Sulfate Reduction and Sediment Metabolism in Tomales Bay, California
Chambers RM, Hollibaugh JT, Vink SM. 1994. Sulfate Reduction and Sediment Metabolism in Tomales Bay, California. Biogeochemistry. 25(1):1-18
Sulfate reduction rates (SRR) in subtidal sediments of Tomales Bay, California, were variable by sediment type, season and depth. Higher rates were measured in near-surface muds during summer (up to 45 nmol cm super(-3)/h), with lower rates in sandy sediments, in winter and deeper in the sediment. Calculations of annual, average SRR throughout the upper 20 cm of muddy subtidal sediments (about 30 mmol S m super(-2)/d) were much larger than previously reported net estimates of SRR derived from both benthic alkalinity flux measurements and bay wide, budget stoichiometry (3.5 and 2.6 mmol m super(-2)/d, respectively), indicating that most reduced sulfur in these upper, well-mixed sediments is re-oxidized. A portion of the net alkalinity flux across the sediment surface may be derived from sulfate reduction in deeper sediments, estimated from sulfate depletion profiles at 1.5 mmol m super(-2)/d. A small net flux of CO sub(2) measured in benthic chambers despite a large SRR suggests that sediment sinks for CO sub(2) must also exist (e.g., benthic microalgae).
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Chambers, R; Hollibaugh, J; Vink, S
- Units
- PORE
- Keywords
- California, Depth, estuarine chemistry, Marine Environment, Seasonal Variations, sediment chemistry, Sedimentation, sulfate reduction, Sulfates, USA, Water