Nitrogenous nutrient transfers in oyster ponds: role of sediment in deferred primary production

Abstract

Particulate organic matter enrichment of the sediment in winter is followed by intensive ammonification in summer with very limited nitrification. In summer during batch mode periods, ammonium enrichment from the sediment to the overlying water is an order of magnitude higher than the initial nutrient supply in the feed water. This allows a large increase of the phytoplankton biomass. -from Authors