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Biotic and abiotic controls on co-occurring nitrogen cycling processes in shallow Arctic shelf sediments

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  • N. D. McTigue

    (The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute
    Present address: National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, National Center for Coastal Ocean Science, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516, USA)

  • W. S. Gardner

    (The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute)

  • K. H. Dunton

    (The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute)

  • A. K. Hardison

    (The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute)

Abstract

The processes that convert bioavailable inorganic nitrogen to inert nitrogen gas are prominent in continental shelf sediments and represent a critical global sink, yet little is known of these pathways in the Arctic where 18% of the world’s continental shelves are located. Moreover, few data from the Arctic exist that separate loss processes like denitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) from recycling pathways like dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) or source pathways like nitrogen fixation. Here we present measurements of these co-occurring processes using 15N tracers. Denitrification was heterogeneous among stations and an order of magnitude greater than anammox and DNRA, while nitrogen fixation was undetectable. No abiotic factors correlated with interstation variability in biogeochemical rates; however, bioturbation potential explained most of the variation. Fauna-enhanced denitrification is a potentially important but overlooked process on Arctic shelves and highlights the role of the Arctic as a significant global nitrogen sink.

Suggested Citation

  • N. D. McTigue & W. S. Gardner & K. H. Dunton & A. K. Hardison, 2016. "Biotic and abiotic controls on co-occurring nitrogen cycling processes in shallow Arctic shelf sediments," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13145
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13145
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    Cited by:

    1. Huiping Xu & Guanghua Lu & Chenwang Xue, 2020. "Effects of Sulfamethoxazole and 2-Ethylhexyl-4-Methoxycinnamate on the Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction Processes and N 2 O Release in Sediments in the Yarlung Zangbo River," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-15, March.

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