI-0959876]
- National Sea Grant College Program of the U.S. Department of Commerceapos
- s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NYSG R/CTP-48, NA10OAR4170064]
- City University of New York [66668-00 44]
- Professional Staff Congress
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Seagrass meadows are important sites of nitrogen (N) transformations in estuaries, however, the role of N loading in driving relative rates of N fixation and denitrification in seagrass habitats is unclear. The current study quantified N fluxes in eelgrass meadows (Zostera marina (L.)) and nearby unvegetated sand in trials representing in situ and N enriched conditions. Net N-2 fluxes were low or negative under in situ conditions in both eelgrass and sand. Under N enriched conditions, denitrification was higher than N-fixation, and denitrification in eelgrass was significantly higher than sand. Denitrification of water column NO3- was more significant than coupled nitrification-denitrification in the eelgrass. Denitrification was likely supported by greater organic carbon and N within the eelgrass sediment compared to sand. Eelgrass meadows in Shinnecock Bay may facilitate the ecosystem service of N removal and retention during short-term nutrient pulses that can originate from groundwater discharge and stormwater runoff.
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