Abstract
Natural abundance of N stable isotopes used in combination with concentrations may be useful indicators of N-cycling in wetlands. Concentrations andNsignatures ofNO3−,NH4+, and sediment organic nitrogen (SON) were measured in two impacted coastal golf course retention ponds and two natural marshes. LimitedNO3−was detected in natural site surface water or pore water, but both isotopic signature and concentrations ofNO3−in surface water of impacted sites indicated anthropogenic inputs. In natural sites,NH4+concentrations were greatest in deeper pore water and least in surface water, suggesting diffusion predominates. The natural sites had greater %SON, andNindicated that the natural sites also had greaterNH4+released from SON mineralization than impacted sites. InNO3−-limited systems, neither concentrations norNnatural abundance was able to provide information on N-cycling, while processes associated withNH4+were better elucidated by using both concentrations andNnatural abundance.
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