Benthic bacterial production and nutrient sediment-water exchange in sandy North Sea sediments

Abstract

The relationship between benthic bacterial production and biomass and sediment-water exchnage rates of inorganic nutrients was examined in the North Sea (Dogger Bank region), in summer. Bacterial production was significantly related to bacterial biomass and bacterial biomass was significantly related to chlorophyll a and phaeopigment in the sediment, suggesting that enhanced bacterial production rates were associated with input of organic carbon. The observed relationship between bacterial production and nutrient sediment-water exchange could be explained by temporary immobilization of N and P in bacterial biomass. -from Authors