edoc

Coupling the N-15/N-14 and O-18/O-16 of nitrate as a constraint on benthic nitrogen cycling

Lehmann, M. F. and Sigman, D. M. and Berelson, W. M.. (2004) Coupling the N-15/N-14 and O-18/O-16 of nitrate as a constraint on benthic nitrogen cycling. Marine chemistry, Vol. 88, nos. 1/2. pp. 1-20.

Full text not available from this repository.

Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A5249296

Downloads: Statistics Overview

Abstract

We report 15N/14N and 18O/16O ratios of nitrate in benthic chamber incubations in the continental shelf sediments of the Santa Monica Bay (SMB) to deconvolve the effects of nitrification and denitrification. Estimates of denitrification rate from benthic flux stoichiometry range from 0.9 to 2.5 mmol N m 2 d 1. Between 46% and 100% of the total denitrification can be explained by nitrate or nitrite from nitrification. In general and independent of the denitrification rate and the fraction of remineralized N being denitrified, nitrate 15N/14N and 18O/16O ratios do not change significantly with progressive nitrate depletion in the chambers. A lack of change in nitrate 15N/14N could be due to either the lack of effective N isotope fractionation associated with sedimentary denitrification or the balancing of a denitrification isotope effect by the addition of low-15N/14N nitrate from nitrification. However, the lack of an increase in nitrate 18O/16O indicates that the isotopic fractionation specifically associated with sedimentary denitrification is, in fact, negligible. The coupled N and O isotope measurements also indicate that there is no significant gross efflux of 15N-depleted nitrate from nitrification, leading to the conclusion that nitrification is closely coupled to denitrification, even in the bioturbated sediments of the SMB.
Faculties and Departments:05 Faculty of Science > Departement Umweltwissenschaften > Geowissenschaften > Aquatic and Isotope Biogeochemistry (Lehmann)
UniBasel Contributors:Lehmann, Moritz F
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0304-4203
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
Identification Number:
Last Modified:22 Mar 2012 14:28
Deposited On:22 Mar 2012 14:05

Repository Staff Only: item control page