MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 493:23-30 (2013) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10516 Oyster-mediated benthic-pelagic coupling modifies nitrogen pools and processes Ashley R. Smyth1,2,*, Nathan R. Geraldi1, Michael F. Piehler1 1The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Institute of Marine Sciences, 3431 Arendell St. Morehead City, North Carolina 28557, USA 2Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062, USA *Email: arsmyth@vims.edu ABSTRACT: Removal of nitrogen through enhanced denitrification has been identified as an ecosystem service provided by oysters. In this study, we assessed the effects of an individual oyster (Crassostrea virginica) on nitrogen dynamics. Fluxes of N2, O2, nitrate/nitrite (NOx) and ammonium (NH4+) were measured from continuous-flow microcosms that contained a live oyster, sediment, or a live oyster + sediment. Net N2 fluxes were indicative of nitrogen fixation in the sediment treatment and denitrification in the oyster and oyster + sediment treatments. Organic matter deposition and ammonium production associated with oyster biodeposits and excretion likely decreased N limitation, and thus the demand for fixation of new nitrogen, while increasing nitrification and subsequent denitrification. Oyster-mediated denitrification accounted for 48% of the total inorganic nitrogen efflux in the oyster microcosms and 35% in the oyster + sediment microcosms. Despite high rates of ammonium production, inclusion of the eastern oyster did not increase the pool of bioavailable nitrogen but shifted the microcosms from a nitrogen source to a nitrogen sink. KEY WORDS: Crassostrea virginica · Denitrification · Nitrogen · Nitrogen fixation Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Smyth AR, Geraldi NR, Piehler MF (2013) Oyster-mediated benthic-pelagic coupling modifies nitrogen pools and processes. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 493:23-30. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10516 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 493. Online publication date: November 20, 2013 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2013 Inter-Research.