Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

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 (ΣCO_2, 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 25^oC) 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 …