Low denitrification rates and variable benthic nutrient fluxes characterize Long Island Sound sediments

Mazur, Claudia I.; Al-Haj, Alia N.; Ray, Nicholas E.; Sanchez-Viruet, Isabel; Fulweiler, Robinson W.

doi:10.1007/s10533-021-00795-7

Published: 07 May 2021

Low denitrification rates and variable benthic nutrient fluxes characterize Long Island Sound sediments

Claudia I. Mazur ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-7303-7627¹,
Alia N. Al-Haj¹,
Nicholas E. Ray²,
Isabel Sanchez-Viruet^1,3 &
Robinson W. Fulweiler^1,2

Biogeochemistry volume 154, pages 37–62 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

Organic matter (OM) loading drives benthic metabolism and controls nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and carbon (C) cycling in coastal sediments. To better understand the influence of OM on benthic metabolism, we conducted sediment core incubations in Long Island Sound, NY (USA), an estuary heavily influenced by anthropogenic nutrient loading. Cores were collected during the summer and winter at five stations along a west to east transect representing a gradient of high to low nutrient inputs and subsequent OM deposition. Here we provide a comprehensive analysis of environmental drivers of benthic fluxes as well as the first directly measured rates of sediment denitrification and N-fixation, thus providing a missing piece of the N budget for Long Island Sound. Our findings show greatest sediment oxygen demand (SOD) in the western basin during the summer. Sediments were a source of dissolved inorganic N and P. Compared to historic SOD and ammonium fluxes, our measurements were about 50% lower, potentially reflecting larger scale perturbations (e.g., warming temperatures, decrease wind speed) or reduced N loading through improved management of wastewater treatment facilities. Sediments were a source of nitrous oxide (mean (± standard error): 8.63 ± 3.18 nmol m⁻² h⁻¹) and methane (23.80 ± 18.05 nmol m⁻² h⁻¹). Net sediment denitrification rates were low (10.34 ± 7.61 µmol N₂–N m⁻² h⁻¹) and did not vary significantly across stations or seasons. These sediments have a N removal efficiency of ~ 30% with the potential to remove approximately 9% of the total land-based N load entering Long Island Sound.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Aidan Borkan, Craig Tobias, Sydney Twarz, and the University of Connecticut Department of Marine Sciences Vessel Operations for their help with sediment core preparation and collection. We also thank Qile Chen and Carly Langan for helping process sediment samples. Thanks to Nilotpal Ghosh for help with analysis of sediment percent carbon and nitrogen and to Cédric Fichot for allowing us to use his elemental analyzer. Funding for this project was provided to RWF through the Long Island Sound Study Research Grant Program which is conducted by Connecticut Sea Grant, based at the University of Connecticut at Avery Point, and New York Sea Grant, based at Stony Brook University.

Funding

Funding for this project was provided to RWF through the Long Island Sound Study Research Grant Program, which is conducted by Connecticut Sea Grant, based at the University of Connecticut at Avery Point, and New York Sea Grant, based at Stony Brook University.

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Authors and Affiliations

Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University, 685 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
Claudia I. Mazur, Alia N. Al-Haj, Isabel Sanchez-Viruet & Robinson W. Fulweiler
Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
Nicholas E. Ray & Robinson W. Fulweiler
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Solomons, MD, 20688, USA
Isabel Sanchez-Viruet

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Claudia I. Mazur
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Alia N. Al-Haj
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Nicholas E. Ray
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Isabel Sanchez-Viruet
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Robinson W. Fulweiler
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RWF conceived of this project. CIM, ANA, ISM, and NER conducted the field work and processed samples. CIM conducted the statistical analysis and made the figures. CIM and RWF wrote the initial draft. All authors contributed to discussion and editing.

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Correspondence to Claudia I. Mazur.

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Mazur, C.I., Al-Haj, A.N., Ray, N.E. et al. Low denitrification rates and variable benthic nutrient fluxes characterize Long Island Sound sediments. Biogeochemistry 154, 37–62 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-021-00795-7

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Received: 06 October 2020
Accepted: 12 April 2021
Published: 07 May 2021
Issue Date: May 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-021-00795-7

Keywords

Denitrification
Nutrient loading
Greenhouse gases
Sediment–water flux