『Abstract
Porewater flow enhances mineralization rates in organic-poor
permeable sands. Here, a series of sediment column experiments
were undertaken to assess the potential effect of advective porewater
transport on denitrification in permeable carbonate sands collected
from Heron Island (Great Barrier Reef). Experimental conditions
(flow path length, advection rate, and temperature) were manipulated
to represent conditions similar to near shore tropical environments.
HgCl2-poisoned controls were used to assess
whether reactions were microbially mediated. Overall, significant
correlations were found between oxygen consumption and N2 production. The N:O2 slope
of 0.114 implied that about 75% of all the nitrogen mineralized
was denitrified. A 4-fold increase in sediment column length (from
10 to 40 cm) resulted in an overall increase in oxygen consumption
(1.6-fold), TCO2 production (1.8-fold), and
denitrification (1.9-fold). Oxic respiration increased quickly
until advection reached 80 L m-1 h-1 and
then plateaued at higher advection rates. Interestingly, denitrification
peaked (up to 336μmol N2 m-2 h-1)
at intermediate advection rates (30-80 L m-2 h-1).
We speculate that intermediate advection rates enhance the development
of microniches (i.e., steep oxygen gradients) within porous carbonate
sands, perhaps providing optimum conditions for denitrification.
The denitrification peak fell within the broad range of advection
rates (often on scales of 1-100 L m-2 h-1)
typically found on continental shelves implying that carbonate
sands may play a major, but as yet unquantified, role in oceanic
nitrogen budgets.』
1. Introduction
2. Material and methods
2.1. Sampling location
2.2. Sediment column experiments
2.3. Incubations under diffusive conditions
2.4. Analytical methods
3. Results
3.1. Experiment 1: HgCl2-poisoned controls
3.2. Experiment 2: Coarse vs. very coarse grained sediments
3.3. Experiment 3: Time series
3.4. Experiment 4: Flow path lengths
3.5. Experiment 5: Advection rates
3.6. Experiment 6: Temperature
4. Discussion
4.1. Limitations in the use of flow through reactors
4.2. Denitrification rates
4.3. Correlation between denitrification and respiration
4.4. A tentative conceptual model
4.5. The interplay between flushing rates and flow path lengths
5. Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References