Comparison of carbon production and decomposition, benthic nutrient fluxes and denitrification in seagrass, phytoplankton, benthic microalgae- and macroalgae-dominated warm-temperate Australian lagoons

Eyre, Bradley D.; Ferguson, A.

doi:10.3354/meps229043

Cited by 232 publications

(237 citation statements)

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“…Rates from reef sediments were on par with the other structured habitats in our study, and were highest in the summer when oyster filtration is at its peak. Intertidal and subtidal flat DNF rates have generally been found to be lower than those seen in salt marshes and SAV (Anderson et al 1997, Welsh et al 2001, Eyre and Ferguson 2002. However, because of their large area within coastal systems, the result of DNF in intertidal and especially subtidal flats can be significant (Eyre et al 2010a).…”

Section: Habitat-specific Dnfmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Errors presented here include the standard error between the triplicate cores. Denitrification efficiency was calculated as the proportion of N 2 -N flux into the water compared to the total dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) flux into the water column using the formula: [N-N 2 flux /(N-DIN Flux þ N-N 2 Flux) 3 100] (Seitzinger 1987, Eyre andFerguson 2002).…”

Section: Calculationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nutrient processing has been studied in individual estuarine habitats such as salt marshes (Kaplan et al 1977, Anderson et al 1997, Merrill and Cornwell 2000, Valiela et al 2000, Davis et al 2004, Hamersley and Howes 2005, submerged aquatic vegetation (Caffrey and Kemp 1990, Shieh and Yang 1997, Risgaard-Petersen and Ottosen 2000, Welsh et al 2001, and mud and sand flats (Koch et al 1992, Hamersley and Howes 2003, Patel 2008. Few studies have attempted to simultaneously examine the rates of N processing in the full suite of habitats present in shallow estuarine ecosystems (Eyre and Ferguson 2002, Ferguson et al 2007, Eyre et al 2010a) and none that we are aware of have comprehensively addressed representative habitats from temperate estuaries. Contemporaneous quantification of N transformations in individual habitats is critical to informing decisions regarding restoration and protection of estuarine habitats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Habitat-specific distinctions in estuarine denitrification affect both ecosystem function and services

2011

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Abstract. Resource limitation controls the base of food webs in many aquatic ecosystems. In coastal ecosystems, nitrogen (N) has been found to be the predominant limiting factor for primary producers. Due to the important role nitrogen plays in determining ecosystem function, understanding the processes that modulate its availability is critical. Shallow-water estuarine systems are highly heterogeneous. In temperate estuaries, multiple habitat types can exist in close proximity to one another, their distribution controlled primarily by physical energy, tidal elevation and geomorphology. Distinctions between these habitats such as rates of primary productivity and sediment characteristics likely affect material processing. We used membrane inlet mass spectrometry to measure changes in N 2 flux (referred to here as denitrification) in multiple shallow-water estuarine habitats through an annual cycle. We found significantly higher rates of denitrification (DNF) in structured habitats such as submerged aquatic vegetation, salt marshes and oyster reefs than in intertidal and subtidal flats. Seasonal patterns were also observed, with higher DNF rates occurring in the warmer seasons. Additionally, there was an interaction between habitat type and season that we attributed to the seasonal patterns of enhanced productivity in individual habitat types. There was a strong correlation between denitrification and sediment oxygen demand (SOD) in all habitats and all seasons, suggesting the potential to utilize SOD to predict DNF. Denitrification efficiency was also higher in the structured habitats than in the flats. Nitrogen removal by these habitats was found to be an important contributor to estuarine ecosystem function. The ecosystem service of DNF in each habitat was evaluated in US dollars using rates from a regional nutrient-offset market to determine the cost to replace N through management efforts. Habitat-specific values of N removal ranged from approximately three thousand U.S. dollars per acre per year in the submerged aquatic vegetation to approximately four hundred U.S. dollars per acre per year in the subtidal flat. Because of the link between habitat type and processes such as DNF, changes in habitat area and distribution will have consequences for both ecosystem function and the delivery of ecosystem services.

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Section: Habitat-specific Dnfmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Calculationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Habitat-specific distinctions in estuarine denitrification affect both ecosystem function and services

2011

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“…As a function of complex biogeochemical processes (Harris, 1999;Hansen et al, 2000;Eyre and Ferguson, 2002), seagrass meadows are extremely productive systems, which exhibit high biodiversity, and support complex food webs, constituting a habitat refuge for a number of organisms (Orth, 1992;Boström and Bonsdorff, 2000;Borum et al, 2005). Changes in seagrass areas are often a symptom of major changes in environmental characteristics, and therefore constitute an important indicator for assessing the state of the environment.…”

Section: Angiospermsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Classifying Ecological Quality and Integrity of Estuaries

Borja¹,

Basset²,

Bricker³

et al. 2011

Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science

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There is an increasing need in assessing ecological quality and integrity of estuaries and lagoons. This chapter shows the most recent efforts in assessing individual biological elements (from phytoplankton to fishes), together with the integrative tools developed in different geographical areas worldwide. However, reducing complex information from multiple ecosystem elements to a single color or value is a substantial challenge to marine scientists, and requires the integration of different disciplines (chemists, engineers, biologists, ecologists, physics, managers, etc.), to reach agreement on the final assignment of ecological status. Hence, in the near future, emphasis needs to be directed at understanding the complexities of estuarine system functioning rather than simplifying and scaling down the system into smaller components. Provided for non-commercial research and educational use.Not for reproduction, distribution or commercial use.This chapter was originally published in Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science, published by Elsevier, and the attached copy is provided by Elsevier for the author's benefit and for the benefit of the author's institution, for noncommercial research and educational use including without limitation use in instruction at your institution, sending it to specific colleagues who you know, and providing a copy to your institution's administrator.All other uses, reproduction and distribution, including without limitation commercial reprints, selling or licensing copies or access, or posting on open internet sites, your personal or institution's website or repository, are prohibited.For exceptions, permission may be sought for such use through Elsevier's permissions site at: Author's personal copy AbstractThere is an increasing need in assessing ecological quality and integrity of estuaries and lagoons. This chapter shows the most recent efforts in assessing individual biological elements (from phytoplankton to fishes), together with the integrative tools developed in different geographical areas worldwide. However, reducing complex information from multiple ecosystem elements to a single color or value is a substantial challenge to marine scientists, and requires the integration of different disciplines (chemists, engineers, biologists, ecologists, physics, managers, etc.), to reach agreement on the final assignment of ecological status. Hence, in the near future, emphasis needs to be directed at understanding the complexities of estuarine system functioning rather than simplifying and scaling down the system into smaller components.

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“…Here we correct that omission by providing a few representative studies of synthesis in these two research areas: sediment biogeochemistry and seagrass ecology. Examples of synthesis research in sediment biogeochemistry include cross-system comparisons of nitrification (Henriksen and Kemp 1988) and denitrification (Pina-Ochoa and Alvarez-Cobelas 2006) in estuaries and other aquatic systems, of benthic nutrient recycling processes (Boynton and Kemp 2008), and of sediment biogeochemical processes in different coastal habitat types (Eyre and Ferguson 2002). Other synthetic studies include an integrated comparison of differences in phosphorus cycles and buffers in rivers versus estuaries worldwide (Froelich 1988) and a derivation of empirical equations that describe factors controlling key sediment diagenetic processes (e.g., Middelburg et al 1997).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Erratum to: Synthesis in Estuarine and Coastal Ecological Research: What Is It, Why Is It Important, and How Do We Teach It?

Kemp

Boynton

2012

Estuaries and Coasts

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Comparison of carbon production and decomposition, benthic nutrient fluxes and denitrification in seagrass, phytoplankton, benthic microalgae- and macroalgae-dominated warm-temperate Australian lagoons

Cited by 232 publications

References 79 publications

Habitat-specific distinctions in estuarine denitrification affect both ecosystem function and services

Habitat-specific distinctions in estuarine denitrification affect both ecosystem function and services

Classifying Ecological Quality and Integrity of Estuaries

Erratum to: Synthesis in Estuarine and Coastal Ecological Research: What Is It, Why Is It Important, and How Do We Teach It?

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