The nitrogen budget of a salt marsh ecosystem

Salt marshes reduce oxidised nitrogenous compounds to ammonium and paniculate nitrogen and export these reduced forms to coastal waters. The internal demands exceed the net inputs of nitrogen by rain, groundwater flow and fixation, suggesting very active uptake, conversion, release and recycling of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 1979-01, Vol.280 (5724), p.652-656
Main Authors: Valiela, Ivan, Teal, John M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Humanities and Social Sciences
multidisciplinary
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Salt marshes reduce oxidised nitrogenous compounds to ammonium and paniculate nitrogen and export these reduced forms to coastal waters. The internal demands exceed the net inputs of nitrogen by rain, groundwater flow and fixation, suggesting very active uptake, conversion, release and recycling of nitrogen within a marsh ecosystem. Nitrogen losses are mainly through tidal exchanges and denitrification, and these two outputs balance the gains. The chemical exchanges among uplands, marshes and coastal water are important in structuring these ecosystems.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/280652a0