Experimental research on the impact of Corbicula fluminea on DIN exchange at a tidal flat sediment-water interface

• Published in: Chinese journal of oceanology and limnology Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 434 - 443
• Main Author: 刘杰 陈振楼 许世远 郑祥民
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Nature B.V 01.10.2007; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Geo-information Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062
• Subjects: Ammonium; Ammonium compounds; Bioturbation; Brackish; Corbicula fluminea; Estuaries; Estuarine dynamics; Exchanging; Excretion; Experimental research; Experiments; Freshwater molluscs; Laboratory experimentation; Limnology; Mineralization; Mollusks; Nitrates; Nitrification; Nitrogen; Organic matter; Sediment; Sediment-water interface; Sediments; Tidal flats; Water exchange; 冬孢堆护膜; 水下沉积物; 环境保护; 长江流域; INW, China, People's Rep., Changjiang Delta; China, People's Rep., Changjiang R; Corbicula fluminea; DIN; Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary; sediment-water interface; impact
• ISSN: 0254-4059; 2096-5508; 1993-5005; 2523-3521
• DOI: 10.1007/s00343-007-0434-9

Based on a simulative experiment and a comparison analysis, the effect of bivalve Corbiculafluminea activity on sediment-water exchange of dissolved inorganic nitrogen （DIN） is studied. The areas included three intertidal flat sites of the Changjiang （Yangtze） River estuary in China. The interface exchange flux of ammonium, nitrate and nitrite in the short experiment （6 h） was -46.4-40, -74.8-929.1 and 2.5-14.6 μmol/（m^2·h）, respectively. It was found that the burrowing activities of C. fluminea increased NH4 and NOi release from sediments to overlying water in the short-term experiment. During long-term incubation, NH4 and NOi released in turn from the sediments. At the beginning of incubation, bioturbation by C. fluminea could accelerate NH2 release from sediments 2-17 times in different sites, resulting in stronger nitrification and increased NOi concentrations in the overlying water. Sediment profile analysis post-incubation shows that organic matter mineralization and sediment-water NH4 exchange had been stimulated by C. fluminea bioturbation and bioirrigation during the experiment. Therefore, C. fluminea activities such as excretion, burrowing, irrigation and turbation can effectively alter nitrogen dynamics and accelerate and stimulate nitrogen exchange and cycling at the sediment-water interface.