Responses of nutrient biogeochemistry and nitrogen cycle to seasonal upwelling in coastal waters of the eastern Hainan Island

The coastal upwelling has profound influence on the surrounding ecosystem by supplying the nutrient-replete water to the euphotic zone. Nutrient biogeochemistry was investigated in coastal waters of the eastern Hainan Island in summer 2015 and autumn 2016. From perspectives of nutrient dynamics and physical transport, the nutrient fluxes entered the upper 50 m water depth（between the mixed layer and the euphotic zone） arisen from the upwelling were estimated to be 2.5-5.4 mmol/（m²·d）,...     

Nitrate δ15N and δ18O evidence for active biological transformation in the Changjiang Estuary and the adjacent East China Sea

The Changjiang Estuary has been considered as one of the most polluted estuaries in the world due to high nitrate (NO-3) input, especially in spring and summer. In this study, δ15N and δ18O of NO-3 , along with other chemical parameters in this area, were measured in spring to evaluate NO-3 biogeochemical processes. A simple two end-members mixing model was used to examine the relative contribution of the Changjiang River Diluted Water and marine water to NO-3 sources in the Changjiang Estuary and the adjacent East China Sea. The isotopic signals show that NO-3 behaved relatively and conservatively in Transect F and Transect P where assimilation was weak possibly due to vertical mixing, while active assimilation and weak nitrification occurred in Transect D. Spatial difference in assimilation was indicated by the～1:1 enrichment of δ15N and δ18O in the three transects, while spatial difference in nitrification was reflected by deviations of δ15 N and δ18O from assimilation line. Our results suggest that the input of the Changjiang River Diluted Water promoted NO-3 assimilation possibly by stratifying the water column which favored the phytoplankton growth.     

An Ecosystem Model Including Nitrogen Isotopes: Perspectives on a Study of the Marine Nitrogen Cycle

We have developed an ecosystem model including two nitrogen isotopes (¹⁴N and ¹⁵N), and validated this model using an actual data set. A study of nitrogen isotopic ratios (δ¹⁵N) using a marine ecosystem model is thought to be most helpful in quantitatively understanding the marine nitrogen cycle. Moreover, the model study may indicate a new potential of δ¹⁵N as a tracer. This model has six compartments: phytoplankton, zooplankton, particulate organic nitrogen, dissolved organic nitrogen, nitrate and ammonium in a two-box model, and has biological processes with/without isotopic fractionation. We have applied this model to the Sea of Okhotsk and successfully reproduced the δ¹⁵N of nitrate measured in seawater and the seasonal variations in δ¹⁵N of sinking particles obtained from sediment trap experiments. Simulated δ¹⁵N of phytoplankton are determined by δ ¹⁵N of nitrate and ammonium, and the nitrogen f-ratio, defined as the ratio of nitrate assimilation by phytoplankton to total nitrogenous nutrient assimilation. Detailed considerations of biological processes in the spring and autumn blooms have demonstrated that there is a significant difference between simulated δ¹⁵N values of phytoplankton, which assimilates only nitrate, and only ammonium, respectively. We suggest that observations of δ ¹⁵N values of phytoplankton, nitrate and ammonium in the spring and autumn blooms may indicate the ratios of nutrient selectivity by phytoplankton. In winter, most of the simulated biogeochemical fluxes decrease rapidly, but nitrification flux decreases much more slowly than the other biogeochemical fluxes. Therefore, simulated δ¹⁵N values and concentrations of ammonium reflect almost only nitrification. We suggest that the nitrification rate can be parameterized with observations of δ¹⁵N of ammonium in winter and a sensitive study varying the parameter of nitrification rate.     

Nitrate isotope dynamics in the lower euphotic-upper mesopelagic zones of the western South China Sea

The dual isotopes(N and O) of nitrate were measured using a denitrifier bacterial method in the western South China Sea(WSCS) during September 2015 to elucidate key information during N transformation in the lower euphotic zone(LEZ)-upper mesopelagic zone(UMZ,down to 500 m in this study) continuum,which is a vital sub-environment for marine N cycle and sequestration of atmospheric CO₂ as well.The N isotopic composition(δ¹⁵N) of nitrate generally decreased from 500 m toward ...     

The nitrogen isotopic composition of dissolved nitrate in the Yangtze River (Changjiang) estuary,China

The nitrogen isotopic composition of dissolved nitrate (δ¹⁵N-NO₃⁻) in surface water of the Yangtze River estuary was determined in four seasons of 2006. δ¹⁵N-NO₃⁻ ranged from 0.4‰ to 6.5‰ and varied with seasons and geographic regions, reflecting the dynamics of nitrogen cycling in the estuarine ecosystem. δ¹⁵N-NO₃⁻ was markedly lower in February than in other seasons and exhibited conservative mixing, which was probably attributed to the NO₃⁻ being sourced from the atmospheric deposition and agricultural fertilizer. In the upper estuary, the influence of riverine inputs was important during all surveys. In the turbidity maximum zone, nitrification was found with nitrate depleted in ¹⁵N in May, whereas denitrification resulting in heavy δ¹⁵N-NO₃⁻ played an important role in August. More enriched δ¹⁵N-NO₃⁻ values coinciding with losses of nitrate concentrations based on the conservative mixing model were found in the adjacent marine area in May, and may reflect obvious phytoplankton assimilation of dissolved nitrate. In this manner, δ¹⁵N-NO₃⁻ may be a sensitive indicator of nitrogen sources and biogeochemical processing existing in this estuary in conjunction with the variations of dissolved nitrate and other environmental factors.     

Nitrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of N2O from suboxic waters of the eastern tropical North Pacific and the Arabian Sea—measurement by continuous-flow isotope-ratio monitoring

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a trace gas that is increasing in the atmosphere. It contributes to the greenhouse effect and influences the global ozone distribution. Recent reports suggest that regions such as the Arabian Sea may be significant sources of atmospheric N₂O.In the ocean, N₂O is formed as a by-product of nitrification and as an intermediary of denitrification. In the latter process, N₂O can be further reduced to N₂. These processes, which operate on different source pools and have different magnitudes of isotopic fractionation, make separate contributions to the ¹⁵N and¹⁸O isotopic composition of N₂O. In the case of nitrification in oxic waters, the isotopic composition of N₂O appears to depend mainly on the ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratio of NH⁺₄ and the ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratio of O₂ and H₂O. In suboxic waters, denitrification causes progressive ¹⁵N and ¹⁸O enrichment of N₂O as a function of degree of depletion of nitrate and dissolved oxygen. Thus the isotopic signature of N₂O should be a useful tool for studying the sources and sinks for N₂O in the ocean and its impact on the atmosphere.We have made observations of N₂O concentrations and of the dual stable isotopic composition of N₂O in the eastern tropical North Pacific (ETNP) and the Arabian Sea. The stable isotopic composition of N₂O was determined by a new method that required only 80–100 nmol of N₂O per sample analysis. Our observations include determinations across the oxic/suboxic boundaries that occur in the water columns of the ETNP and Arabian Sea. In these suboxic waters, the values of δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O increased linearly with one another and with decreasing N₂O concentrations, presumably reflecting the effects of denitrification. Our results suggest that the ocean could be an important source of isotopically enriched N₂O to the atmosphere.     

Tracing carbon transfer and assimilation by invertebrates and fish across a tropical mangrove ecosystem using stable isotopes

Mangroves are highly productive ecosystems that exhibit a diverse range of habitats, including tidal creeks and flats, forest gaps and interior forest with varying understory light intensity, tidal dynamics, geomorphological settings, and overall biological production. Within mangrove ecosystems, invertebrates and fish feed on heterogeneous food sources, the occurrence of which is unevenly distributed across the system. This provides a basis for testing models of carbon transfer across mangrove ecosystems. We hypothesized that the carbon transfer and assimilation by fish and invertebrates will vary across the different mangrove habitats and that such variations can be predicted by their stable isotope compositions. We analysed δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N signatures of consumers and their potential organic carbon sources across a tropical mangrove ecosystem in Vietnam. The δ¹³C values of crabs and snails significantly decreased from the tidal flat to interior forest, indicating that variations in carbon transfer and assimilation occurred at small scales <30 m. Reduced variation in δ¹³C of suspension‐feeding bivalves suggested that tidal water was a vector for large‐scale transport of carbon across the mangrove ecosystem. An analysis of co‐variance using habitat as a fixed factor and feeding habit and movement capacity of consumers as co‐variates indicated that habitat and feeding types were major features that affected the δ¹³C values of invertebrates and fish. The findings demonstrate that carbon transfer and assimilation across mangrove ecosystems occur as a diverse combination of small (<30 m) and large (>30 m) scale processes.     

Depth-dependence in stable isotope ratio δ15N of benthic POM consumers: The role of particle dynamics and organism trophic guild

The stable nitrogen isotope ratio (δ¹⁵N) is an established indicator of trophic hierarchy in marine food-web studies. Most of these studies presume that spatial variation in the primary food source is negligible, although a water-depth-related increase in δ¹⁵N of particulate organic matter (POM) has been found in many systems. We used the high-Antarctic Weddell Sea shelf and slope ecosystem to test whether such a depth-related change in δ¹⁵N is reflected at higher trophic levels, i.e., benthic consumers of POM. In suspension feeders (SF) we found a significant increase in δ¹⁵N with water depth of up to 9.8‰, whereas in deposit feeders (DF) a depth effect was barely detectable. Particle-size preferences of the two feeding guilds combined with particle-size-dependent sinking velocities and biogeochemical reworking of POM are discussed as the major causes of these differences. It is essential to marine food-web studies to take into account the general depth effect on POM δ¹⁵N as well as potential feeding-guild-specific differences in the response of POM consumer tissue δ¹⁵N to avoid serious bias and misinterpretation of stable-isotope-based trophic information.     

Seasonal variability of δ15N in sinking particles in the Benguela upwelling region

Temporal changes in δ¹⁵N values of sinking particles collected with sediment traps in the Benguela upwelling regime off southwest Africa mirrored variations in the input of inorganic nitrogen to the surface water. Reductions in δ¹⁵N (to as low as 2.5‰) corresponded to low sea surface temperatures during austral spring and late austral autumn/early winter, indicating increased nitrate availability due to the presence of recently upwelled water. High particulate fluxes accompanied the low δ¹⁵N values and sea surface temperatures, reflecting increased productivity, fueled by the upwelled nutrients. High δ¹⁵N values (up to 13.1‰) coincided with high sea surface temperatures and low particle fluxes. In this area, the seaward extension of upwelling filaments, which usually occurs twice yearly, brings nutrient-rich water to the euphotic zone and leads to elevated productivity and relatively lower δ¹⁵N values of the particulate nitrogen. Satellite images of ocean chlorophyll show that productivity variations coincide with δ¹⁵N changes. The observed isotopic pattern does not appear to have been caused by variations in the species composition of the phytoplankton assemblage. Calculations based on δ¹⁵N of the sinking particulate nitrogen show that the surface nitrate pool was more depleted during late austral summer/early fall and mid-winter and that supply exceeded demand during the intense spring bloom and in late austral fall. The main uncertainty associated with these estimates is the effect of diagenesis on δ¹⁵N and possible variability in preservation of the isotope signal between periods of high and low particle flux.     

A role for nitrite in the production of nitrous oxide in the lower euphotic zone of the oligotrophic North Pacific Ocean

Understanding the role of the oceans in the Earth's changing climate requires comprehension of the relevant metabolic pathways which produce climatically important trace gases. The global ocean represents one of the largest natural sources of nitrous oxide (N₂O) that is produced by selected archaea and/or bacteria during nitrogen (N) metabolism. In this study, the role of nitrite (NO₂⁻) in the production of N₂O in the upper water column of the oligotrophic North Pacific Subtropical Gyre was investigated, focusing primarily on the lower euphotic zone where NO₂⁻ concentrations at the primary NO₂⁻ maximum reached 195 nmol L⁻¹. Free-drifting sediment trap arrays were deployed to measure N cycle processes in sinking particulate material and the addition of selected N substrates to unpreserved sediment traps provided an experimental framework to test hypotheses regarding N₂O production pathways and controls. Sinking particles collected using NO₂⁻-amended, unpreserved sediment traps exhibited significant production of N₂O at depths between 100 and 200 m. Subsequent stable isotope tracer measurements conducted on sediment trap material amended with ¹⁵NO₂⁻ yielded elevated δ¹⁵N values of N₂O, supporting N₂O production via a NO₂⁻ metabolism pathway. Experiments on seawater collected from 150 m showed N₂O production via NO₂⁻ metabolism also occurs in the water-column and indicated that the concentration of NO₂⁻ relative to NH₄⁺ availability may be an important control. These findings provide evidence for the production of N₂O via nitrifer-denitrification in the lower euphotic zone of the open ocean, whereby NO₂⁻ is reduced to N₂O by ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms.     

Isotopic analyses of nitrate and nitrite from reference mixtures and application to Eastern Tropical North Pacific waters

Isotopic analyses of nitrate by the denitrifier method, and indeed by many other analytical methods, do not discriminate between nitrate and nitrite. For samples containing both chemical species, accurate isotopic analysis of nitrate requires either removal of nitrite or independent isotopic analysis of nitrite and subtraction of its contribution to the mixed isotopic signal. This study evaluates the application of a variety of available analytical approaches to the isotopic analysis of mixed nitrate and nitrite solutions, with the goal of producing accurate coupled isotopic analyses of both nitrate and nitrite. These methods are tested on mixtures of standard solutions of nitrate and nitrite, and then applied to the coupled δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O analyses of nitrate and nitrite in waters of the Eastern Tropical North Pacific (ETNP). Results from standard mixtures show that even for extreme values of nitrate and nitrite δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O, both nitrite removal by ascorbate and nitrite isotopic analysis and subtraction from the mixed isotopic signal yield nitrate δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O values that are close to the expected values. Application of these analyses to samples from the ETNP yielded δ¹⁵N_NO3 and δ¹⁸O_NO3 values as high as 21‰ vs. AIR and 19‰ vs. VSMOW, respectively. Conversely, very low δ¹⁵N values were observed in nitrite, with values ranging from − 7.2 to − 18.5‰ vs. AIR. Removal of nitrite from ETNP samples thus revealed differences of up to 5‰ between NO₃^- and NO₂^- + NO₃^- for both δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O. Moreover, the δ¹⁵N offset between co-occurring nitrate and nitrite is greater than expected from the action of denitrification alone and may provide a unique constraint on the processes involved in the cycling of nitrite in and around oxygen deficient zones. Finally, subtraction of the nitrite δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O from ETNP samples allows the extension of the Δ(15,18) tracer into suboxic regions containing nitrite. The magnitude and distribution of Δ(15,18) in these samples suggests an important role for nitrite reoxidation in nitrate isotope variations.     

The oxygen and carbon isotope distribution in the Mediterranean water masses

The oxygen and carbon stable isotope compositions of the present-day Mediterranean waters have been measured in order to evaluate their variability, which is related to the specific climatic and hydrological conditions within the basin. The experimental equation between the δ¹⁸O value and the salinity of water, based on 300 measurements on surface, intermediate, and deep waters sampled during the VICOMED 2 and 3 cruises in the western, central and eastern Mediterranean, has a slope of 0.27, a value which is significantly lower than the slope of 0.45, as defined in the northeast Atlantic Ocean. This difference in the δ¹⁸O–salinity relationship, which occurs immediately in the Alboran basin, is basically a characteristic of the climatic regime of the Mediterranean, i.e., of an excess evaporation over fresh water input. The largest variations of these two parameters, δ¹⁸O of water and δ¹³C of ∑CO₂, are observed in the surface waters, mostly in the western Mediterranean. This evolution mirrors the progressive eastward restriction, which separates the less-evaporated and more-productive western basins from the more-evaporated and less-productive eastern basins. The intermediate waters constitute a homogeneous layer. However, their δ¹⁸O values decrease eastward by 0.35‰ at maximum, due to progressive dilution by mixing with overlying and underlying water masses; their δ¹³C values decrease also eastward by 0.35‰ at maximum, due to an increasing input of nutrients issued from the regeneration of sinking organic particles. The deep waters have similar δ¹⁸O values but slightly higher δ¹³C values (often by less than 0.1‰) than the overlying intermediate waters, indicating generally well ventilated conditions due to active winter convection.     

Rates of nitrification and nitrate reduction in nearshore marine sediments at near ambient substrate concentrations

Nitrification and nitrate reduction were measured simultaneously by a ¹⁵N-isotope dilution technique in the top 2 cm of sandy sediments in Great South Bay, Long Island, New York. Experiments were done at three times, under three different sets of environmental conditions. Nitrification rates remained between 0.010 and 0.015 μg-at N (g dry wt)⁻¹ (24 h)⁻¹ despite decreasing temperature. Nitrate reduction ranged from 0.02 to 0.11 μg-at N (g dry wt)⁻¹ (24 h)⁻¹. Nitrate reduction exceeded nitrification in two experiments. In the third, at low temperature and apparently high oxygen levels, rates of nitrification and nitrate reduction were comparable. We conclude that there is not a constant relationship between nitrification and nitrate reduction in this environment. Attempts to measure rates of nitrification by using the inhibitor chlorate were not successful.     

Nitrogen isotopic fractionation of particulate organic matter production and remineralization in the Prydz Bay and its adjacent areas

During the 29th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition, spatial variations in nitrogen isotopic composition of particulate nitrogen (δ15N_PN) and their controlling factors were examined in detail with regard to nitrate drawdown by phytoplankton and particulate nitrogen (PN) remineralization in the Prydz Bay and its adjacent areas. To better constrain the nitrogen transformations, the physical and chemical parameters, including temperature, salinity, nutrients, PN and δ15N_PN in seawater column were measured from surface to bottom. In addition, the nitrogen isotopic fractionation factor of nitrate assimilation by phytoplankton in the mixed layer, and the nitrogen isotopic fractionation factor of PN remineralization below the mixed layer were estimated using Rayleigh model and Steady State model, respectively. Our results showed that suspended particles had its lowest δ15N_PN in the surface layer, which was due to the preferential assimilation of 14N in nitrate by phytoplankton. The δ15N_PN in the mixed layer of the Prydz Bay and its adjacent areas decreased from the inner shelf to the outer basin, ascribing to the effect of isotope fractionation during phytoplankton assimilation. In mixed layer, the spatial distribution of δ15N_PN associated with particulate organic matter (POM) production can be well interpreted according to Rayleigh model and Steady State model. The nitrogen isotope fractionation factor during phytoplankton assimilating nitrate was estimated as 10.0‰ by Steady State model, which was more reasonable than that calculated by Rayleigh model. These results validate the previous reports of fractionation factor during nitrate assimilation by phytoplankton. Increasing δ15N_PN with depth below the euphotic zone correlated with the decreasing PN contents, and it was attributed to preferential remineralization of 14N in PN by bacteria. In subsurface and deep layer, the δ15N_PN distributions also conformed to Rayleigh model and Steady State model during PN remineralization, with a fractionation factor of about 3.6‰ and 3.2‰, respectively. It is the first time to estimate the fractionation factor during POM production and remineralization in the Prydz Bay and its adjacent areas. Such fractionation may provide a useful tool for the follow-up study of the nitrogen dynamics in the Southern Ocean.     

Oxygen isotope records of Globigerina bulloides across a north-south transect in the south-western Indian Ocean

Along a north-south transect (9.69°N to 55.01°S) in the southwestern Indian Ocean during the Indian Pilot Expedition to Southern Ocean (PESO), the oxygen isotopic analysis of planktic foraminifera (Globigerina bulloides) from 23 surface sediment samples was carried out to assess the relationship between isotopic composition of G. bulloides and the prevailing physical (seawater temperature and salinity) conditions of the ambient seawater. An increasing trend in the δ¹⁸O value is noticed towards higher latitude. Apparently such an increase in δ¹⁸O values is inversely related to the temperature changes along the transect. However, slight mismatch is observed at a few stations due to calcification out of optimum conditions or due to the salinity changes. The preliminary results of the present study, if extended to the subsurface sediments coupled with other parameters, may contribute to the reconstruction of the paleohydrography of the region, especially the position of various seawater fronts during the geologic past albeit with areal limitation.     

Assessing waterbird habitat use in coastal evaporative systems using stable isotopes (δC, δN and δD) as environmental tracers

Isotopic patterns of biota across salinity gradients in man-made evaporative systems could assist in determining the use of these habitats by animals. Here we report δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and δD measurements of a euryhaline fish, the Mediterranean toothcarp (Aphanius fasciatus), inhabiting a range of salinities in the Thyna saltworks near Sfax (Tunisia). The contribution of these salinity niches to egg formation of two typically piscivorous bird species breeding in the area and feeding within saltworks, Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) and Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), was inferred trough a triple-isotope (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and δD) Bayesian mixing model. Isotopic trends for fish δ¹⁵N and δD across the salinity gradient followed the equations: δ¹⁵N = e^{(1.1 + 47.68/Salinity)} and δD = −175.74 + Salinity + Salinity²; whereas fish δ¹³C increased as salinity rose (δ¹³C = −10.83 + 0.02·Salinity), after a sudden drop in fish isotopic values for salinities >60 (Practical Salinity Scale) (average fish δ¹³C for salinities <60 = −5.92‰). Both bird species fed largely on low hypersalinity ponds (salinity = 43; average contribution = 37% and 22% for Little Egrets and Little Terns, respectively), although the use of intermediate hypersalinities (salinities 63 and 70) by Little Terns also occurred (16% and 21%, respectively). Isotopic patterns across salinity gradients allow the use of isotopic measurements to inform studies of habitat occupancy within evaporative systems and provide further insights into how wildlife communities interact with them.     

Spatial variability in the trophic ecology and biology of the deep-sea shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea in the Mediterranean Sea

The trophic ecology, energy and reproductive states of the deep-water shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea, widely distributed along the slopes of the Mediterranean Sea Basins, were analysed in eight areas spread along ca. 3000 km in order to identify patterns in the habitat conditions supporting the species. From W to E the areas were situated between the north side of Eivissa (39°12′N, 1°20′E, in the Balearic Basin) and off Mersin, Turkey (36°15′N, 34°19′E, in the Levantine Sea). Trends identified mainly as a function of longitude from west to east were: (i) higher δ¹⁵N, parallel to δ¹⁵N shifts in the top 200 m of the water column for particulate organic N (Pantoja et al., 2002). The δ¹⁵N trend indicates that the deep trophic web, i.e. A. foliacea at 400–600 m, reflects the δ¹⁵N signal of the photic zone; (ii) a similar significant trend of δ¹³C, related with exploitation of pelagic versus benthic resources by A. foliacea in each area (i.e. by local variability of terrigenous inputs via submarine canyons). More depleted δ¹³C was found at mid-longitudes (Tyrrhenian Sea and Sicily Channel) linked to higher consumption of macroplankton prey (Pasiphaea spp., euphausiids and mesopelagic fishes). The feeding intensity (gut fullness, F) and prey diversity (J) of A. foliacea were related, according to generalized linear models, with the temperature and salinity of intermediate waters, variables in turn associated with latitude and longitude. Both F and J were higher in areas with greater shrimp density. The optimal ecological habitat of A. foliacea appears to be located in the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Sicily Channel, where we found the highest F, the greatest trophic diversity and A. foliacea in the best biological condition (i.e. with higher hepato-somatic index, HSI). These are also the areas with the highest densities of A. foliacea. In contrast, in the western Mediterranean Sea (Balearic Basin and the southern Balearic Islands), where A. foliacea has low densities, the shrimp showed generally lower values of trophic indicators and biological condition.     

Sources and transformations of nitrogen in the South China Sea: insights from nitrogen isotopes

To elucidate the sources and transformations of nitrogen in the South China Sea (SCS), the nitrogen isotopic composition of nitrate (\({\updelta }^{ 1 5} {\text{N}}_{{{\text{NO}}_{ 3} }}\)) was measured in seawater samples from the water column of this marginal sea and the adjacent western North Pacific Ocean (WNP). Comparison of the isotopic signatures from these two locations suggests that the main source of nitrogen into the SCS was nitrate that entered from the WNP through the Luzon Strait. Values of \({\updelta }^{ 1 5} {\text{N}}_{{{\text{NO}}_{ 3} }}\) were generally lower in the SCS than in the WNP, and the \({\updelta }^{ 1 5} {\text{N}}_{{{\text{NO}}_{ 3} }}\) maximum observed in the SCS intermediate water was lower than the corresponding WNP maximum. This pattern is attributed to mixing within the SCS in combination with the outflow of SCS intermediate water to the WNP. A mass balance model indicates that atmospherically derived N (a combined input of new nitrogen from marine N₂ fixation and atmospheric deposition) supplied approximately 6% of the particulate nitrogen exported from the euphotic zone to the deep SCS. This supply of isotopically light nitrogen cannot, however, explain the low and downward-decreasing δ¹⁵N that has been previously observed in sinking particles of the deep SCS. We propose that an alternative explanation might be a downward-increasing ratio of isotopically light NH₄ ⁺-N to organic N due to the degradation of organic N within the sinking particles (i.e., relative enrichment of the NH₄ ⁺) and also particle incorporation of excreted ammonium from zooplankton.     

N2O Production, Nitrification and Denitrification in an Estuarine Sediment

The mechanisms regulating N₂O production in an estuarine sediment (Tama Estuary, Japan) were studied by comparing the change in N₂O production with those in nitrification and denitrification using an experimental continuous-flow sediment–water system with¹⁵N tracer (¹⁵N-NO−3 addition). From Feburary to May, both nitrification and denitrification in the sediment increased (246 to 716 μmol N m⁻² h⁻¹and 214 to 1260 μmol N m⁻² h⁻¹, respectively), while benthic N₂O evolution decreased slightly (1560 to 1250 nmol N m⁻² h⁻¹). Apparent diffusion coefficients of inorganic nitrogen compounds and O₂at the sediment–water interface, calculated from the respective concentration gradients and benthic fluxes, were close to the molecular diffusion coefficients (0·68–2·0 times) in February. However, they increased to 8·8–52 times in May except for that of NO−2, suggesting that the enhanced NO−3 and O₂supply from the overlying water by benthic irrigation likely stimulated nitrification and denitrification. Since the progress of anoxic condition by the rise of temperature from February to May (9 to 16 °C) presumably accelerated N₂O production through nitrification, the observed decrease in sedimentary N₂O production seems to be attributed to the decrease in N₂O production/occurrence of its consumption by denitrification. In addition to the activities of both nitrification and denitrification, the change in N₂O metabolism during denitrification by the balance between total demand of the electron acceptor and supply of NO−3+NO−2 can be an important factor regulating N₂O production in nearshore sediments.