Influence of sublittoral microphytobenthos on the oxygen and nutrient flux between sediment and water: a laboratory continuous- flow study

Abstract

Suggests that diatoms play a major role in the nutrient flux between sediment and water. Also, the differences in pore-water nutrient gradients between L/D and dark cores point to the importance of sediment-associated organisms. Daily (24 h) net fluxes of nutrients were primarily out of the sediment, but the magnitude depended on both light conditions and sediment type. Daily net outflux was significantly lower in L/D cores than in darkened cores for all nutrients except NO3- in muddy cores and NO2- in sandy cores. -from Authors