MEPS 480:1-19 (2013)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10331

ABSTRACT: At a restored reef site and a control site in the Choptank River, Maryland, USA, we partially quantified the effect of oyster reef restoration on the removal of nutrients from the water column by determining seasonal fluxes of oxygen (O₂), ammonium (NH₄⁺), combined nitrate and nitrite (NO₂₊₃), di-nitrogen (N₂) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and by assessing the assimilation of nutrients by macrofauna. Fluxes of O₂, NH₄⁺, NO₂₊₃ and SRP at the restored site were enhanced by at least one order of magnitude during all seasons. Seasonal denitrification rates at the restored site, measured as flux of N₂-N, ranged from 0.3 to 1.6 mmol N₂-N m^-2 h^-1, with August rates among the highest ever recorded for an aquatic system. In addition to oysters (131 oysters m^-2; average shell height = 114 mm; age = 2 to 7 yr), the restored reef provided habitat for 24585 other macrobenthic organisms per square meter compared to 2265 organisms m^-2 at the control site. Restoration enhanced the average standing stock of assimilated nutrients by 95 g N m^-2 and 15 g P m^-2. Nitrogen and phosphorus in shells of live oysters and mussels accounted for 47 and 48% of total nitrogen and phosphorus standing stocks, respectively. Our results demonstrate that oyster reef restoration can significantly increase denitrification rates and enhance nutrient sequestration via assimilation into bivalve shells.

KEY WORDS:Restoration · Crassostrea virginica · Biogeochemistry · Denitrification · Ecosystem services · Nitrogen · Phosphorus · Water quality

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Cite this article as: Kellogg ML, Cornwell JC, Owens MS, Paynter KT (2013) Denitrification and nutrient assimilation on a restored oyster reef. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 480:1-19. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10331 Export citation Share:    Facebook - - linkedIn