Abstract
The eelgrass meadow in Padilla Bay, Washington, has a seasonal cycle of production that is dependent on nutrient remineralization from sedimentary organic matter. We observed sea- sonal differences in the loading of organic carbon (OC) on mineral surface area ranging from 0.90 ± 0.30 gC m -2 , which is typical for coastal sediments, to 2.72 ± 0.49. There were also changes in organic matter quality as indicated by amino acid analyses. The fraction of OC composed of amino acids changed from 0.03 to 0.12 during the same time period. The molecular distribution of amino acids also varied seasonally as indicated by changes in the amino acid degradation index. Bacterial numbers were constant throughout the year, and we attribute changes in sedimentary organic matter primarily to changes in input from benthic algae.
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.
