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The Kinetics Of Organic Matter Mineralization In Anoxic Marine Sediments, David J. Burdige
The Kinetics Of Organic Matter Mineralization In Anoxic Marine Sediments, David J. Burdige
OES Faculty Publications
The kinetics of sulfate reduction and inorganic nutrient production (ΣCO2, ammonium, and phosphate) were examined in the sediments at five sites in the southern Chesapeake Bay, using long term (> 200 d) sediment decomposition experiments. Average first order rate constants for these processes (at 25oC) decreased from 8.2 to 3.7 yr-1 in the surface sediments (0-2 cm), to 2.1 to 0.2 yr-1 at 12-14 cm. The C/N and C/P ratios of the organic matter undergoing decomposition also increased with depth at these sites. Taken together, these results indicate that the reactivity of the organic matter …