Factors controlling denitrification rates of tidal mudflats and fringing salt marshes in south-west England

Koch, Marguerite S.; Maltby, Edward; Oliver, Garth; Bakker, Steven

doi:10.1016/s0272-7714(05)80118-0

Cited by 65 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Rzepecki (2002) and Vanek (1991) noted increased soluble P transport from wetlands when reducing or water logging conditions prevailed. In contrast, many of the studies reviewed noted that N loss was maximised by fluctuating water tables (Patrick and Wyatt, 1964) or by a close juxtaposition of aerobic and anaerobic zones within the sediment (Koch et al, 1992). Hydraulic loading and retention times are significant in determining sedimentation rates and whether nutrients are likely to be flushed from the wetland, the contact time between the nutrient load and the wetland sediment and vegetation (Richardson, 1985;Uusi-Kamppa et al, 1997).…”

Section: What Lessons Can Be Learned From This Assessment Of Natural mentioning

confidence: 99%

Wetland nutrient removal: a review of the evidence

Fisher

Acreman

2004

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

367

222

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Data from 57 wetlands from around the world have been collated to investigate whether wetlands affect the nutrient loading of waters draining through them; the majority of wetlands reduced nutrient loading and there was little difference in the proportion of wetlands that reduced N to those that reduced P loading. However, some wetlands increased nutrient loadings by increasing the loading of soluble N and P species thus potentially driving aquatic eutrophication. Studies conducted over a period of a year or more, or that involved frequent sampling during high flow events, were more likely to indicate that the wetland increased nutrient loadings. Swamps and marshes differed from riparian zones in their nutrient function characteristics by being slightly more effective at nutrient reduction than riparian zones. The attributes that enable wetlands to be effective in reducing N and P loadings need consideration when constructing or managing wetlands to reduce nutrient loadings. Their wise use will be an important strategy for meeting the Water Framework Directive requirements for many water bodies.

show abstract

Section: What Lessons Can Be Learned From This Assessment Of Natural mentioning

confidence: 99%

Wetland nutrient removal: a review of the evidence

Fisher

Acreman

2004

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

367

222

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…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.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

2011

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

“…Affected strongly by tidal flooding and by riverine runoff, marsh areas act as an important bioprocessor of nitrogen species (Aziz and Nedwell, 1986) which play many critical ecological and economic roles (Boorman, 1990). Although the nitrogen cycle in NorthWest Atlantic Coast and Western Europe temperate salt marshes (Kaplan et al, 1979;Aziz and Nedwell, 1986;Koch et al, 1992;Thompson, 1995;Eriksson et al, 2003) has been studied extensively, our understanding of the dynamic of sub-arctic marsh environments is still incomplete, specially during winter time when sea ice covers littoral 5 areas. There is still lack of knowledge about biogeochemical processes in these icy environments, especially the nitrogen cycle and the rate of microbial-mediated nitrogen transformations such as denitrification.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%