Abstract
The potential nitrogen sources for the primary production in the intertidal area are nitrogen compounds obtained from mineralization in the sediment and the water column, nitrogen fixation, outflow from rivers and groundwater seeping from the mainland.
The available inorganic nitrogen in the adjacent coastal waters decreases from 50–80 µmol NO −3 /l and 6–15 µmol NH +4 /1 in early spring to ca one tenth during the growing season. In the sediment of the tidal flats available ammonia and nitrate vary between 50 and 100 µmol/ 1 pw. In the salt marsh available ammonia increases from 200–300 nmol NH +4 /g fwt to approximately double the amount, and the available nitrate varies from 100–300 nmol NO −3 / g fwt (250–750 µmol NO −3 / 1 pw) to ca one third during the growing season.
The exchange of NH +4 , NO −2 and NO −3 across the sediment water interface has been estimated during tidal cycles under light and dark conditions on the tidal flats. The flux of nitrogen was dependent on the flora and fauna as well as the time of the year.
The tidal activity, frequency and length of inundation are considered the driving force in a two-way process between salt marshes and adjacent coastal waters. The role of marsh sediment, tidal water and sediments of the tidal flats as sites of accumulation, consumption and remineralization of organic matter is emphasized. The possible exchange of ammonia and nitrate between the salt marsh and the different compartments of the tidal water is discussed.
This work was supported by grant No. 511-15776 from the Danish National Research Council. The skilled technical assistance of E. Bundgaard Frentz and B. Pihlkjær is acknowledged. Thanks are due to the Skallingen Laboratory for providing field laboratory facilities, and to the Harbour of Esbjerg for providing tidal data. The constructive criticism and discussion of the manuscript by Dr A. J. Davy is kindly acknowledged.
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© 1985 Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht
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Jensen, A., Henriksen, K., Rasmussen, M.B. (1985). The distribution and interconversion of ammonium and nitrate in the Skallingen salt marsh (Denmark) and their exchange with the adjacent coastal water. In: Beeftink, W.G., Rozema, J., Huiskes, A.H.L. (eds) Ecology of coastal vegetation. Advances in vegetation science, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5524-0_39
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5524-0_39
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