| Microbial decomposition of particulate organic matter in sediments can substantially modulate eutrophication of nearshore marine environments. Although usually limited to the contribution of the dissolved organic fraction, flux budgets for nitrogen compounds and quantification of rates of microbial transformation can provide important information on the process of eutrophication. This survey documents sediment nitrogen budgets for a eutrophic nearshore marine environment at La Parguera, including the contribution of the organic fraction.; Sediments of the inshore channel denoted the input of a heavy organic load with low redox potential and high ammoniun contents. Nitrification and denitification rates were low overall and inversely related to the redox potential. Benthic fluxes of dissolved organic nitrogen were below those recorded for ammoniun. These sediments seemed to act as a sink for organic nitrogen where depuration of excess nitrogen through dentrification is ineffective, ammonification being the key process in their release to the water column. |
