Abstract
This paper summarizes the results of detailed field studies of C,N,P and S cycling in the anoxic sediments of a small coastal lagoon, Cape Lookout Bight (CLB), located on the Outer Banks barrier island chain of North Carolina (U.S.A.). These results are utilized to illustrate the efficiency of the principal processes controlling the biogeochemical cycling of each element, including factors leading to their differential release to overlying waters and preservation via burial. The Cape Lookout site is particularly well suited for studies of elemental cycling in organic-rich sediments because of the steady-state nature of annual sediment accumulation occurring since the mid-1960’s and the relative lack of physical disturbances via bioturbation or resuspension of the sediment column. Comparison of Cape Lookout results with those from other sedimentary environments leads to important insights concerning how the biogeochemical cycles of C, N, P and S interact.
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Martens, C.S. (1993). Recycling Efficiencies of Organic Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Reduced Sulfur in Rapidly Depositing Coastal Sediments. In: Wollast, R., Mackenzie, F.T., Chou, L. (eds) Interactions of C, N, P and S Biogeochemical Cycles and Global Change. NATO ASI Series, vol 4. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76064-8_16
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76064-8_16
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