Significance of subtidal sediments to heterotrophically-mediated oxygen and nutrient dynamics in a temperate estuary

Sediment-water exchanges of ammonium (NH₄ ⁺), nitrate + nitrite (NO_x ^?), filterable reactive phosphorus (FRP, primarily ortho-phosphate), and oxygen (O₂) under aphotic (heterotrophic) conditions were determined at 2–5 stations in the Neuse River Estuary, from 1987 to 1989. Shallow (1 m), sandy stations were sampled along the salinity gradient. Fluxes from deep (>2 m) sites were compared to the shallow sites in two salinity zones. Grain size became finer and organic content increased with depth in the oligohaline zone but not in the mesohaline zone. Net release of NH₄ ⁺ and FRP occurred at all sites. Fluxes varied from slight uptake to releases of 200–500 μmol m^?2 h^?1 (NH₄ ⁺) and 150–900 μmol m^?2 h^?1 (FRP). Net NO_x ^? exchange was near zero, but were ±100 μmol m^?2 h^?1 over the year. Release of NH₄ ⁺ and FRP from the shallow sandy stations decreased with distance down the estuary, but O₂ uptake did not change. The deeper oligohaline site had twofold higher rates of NH₄ ⁺ and FRP release and O₂ uptake than the shallow site, but no differences occurred between depths in the mesohaline zone. Temperature and organic content were important controls for all fluxes, but water column NO_x ^? concentration was also important in regulating NO_x ^? exchanges. Ratios of oxygen consumption to NH₄ ⁺ release were near the predicted ratio (Redfield model) at oligohaline sites but increased down estuary at mesohaline sites. This may be due to greater nitrification rates promoted by autotrophy in the sediments.