Empirical evidence reveals seasonally dependent reduction in nitrification in coastal sediments subjected to near future ocean acidification.

ABSTRACT: Research so far has provided little evidence that benthic biogeochemical cycling is affected by ocean acidification under realistic climate change scenarios. We measured nutrient exchange and sediment community oxygen consumption (SCOC) rates to estimate nitrification in natural coastal permeable and fine sandy sediments under pre-phytoplankton bloom and bloom conditions. Ocean acidification, as mimicked in the laboratory by a realistic pH decrease of 0.3, significantly reduced SCOC on average by 60% and benthic nitrification rates on average by 94% in both sediment types in February (pre-bloom period), but not in April (bloom period). No changes in macrofauna functional community (density, structural and functional diversity) were observed between ambient and acidified conditions, suggest

SUBMITTER: Braeckman U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4199590 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature