Abstract
Sediment-water fluxes of N and P species in the Bohai Sea were investigated in September-October 1998 and April–May 1999. The benthic fluxes of nutrient species were determined by incubating sediment core samples with bottom seawater bubbled with air or nitrogen. NO −2 , NH +4 , dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and phosphorus (DOP), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) and phosphorus (TDP), and PO 3−4 showed a net exchange flux from seawater to sediment, while NO −3 , dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and SiO 2−3 were released from sediment to seawater in the Bohai Sea. Sediment-water nutrient exchange increases DIN and reduces the phosphorus load in the Bohai Sea. The release of silicate from sediment to overlying seawater reduces potential silicate limitation of primary production resulted from decrease of riverine discharge. The exchange flux of nutrients showed no obvious seasonal variation. The present study showed that the concentrations and composition of nutrients in the water column were affected by suspended sediment, and that not all the exchangeable phosphate in sediment could be released via sediment resuspension.
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This study was funded by NSFC (Nos. 40036010 and 40206017), and the Special Funds from National Key Basic Research Program of P. R. China (No. 2001CB409703).
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Sumei, L., Jing, Z., Hongtao, C. et al. Benthic nutrient recycling in shallow coastal waters of the Bohai Sea. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 22, 365–372 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02843630
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02843630