Enteromorpha and the cycling of nitrogen in a small estuary
In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. Academic Press: London; New York. ISSN 0272-7714; e-ISSN 1096-0015, more
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Keywords |
Biological production > Primary production Chemical reactions > Nitrogen fixation Cycles > Chemical cycles > Geochemical cycle > Biogeochemical cycle > Nutrient cycles > Nitrogen cycle Water bodies > Coastal waters > Coastal landforms > Coastal inlets > Estuaries Ulva Linnaeus, 1753 [WoRMS] Marine/Coastal; Brackish water |
Authors | | Top |
- Owens, N.J.P., more
- Stewart, W.D.P.
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Abstract |
The nitrogen relations of Enteromorpha spp. growing on intertidal mud flats have been examined over a twelve-month period. Nitrogen assimilation rates using 15N have been used to calculate the production of the alga and were between 0 multiplied by 046 and 0 multiplied by 217 mg NH4+-N (g dry wt alga)-1 h-1. A considerable quantity of the alga was buried beneath the sediment over the growth season and was calculated to be equivalent to an input of up to 9 multiplied by 52 g N m-2)per month and 32 g N m-2 over one complete growth season. Based on carbon, this latter value represented an input of approximately 320 g C m-2 annually. Low rates of nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction) were found to be associated with the Enteromorpha. |
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