The link between biogeochemical nitrogen cycling and intertidal green macroalgae in Dublin Bay
Jennings, E.; Jeffrey, D.W. (2005). The link between biogeochemical nitrogen cycling and intertidal green macroalgae in Dublin Bay, in: Wilson, J.G. (Ed.) The intertidal ecosystem: the value of Ireland’s shores. pp. 69-80 In: Wilson, J.G. (Ed.) (2005). The intertidal ecosystem: the value of Ireland’s shores. Royal Irish Academy: Dublin. ISBN 1-904890-09-1. 206 pp., more |  |
| Authors | | Top | - Jennings, E.
- Jeffrey, D.W.
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| Abstract | Biogeochemical nitrogen cycling plays a critical role in the nutrient dynamics of intertidal zones. High denitrification rates in intertidal sediments, together with a lack of comparable nitrogen fixation rates, are considered to be causal factors in the nitrogen limitation of these systems. In addition, inorganic nitrogen efflux from the sediment can make a significant contribution to the nutrient requirements of primary producers, particularly where sediments receive high inputs of organic matter in the incoming tide. In the intertidal zones of Irish coastal systems, sediment ammonium efflux has been found to contribute up to 850 µmol NH4+ m–2 h–1 to the overlying water. The rate of ammonium release is highly dependent on the quality and quantity of sediment organic nitrogen and on temperature. It has been proposed that this source of nitrogen is linked to temporal and spatial patterns in the occurrence of intertidal green macroalgae in Dublin Bay. This paper reviews the literature on the occurrence of green macroalgae in the intertidal areas of the bay and provides an overview of a series of studies that have investigated this relationship. |
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