The role of salinity in shaping dissolved inorganic nitrogen and N2O dynamics in estuarine sediment-water interface

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Teixeira, C (Author) Other; Magalhaes, C (Author) Other; Joye, SB (Author) Other; Adriano Bordalo (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Marine Pollution Bulletin

Vol. 66

Pages: 225-229

ISSN: 0025-326X

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 26 Citations

Scopus - 29 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-17M

DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.11.004

Abstract (EN): We investigated the influence of salinity on sediment inorganic nitrogen dynamics in three Portuguese estuaries (Cavado, Ave and Douro). Anaerobic slurry experiments were run at different salinity treatments (0, 10, and 25) and net changes in concentration of nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, and nitrous oxide were monitored. Salinity-induced NH4+ sediment desorption was observed at all sites. No significant salinity driven changes in NO3- concentrations were observed, except for Ave estuarine sediments, where NO3- consumption increased 10 times as the salinity rose from 0 to 10. In the upper stretches of the three estuaries, N2O production increased sharply as salinity rose. Although no stimulation of N2O production was observed in higher salinity areas, the salinity-driven changes in N2O production are of major concern given the greenhouse characteristics of the gas. The global trend of decreasing freshwater discharge, and therefore increase in salinity, to estuarine systems could thereby exacerbate N2O production and global warming.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 5