Corrigendum: Bivalve-enhanced nitrogen removal from coastal estuaries

Abstract

Data on N assimilation into oyster tissues were compared with N in phytoplankton (Ph N) to calculate the number of oysters required to completely remediate N loads and determine the percent N removed by oysters at different planting densities and areas. After publication, we discovered a conversion error that was made when calculating the Ph N load relative to estuary volume, and we accounted for the relatively high estimates of Ph N we reported compared with values reported elsewhere. Corrected estimated values for Ph N available to oysters based on estuary volume had a range of 44-281 kg N (Table 1), assuming a consistent chlorophyll a concentration without replacement for the 153-day estimated growing season (necessarily a conservative estimate). Under this reduced estimated Ph N load, a minimum of 250 000-770 000 oysters would be required to assimilate Ph N in the estuaries we studied (Table 1), assuming the entire estuary was available and suitable for planting. N removal capacity was estimated at 17%-100% of Ph N (consistent with or greater than the N removal capacity estimated for total land-derived N loads), with total Ph N removal possible in scenarios where oysters were planted at densities ≥550•m −2. Since estimates of Ph N depend heavily on estuary-specific physical and chemical attributes not accounted for in this study, as with our original estimates, we suggest these values be used with caution and estuary-specific empirical data be collected for application to other locations and growing conditions. This correction does not change our total land-derived N load comparisons or the conclusions of our originally published work, that a removal capacity of 1%-15% of land-derived N is most realistic given conditions typical to restoration and aquaculture activities in USA estuaries.