Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Seasonal variation of nitrification along a salinity gradient in an urban estuary

  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The rates of water column nitrification measured as nitrapyrin-sensitive rates of bicarbonate assimilation were monitoredalong the salinity gradient of the estuary of the RiverNervión (Bay of Biscay) from January to November 1993.Highest nitrapyrin-sensitive rates of bicarbonate assimilationwere found in the deep layer at stations located in the innerestuary during summer and autumn, coinciding with dissolvedoxygen concentrations generally lower than 1 mg O2 l−1. Possible explanation for this spatial distributionpattern are discussed. Axial and depth distribution of ammonia,nitrite and nitrate suggests that in the deep layer of theinner zone of the estuary nitrification and nitrate and nitritereduction are occurring concurrently. Nitrification showed asignificant positive correlation with temperature, but thiscorrelation was not very strong. It is argued that the wash outof nitrifying bacteria by rainfalls also plays a role in theseasonal variation of nitrification rates.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Azkona, A., S. H. Jenkins & H. M. G. Roberts, 1984. Sources of pollution of the Estuary of the River Nervion, Spain. A case study. Wat. Sci. Tech. 16: 95–125.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berounsky, V. M. & S. W. Nixon, 1990. Temperature and the annual cycle of nitrification in waters of Narragansett Bay. Limnol. Oceanogr. 35: 1610–1617.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berounsky, V. M. & S. W. Nixon, 1993. Rates of nitrification along an estuarine gradient in Narragansett Bay. Estuaries 16: 718–730.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Billen, G., 1975. Nitrification in the Scheldt estuary (Belgium and The Netherlands). Est. Coast. Mar. Sci. 3: 79–89.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carlucci, A. F. & P. M. McNally, 1969. Nitrification by marine bacteria at low concentrations of substrate and oxygen. Limnol. Oceanogr. 14: 736–739.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Consorcio de Aguas, 1992. Control de Calidad del Estuario del Nervión; Años 1990 y 1991. Internal Report. pp. 69.

  • Downes, M. T., 1988. Aquatic nitrogen transformations at low oxygen concentrations. Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 54: 172–175.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Enoksson, V., E. Fogelquist & S. Fonselius, 1996. Nitrogen speciation and nitrification potential in the Skagerrak area during the SKAGEX IV experiment. Dep-Sea Res. I 43: 1029–1044.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goreau, T. J., W. A. Kaplan, S. C. Wofsy, M. B. McElroy, F. W. Valois & S. W. Watson, 1980. Production of NO2 -1 and N2O by nitrifying bacteria at reduced concentrations of oxygen. Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 40: 526–532.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hashimoto, L. K., W. A. Kaplan, S. C. Wofsy & M. B. McElroy, 1983. Transformations and fixed nitrogen and N2O in the Cariaco Trench. Deep Sea Res. 30: 575–590.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Helder, W. & R. T. P. de Vries, 1983. Estuarine nitrite maxima and nitrifying bacteria (Ems-Dollard estuary). Neth. J. Sea Res. 17: 1–18.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Helder, W., R. T. P. de Vries & M. M. Rutgers van der Loeff, 1983. Behaviour of nitrogen nutrients and silica in the Ems-Dollard Estuary. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 40(Suppl. 1): 188–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henriksen, K. & W. M. Kemp, 1988. Nitrification in estuarine and coastal marine sediments. In T. H. Blackburn & J. Sørensen (eds), Nitrogen cycling in coastal marine environments. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.: 207–249.

  • Horrigan, S. G., A. F. Carlucci & P. M. Williams, 1981. Light inhibition of nitrification in sea-surface films. J. Mar. Res. 39: 557–565.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horrigan, S. G., J. P. Montoya, J. L. Nevins, J. J. McCarthy, H. Ducklow, R. Goericke & T. Malone, 1990. Nitrogenous nutrient transformations in the spring and fall in the Chesapeake Bay. Est. Coast. Shelf Sci. 30: 369–391.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Indrebø, G., B. Pengerud & I. Dundas, 1979. Microbial activities in a permanently stratified estuary. II. Microbial activities at the oxicanoxic interface. Mar. Biol. 51: 305–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iriarte, A., I. de Madariaga, F. Diez-Garagarza, M. Revilla & E. Orive, 1996. Primary plankton production, respiration and nitrification in a shallow temperate estuary during summer. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 208: 127–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, M. C. & W. M. Kemp, 1984. The coupling of nitrification and denitrification in two estuarine sediments. Limnol. Oceanogr. 29: 609–619.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kemp, W. M., P. Sampou, J. Caffrey, M. Mayer, K. Henriksen & W. R. Boynton, 1990. Ammonium recycling versus denitrification in Chesapeake Bay sediment. Limnol. Oceanogr. 35: 1545–1563.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, A. W., R. J. M. Howland, E. M. S. Woodward, A. J. Bale & R. F. C. Mantoura, 1985. Nitrite and ammonia in the Tamar estuary. Neth. J. Sea Res. 19: 217–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owens, N. J. P., 1986. Estuarine nitrification: a naturally occurring fluidized bed reaction? Est. Coast. Shelf Sci. 22: 31–44.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rheinheimer, G., 1992. Aquatic Microbiology. John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Chichester, pp. 363.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seitzinger, S. P., 1988. Denitrification in freshwater and coastal marine ecosystems: ecological and geochemical significance. Limnol. Oceanogr. 33: 702–724.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sieburth, J. McN., 1987. Contrary habitats for redox-specific processes. methanogenesis in oxic waters and oxidation in anoxic waters. In M. A. Sleigh (ed), Microbes in the sea. Ellis Horwood Ltd., Chichester: 11–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Somville, M., 1978. A method for the measurement of nitrification rates in water. Wat. Res. 12: 843–848.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strickland, J. D. H. & T. R. Parsons, 1972. A practical handbook of seawater analysis. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 167: 1–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Umaran, A., I. Barcina & L. Egea, 1982a. Contaminación y microbiología de la Ría de Bilbao: I) Parámetros fisico-químicos y demanda biológica de oxígeno (D.B.O.). Gaceta Médica de Bilbao 79: 355–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Umaran, A., J. Iriberri, L. Egea & I. Barcina, 1982b. Contaminación ymicrobiología de la Ría de Bilbao (III). Poblaciones bacterianas que intervienen en la autodepuración. Gaceta Médica de Bilbao 79: 559–578.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wezernak, C. T. & J. J. Gannon, 1967. Oxygen-nitrogen relationships in autotrophic nitrification. Appl. Microbiol. 15: 1211–1215.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshioka, T. & Y. Saijo, 1984. Photoinhibition and recovery of NH4 + oxidizing bacteria and NO2 oxidizing bacteria. J. Gen. Appl. Microbiol. 30: 151–166.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Ecologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Pais Vasco, Apdo. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain

    Arantza Iriarte & Emma Orive

  2. Consorcio de Aguas para el Abastecimiento y Saneamiento del Gran Bilbao, Planta Depuradora de Galindo, Vega Nueva s/n, 48910, Sestao, Bizkaia, Spain

    Alejandro de la Sota

Authors
  1. Arantza Iriarte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alejandro de la Sota
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Emma Orive
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Iriarte, A., de la Sota, A. & Orive, E. Seasonal variation of nitrification along a salinity gradient in an urban estuary. Hydrobiologia 362, 115–126 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003130516899

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003130516899

Search

Navigation