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Combining Techniques to Conceptualise Denitrification Hot Spots and Hot Moments in Estuaries

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Abstract

Degradation of aquatic ecosystems from nutrient pollution is a global issue, and quantifying nutrient removal in coastal ecosystems is a topic of interest for coastal managers worldwide. Analysing relationships between natural nitrogen removal processes, such as denitrification, and environmental variables from an ecological (rather than biogeochemical) perspective may help to identify and predict biogeochemically important habitat patches (hot spots). However, in situ measurements of denitrification that are coupled with ecosystem variables are rare. In this study, we analysed a dataset encompassing 18 estuaries, broad environmental gradients, and two methods of measuring denitrification (denitrification enzyme activity (DEA) and in situ N2 flux quantification) to better understand natural estuarine nitrogen removal processes and to rationalise methods. Generally poor relationships between denitrification measures and environmental variables suggest strong context dependency, with different activation or limiting reactants affecting denitrification rates differentially in space and time. This research illustrates how biogeochemically important habitat patches may develop and demonstrates that single-method studies have the potential to miss hot spots or hot moments of nitrogen removal. A two-method approach that integrates both long-term (DEA) and short-term (in situ N2 flux) conditions is more likely to lead to the identification of biogeochemically important habitat patches. A better understanding of natural nitrogen removal processes in estuaries will clarify assimilative capacity questions and feed into eutrophication mitigation management efforts in these highly valued freshwater–coastal interface areas.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the many people who contributed to the extensive field and lab work carried out for each of the individual studies included here, especially Kit Squires, Grady Petersen, Teri O’Meara, and Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher. We thank Judi Hewitt for advice on statistical analyses and draft revision. This study was funded by NIWA (Coasts and Oceans Research Programme 5 SCI 2020/21), and the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge (New Zealand Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Contract No. C01X1515; Projects 2.1.3 and 4.2.1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd., PO Box 11115, Hamilton, New Zealand

    E. J. Douglas, F. Stephenson & A. M. Lohrer

  2. School of Science, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand

    J. Gammal, H. R. Needham & C. A. Pilditch

  3. Waikato Regional Council, Private Bag 3038, Hamilton, New Zealand

    M. Townsend

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  1. E. J. Douglas
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  2. J. Gammal
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  3. H. R. Needham
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  4. F. Stephenson
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  5. M. Townsend
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  6. C. A. Pilditch
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  7. A. M. Lohrer
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Correspondence to E. J. Douglas.

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Author contributions ED and AM designed the study; ED, HN, MT, CP, and AM conducted field work and sampling, ED conducted laboratory analyses; ED, JG, and FS conducted statistical analyses; ED wrote the manuscript; and all authors contributed substantially to revisions.

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Douglas, E.J., Gammal, J., Needham, H.R. et al. Combining Techniques to Conceptualise Denitrification Hot Spots and Hot Moments in Estuaries. Ecosystems 25, 1670–1681 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-021-00732-7

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