Biogeochemistry of inter-reef sediments on the northern and central Great Barrier Reef

Abstract

The deposition and cycling of carbon and nitrogen in carbonate sediments located between coral reefs on the northern and central sections of the Great Barrier Reef were examined. Rates of mass sediment accumulation ranged from 1.9 kg m−2 year−1 (inshore reefs) to 2.1–4.9 kg m−2 year−1 (between mid-shelf reefs); sedimentation was minimal off outer-shelf reefs. Rates of total organic carbon decomposition ranged from 1.7 to 11.4 mol C m−2 year−1 and total nitrogen mineralization ranged from 77 to 438 mmol N m−2 year−1, declining significantly with distance from land. Sediment organic matter was highly reactive, with mineralization efficiencies ranging from 81 to 99% for organic carbon and 64–100% for nitrogen, with little C and N burial. There was no evidence of carbonate dissolution/precipitation in short-term incubation experiments. Rates of sulfate reduction (range 0–3.4 mmol S m−2 day−1) and methane release (range 0–12.8 μmol CH4 m−2 day−1) were minor or modest pathways of carbon decomposition. Aerobic respiration, estimated by difference between total O2 consumption and the sum of the other pathways, accounted for 55–98% of total carbon mineralization. Rates of ammonification ranged from 150 to 1,725 μmol NH4 m−2 day−1, sufficient to support high rates of denitrification (range 30–2,235 μmol N2 m−2 day−1). N2O release was not detected and rates of NH4+ and NO2− + NO3− efflux were low, indicating that most mineralized N was denitrified. The percentage of total N input removed via denitrification averaged ≈75% (range 28–100%) with little regenerated N available for primary producers. Inter-reef environments are therefore significant sites of energy and nutrient flow, especially in spatially complex reef matrices such as the Great Barrier Reef.