Abstract
A case study was undertaken to observe the variations in the concentrations of the dissolved inorganic nitrogen species in the surface sediments of the littoral compartments at Bakkhali and Frasergunj situated within the single coastal stretch at the southernmost tip of West Bengal, India. Effects, if any, of the presence or absence of bioturbations on the variability of the dissolved nitrate-nitrogen, nitrite-nitrogen, ammonia-nitrogen, total dissolved nitrogen and the cumulative concentration of former three variables in the beach surface sediments were also noted. On site nitrite-nitrogen was found in alternate fluctuating patterns throughout the beach zonations with gradual lowering and peaking within each zone. An evidently prominent fact was the independence of dissolved inorganic nitrogen species from bioturbatory influences in the surface sediments of wave exposed littoral environments at the study sites. That effect might become significant in a vertical profile but from the data procured it can be stated that inorganic nitrogen species concentrations in surface beach sediments are not entirely perturbed by bioturbations and are governed by many other environmental parameters. A Pearson correlation performed on the normalized data sets revealed that there existed a fairly significant correlation in between the both the beach sediments with r-values ranging from -0.97 to +0.99 among the five variables considered at 95% confidence level. ANOVA Single factor yielded values in support of the rejection of the null hypothesis.
Highlights
Oxidation of various organic compounds trapped within the sediments of aquatic ecosystems, especially those of marine and estuarine ecosystem by microbial communities is one of the most important processes of regeneration of nutrients on which the ISSN 2358-2731/BJBS-2018-0067/5/11/17/799Braz
The data generated through observation, collection and estimation of the variables considered for the study i.e. the dissolved inorganic nitrogen species, viz. Nitrite-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen, ammonia-nitrogen, total dissolved nitrogen and cumulative concentration of nitrite-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen and ammonia-nitrogen are represented as follows
A degree of independence was noted in the dissolved inorganic nitrogen species in the sediments of the bioturbated regions through the perturbances of bioturbators, at least in the surface sediments of wave exposed littoral sections of the sampling sites. This might have become significant in a vertical profile but from the data procured it can be stated that inorganic nitrogen species concentrations in surface beach sediments are not significantly perturbed by presence of bioturbatory features such as burrows of decapods species but as the same decapods species sieve the surface sediment during low tide, their role in the eventual stoichiometry of the dissolved nitrogen species may not be neglected
Summary
Oxidation of various organic compounds trapped within the sediments of aquatic ecosystems, especially those of marine and estuarine ecosystem by microbial communities is one of the most important processes of regeneration of nutrients on which the ISSN 2358-2731/BJBS-2018-0067/5/11/17/799Braz. Sci. http://revista.rebibio.net benthic and planktonic primary producers rely heavily and ensuring the functional stability of the ecosystem (Carpenter and Capone, 1983; Blackburn and Sørensen, 1988; Herbert and Nedwell, 1990; Sloth et al, 1995) and along with carbon, one the most significant elemental nutrients to govern primary production is nitrogen (Dugdale and Goering, 1967; Hecky and Kilham, 1988; Gilbert, 1988) and various stages of the nitrogen cycle are influenced by the availability of reactive carbon sources (Paerl et al, 1987; Smith and Hollibraugh, 1988; Caffrey et al, 1993). According to Herbert (1999), the driving force for benthic nitrogen cycling is the degradation of organic matter deposited at the sediment surface or excreted by the roots and rhizomes of rooted macrophytes (Hines et al, 1989; Jensen et al, 1990; Lohse et al, 1993)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
