Evidence for suboxic nitrification in recent marine sediments

Robert J.G. Mortimer; Michael D. Krom; Sansha J. Harris; Peter J. Hayes; Ian M. Davies; William Davison; Hao Zhang

doi:10.3354/meps236031

Evidence for suboxic nitrification in recent marine sediments

Robert J.G. Mortimer, Michael D. Krom, Sansha J. Harris, Peter J. Hayes, Ian M. Davies, William Davison, Hao Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The classical scheme of biogeochemical zones (BGZ) is known to be an oversimplification of the microbial processes that occur in organic-rich marine sediments. Results from a coupled deployment of pore-water gel probes in Loch Duich, Scotland, provide direct evidence for rapid recycling within the iron reduction (FeR) and sulphate reduction (SR) zones. High resolution pore-water profiles obtained using diffusive equilibrium in thin films (DET) gel probes found a nitrate peak at the boundary between the FeR and SR zones. This non-steady state feature is consistent with recycling of reduced N occurring throughout the FeR zone. Both conventional pore-water iron profiles and results from diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) probes indicate that iron is solubilised and precipitated in rapid Fe/S recycling reactions throughout the SR zone. The presence of such complex recycling reactions confirms the oversimplification of the classical BGZ scheme.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	31-35
Number of pages	5
Journal	Marine Ecology Progress Series
Volume	236
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3354/meps236031
State	Published - 3 Jul 2002
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Biogeochemical recycling
DET
DGT
Suboxic nitrification

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Aquatic Science
Ecology

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10.3354/meps236031

Cite this

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title = "Evidence for suboxic nitrification in recent marine sediments",

abstract = "The classical scheme of biogeochemical zones (BGZ) is known to be an oversimplification of the microbial processes that occur in organic-rich marine sediments. Results from a coupled deployment of pore-water gel probes in Loch Duich, Scotland, provide direct evidence for rapid recycling within the iron reduction (FeR) and sulphate reduction (SR) zones. High resolution pore-water profiles obtained using diffusive equilibrium in thin films (DET) gel probes found a nitrate peak at the boundary between the FeR and SR zones. This non-steady state feature is consistent with recycling of reduced N occurring throughout the FeR zone. Both conventional pore-water iron profiles and results from diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) probes indicate that iron is solubilised and precipitated in rapid Fe/S recycling reactions throughout the SR zone. The presence of such complex recycling reactions confirms the oversimplification of the classical BGZ scheme.",

keywords = "Biogeochemical recycling, DET, DGT, Suboxic nitrification",

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doi = "10.3354/meps236031",

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T1 - Evidence for suboxic nitrification in recent marine sediments

AU - Mortimer, Robert J.G.

AU - Krom, Michael D.

AU - Harris, Sansha J.

AU - Hayes, Peter J.

AU - Davies, Ian M.

AU - Davison, William

AU - Zhang, Hao

PY - 2002/7/3

Y1 - 2002/7/3

N2 - The classical scheme of biogeochemical zones (BGZ) is known to be an oversimplification of the microbial processes that occur in organic-rich marine sediments. Results from a coupled deployment of pore-water gel probes in Loch Duich, Scotland, provide direct evidence for rapid recycling within the iron reduction (FeR) and sulphate reduction (SR) zones. High resolution pore-water profiles obtained using diffusive equilibrium in thin films (DET) gel probes found a nitrate peak at the boundary between the FeR and SR zones. This non-steady state feature is consistent with recycling of reduced N occurring throughout the FeR zone. Both conventional pore-water iron profiles and results from diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) probes indicate that iron is solubilised and precipitated in rapid Fe/S recycling reactions throughout the SR zone. The presence of such complex recycling reactions confirms the oversimplification of the classical BGZ scheme.

AB - The classical scheme of biogeochemical zones (BGZ) is known to be an oversimplification of the microbial processes that occur in organic-rich marine sediments. Results from a coupled deployment of pore-water gel probes in Loch Duich, Scotland, provide direct evidence for rapid recycling within the iron reduction (FeR) and sulphate reduction (SR) zones. High resolution pore-water profiles obtained using diffusive equilibrium in thin films (DET) gel probes found a nitrate peak at the boundary between the FeR and SR zones. This non-steady state feature is consistent with recycling of reduced N occurring throughout the FeR zone. Both conventional pore-water iron profiles and results from diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) probes indicate that iron is solubilised and precipitated in rapid Fe/S recycling reactions throughout the SR zone. The presence of such complex recycling reactions confirms the oversimplification of the classical BGZ scheme.

KW - Biogeochemical recycling

KW - DET

KW - DGT

KW - Suboxic nitrification

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DO - 10.3354/meps236031

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VL - 236

SP - 31

EP - 35

JO - Marine Ecology Progress Series

JF - Marine Ecology Progress Series

ER -

Evidence for suboxic nitrification in recent marine sediments

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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